What a walking taco dessert is
A walking taco is a savory snack where chili or taco meat and toppings are spooned right into a small bag of corn chips. The dessert version borrows the idea: a snack-size bag of cookies or cereal is opened, filled with pudding and toppings, and eaten with a spoon straight from the bag. There is no plate to wash, and it makes a fun layered treat for parties, school events, and potlucks.
Base options
Any small single-serving bag that can be opened and spooned into works. Popular choices include:
- Mini Nilla wafer bags
- Mini Oreo or chocolate sandwich cookie bags
- Mini Chips Ahoy bags
- Nutter Butter bites
- Teddy Grahams or other graham-style snacks
Lightly crush the cookies in the bag before opening so they fit a spoon and mix more easily with the fillings.
How to build one
- Gently crush the cookies inside the unopened bag.
- Open the bag along the top, or cut across the side so it can be held like a taco.
- Spoon in prepared pudding, such as vanilla or chocolate.
- Add toppings, such as whipped cream, sliced fruit, mini marshmallows, or a drizzle of sauce.
- Add a spoon and serve right away.
Flavor ideas
- Banana pudding. Nilla wafers, vanilla pudding, sliced bananas, and whipped cream.
- S’mores. Graham-style cookies, chocolate pudding, mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips.
- Sundae style. Mini cookies, hot fudge, chopped peanuts, and mini candies.
- Cookies and cream. Chocolate sandwich cookies, vanilla pudding, and whipped topping.
- Strawberry shortcake. Vanilla wafers, vanilla pudding, sliced strawberries, and whipped topping, a nod to our strawberry layered dessert with cream cheese.
Setting up a bar for a crowd
A dessert taco bar lets guests build their own:
- Set out the bagged cookies in a basket.
- Pour prepared pudding into a few serving bowls or pastry bags for easy filling.
- Offer toppings in small bowls with their own spoons.
- Provide spoons, napkins, and a trash bin.
Pudding in a piping bag or squeeze bottle makes filling cleaner and quicker, especially with children.
Food safety and make-ahead
Pudding and whipped toppings contain dairy and should stay cold. Keep them in a bowl over ice or refrigerated until just before serving, and avoid leaving them out for long periods, particularly in warm weather. Build bags to order rather than ahead of time, because cookies turn soft once they meet pudding. Wash and dry fresh fruit just before adding it.
Common questions
How are you supposed to eat walking tacos? Hold the open bag in one hand, mix the contents slightly, and eat directly from the bag with a spoon or fork.
What dessert goes well after fish? A light, fruity dessert tends to suit a lighter meal. A banana or strawberry version of this treat, or a chilled fruit dessert such as the pink salad dessert, is one idea.
What are the top Mexican desserts? Popular examples include churros, flan, tres leches cake, and arroz con leche. A walking taco dessert is an American party idea named after the savory snack, not a traditional Mexican dessert.
How much taco meat for 50 people walking tacos? That is for the savory version. Quantities depend on serving size and what else is on the menu, so a rough per-person estimate from a trusted catering guide is the safest approach.
For a similar pudding-and-crunch idea served in glasses, see our vanilla pudding parfaits. For other portable potluck desserts, see the Hawaiian roll dessert ideas.