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Beach pudding cups are made with instant Jello pudding, graham crackers, teddy grahams and candy. This easy no-bake dessert is perfect for summer parties!
If you’re looking for an easy dessert for a summer party or just dreaming of a beach vacation, this beach day pudding cups recipe with vanilla pudding is for you! My girls made this no bake dessert the other day, and it super cute — almost too cute to eat!
My daughter got the inspo for these sand pudding cups from our beach party cupcakes and our dirt cups. It’s basically 2 favorite desserts in one.
Why you’ll love this easy recipe!
No need to turn on the oven or the stove. Just mix and decorate!
These individual desserts are super easy to make, and kids can help!
Perfect for summer parties, summer holidays or as a fun treat for kids of all ages!
What You Need
Here are the basic ingredients. Full amounts are listed in the printable recipe card below.
- Jell-o instant vanilla pudding — or any brand. If you can’t find instant, you can use the cook and serve kind, but this is way easier.
- Milk — for the pudding
- Graham crackers — for the sand. You can also use Golden Oreos.
- Cool Whip — or any whipped topping. Real whipped cream will not hold up in this recipe.
- Teddy grahams — or a generic version
- Candy — We used air heads for the towels and volleyball net, Life Saver gummies for the floats and small freeze dried candies for the beach balls.
- Blue food coloring — for the water
- Supplies — small wide clear plastic cups and paper drink umbrellas. You can find these in the beverage aisle or in a craft store or online.
How to Make Beach Pudding Cups
First, you whisk the pudding mix and cold milk in a large mixing bowl. Then, fold in the whipped topping. Transfer some of the pudding into a smaller bowl, and add the blue food coloring.
Crush the graham crackers, then spoon the graham cracker crumbs into the plastic cups. Add a layer of pudding mixture, and and top with remaining cracker crumbs. Before serving, decorate the tops to make beach scenes.
Quick Tip
If you are making the dessert ahead of time, decorate with the teddy grahams and candies before serving, as the texture will change in the fridge.
You can make these a day ahead of time, but I recommend adding the top layer crackers before you serve them so the crumbs don’t get too soft.
How Long do Pudding Cups Last?
Store the pudding cups in the refrigerator. For best flavor and texture, you should enjoy them within 3-4 days.
More Easy Desserts with Pudding
Try these easy pudding pops or my dips made with chocolate pudding or banana pudding. You can also make these cups for Easter and Halloween.
The Cutest Beach Pudding Cups
Ingredients
- 2 3.4 oz box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 4 cups whole milk
- 8 oz Cool Whip thawed
- ¼ teaspoon blue food coloring
- 15 graham crackers full sheets
- 16 teddy grahams or how many you like
- assorted candy
Instructions
- Crush graham crackers in a ziplock bag using a rolling pin or meat mallet, or in a food processor. Set aside
- Add vanilla pudding mix and milk to a large mixing bowl, and whisk until thick and fully combined
- Gently fold Cool Whip into pudding mixture until well combined
- Divide mixture in half, and stir in blue food coloring into one half to resemble water
- Add a thin layer of crushed graham crackers to each plastic cup
- Spoon pudding mixture over the crushed graham cracker layer, filling the cups almost to the top
- Sprinkle crushed graham crackers on top of the pudding, and decorate with different candies
- Refrigerate until ready to serve
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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