What Is Dirt Cake
Dirt Cake is a classic all American dessert recipe, also called Dirt Pudding. It features layers of crushed OREO cookies and a thick, creamy custard that just melts in your mouth. It is often served with gummy worms on top
No only is it a no bake dessert, but it is perfect to make ahead for entertaining or potlucks.
This recipe is very easy to make, in just 15 minutes you can have it ready to go. It does need to chill in the refrigerator at least two hours for the best taste though so plan ahead. I personally prefer to let it sit overnight so I try to make it the day before ideally.
It’s Time To Assemble Your Dirt Cake
Most people would argue that the assembly is the best part of this dirt cake. “Every cup should look slightly different,” says Sampson. “That’s what makes them fun and interesting!” First, put a layer of Oreo crumbs on the bottom of the cup to cover it up. Then, add about ½ cup of pudding mix. Your next Oreo layer should be about ¼ cup of crumbs, and then another ¼ cup of pudding. You can add in your gummy worms between layers, or on top of each cup hanging over the edge.
A canning funnel would work great here to get the pudding cleanly into the cup, but if you don’t have access to one, a cookie or ice cream scoop works just as well. Just make sure to smooth your pudding layers with a spoon to help your crumb layer lay flat, and don’t get any pudding on the outsides of the cup. Otherwise you won’t be able to see your amazing layers!
When you are all done scooping, spooning, and layering, you will have yourself some good old fashioned dirt cake for all of your family to enjoy. This is such a great surprise for every group of kids if you’re looking for something unique to prepare. And our guess is that all of the kids will want you to make it again very soon!
How To Garnish Oreo Dirt Cake
It is optional but we love to garnish the pie with a few Oreo cookies. You can add one or two to the top of the dirt cake.
If you are making individual servings, it would be cute to use mini Oreo cookies on top of each cup.
It is so tasty and looks really pretty. Sometimes, I will get the seasonal Oreo cookies to garnish on top, which makes this recipe versatile for any Holiday or season.
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How Do They Make Cool Whip
To make the Cool Whip, just add the heavy whipping cream to a bowl, then use an electric mixer to whip it up until it starts to thicken. Once it becomes fluffy and forms soft peaks, you add a bit of sugar and vanilla and mix a bit more. Its done and ready to enjoy once its well mixed and forming stiff peaks.
Dirt Cake In A 913 Pan
This classic dirt cake or dirt pudding dessert is almost always brought to big family parties or potlucks because its always a winner that kids and adults love! Just like Chocolate Delight you expect to find at least one of these two pudding dessert recipes on the buffet table.
Oreo cookies are a family favorite dessert. Rather we mix them in Creamy Crispy Cookie Treats or make a pie crust for our Oreo Peanut Butter Pie we LOVE them! I try to keep a hidden pack somewhere when I want to make this recipe. Otherwise the Oreos are likely to disappear!
Pudding is so good on its own, but when its enhanced with powdered sugar and whipped topping and topped with Oreos vanilla pudding becomes irresistible! A similar filling mixture in our Cream Puff Cake reminds me of how amazing a pudding filling can be.
This dessert is great to make because it is easy, popular and can be decorated so many ways. Using a basic 9×13 pan is my preference because its the quickest way to make this recipe. I always use a clear 9×13 pan so you can see the layers.
A 9×13 glass dish with a lid is so simple to fit in the refrigerator and easy to transport. Plastic wrap or foil are better than leaving the dish uncovered, but a firm plastic lid makes the dish stackable and it is reusable too.
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Make The Pudding Layer
Begin the pudding layer by creaming together the butter and cream cheese. The key to this step is to make sure the butter and cream cheese are softened and at room temperature so they’re easy to combine!
I recommend using a standing mixer, but I used a hand mixer with great success!
Next, beat in the powdered sugar until the mixture is smooth.
Then, beat in the chilled and thickened pudding mixture until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps.
Finally, fold in the cool whip. This is the only ingredient in the pudding mixture that doesn’t get beaten. Simply fold it into the pudding mixture with a spatula until it’s fully incorporated and the pudding is homogenous .
Making The Creamy Filling
Next, mix up your pudding and milk together with a mixer or whisk. Then, stir in the Cool Whip until everything is combined. Set this aside while you beat the butter and cream cheese together until it’s nice and smooth. Sampson recommends letting your butter and cream cheese come to room temperature on your counter first so that they soften and are easier to work with. Beat the powdered sugar into your butter mixture, and then stir the butter mixture into the pudding mix until everything is integrated. You’re getting close to the fun part!
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Variations Of Dirt Cake Ingredients
As a chocolate lover the first version I tried as an adult uses chocolate pudding instead of instant vanilla pudding mix. Chocolate pudding and Oreos taste fine. Future trials confirmed the contrast between the vanilla pudding and chocolate Oreos tastes AMAZING!
I wondered if the powdered sugar and butter were necessary in an already sweet dessert, so I also tested variations of dirt cake ingredients. The butter gives more depth of flavor and the powdered sugar brings a sweet balance to the entire creamy mixture.
Since Cool Whip comes in regular 8 ounces and large 16 ounce tubs I wondered why not pick an existing container size? Cool Whip makes the dessert more light and airy and decreases the sweetness factor. So using only a small tub results in a slightly heavier pudding mixture and using a large tub makes the dessert lighter. This adjustment is the most minor flavor change that we tested.
Using whipped cream is a possibility too, but it takes a lot more effort to prepare that whipped topping. We like easy, so Cool Whip is the winner for us.
How To Serve Oreo Pudding
- My favorite way to serve dirt pudding is in a cute sand pail like these. Place a Cool Whip lid as far down the bucket as it will go. This cuts off some of the space at the bottom and makes sure your pudding layers reach the top. This serving method is a huge hit with kids and absolutely perfect for a farm themed birthday party.
- You can also make a dirt cake by spreading thin pudding and Oreo layers in a 9 x 13 inch pan.
- Glass trifle bowls are also lovely and allow you to see all the layers!
- You can also make individual Dirt Pudding cupsjust like in our Pumpkin Dirt Pudding parfaits.
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How To Decorate Dirt Cake
We love how recipe creator Tammy Hooper served her cakes in flower pots but, if you don’t have any flower pots laying around, it’ll be just as delicious in a cake pan. Need a little decoration inspiration? We’ve got you covered:
· For birthday parties and playdates throughout the year, decorate your dirt cake with gummy worms.· For a Halloween-themed dessert, opt for candy pumpkins and sandwich cookie “gravestones.”· For Easter, try Peeps and candy eggs.
Assemble The Dirt Cake
Spoon 1-1/2 cups cookie crumbs into the bottom of a large bowl followed by half the pudding mixture. I use a really wide bowl which made the layers appear uneven in these photos. If you want yours to appear more even you could use a trifle bowl.
Add 1-1/2 cups cookie crumbs on top
followed by the remaining pudding mixture, and then the remaining cookie crumbs.
Top the assembled Dirt Cake with gummy worms and flowers, if you wish, then serve. I hope you love this sweet and seriously scrumptious taste of the Midwest! Enjoy!
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Dirt Cake Halloween Edition
My Mom made Dirt Cake for my 6th grade birthday party and it was love at first taste. In fact, it has been my birthday cake of choice for the last 20+ years. Ive even managed to pass the love of Dirt Cake on to my children, and each year at least a few of them choose Dirt Cake for their own birthdays.
The great thing about Dirt Cake is that it is perfect for a childs party, yet still works as an elegant dessert center piece at a dinner party. Its all about how you serve it. The first year Mom made dirt cake, she put it in real flower pots with fake flowers blooming out of the pots. My friends didnt even realize that my cake was on the center of the table until Mom put candles in it!
The serving possibilities are endless. Toddlers- use clear plastic punch cups for quick serving, easy clean up and little mess. Boys- serve it with gummy worms and bugs emerging from the dirt. Girls- serve in beautiful individual size flower pots with fake flowers. Dinner party- choose an elegant trifle bowl.
This year when I had leftover ingredients after making my daughters birthday cake, I thought why not make a Halloween treat with the leftovers? I chose pretty individual-sized, glass trifle bowls, colored the extra pudding mixture with orange food coloring and added some fun Halloween sprinkles to the top of each dish. Ta-Da, impromptu Halloween treat!
Tips For Making Dirt Pudding
- Oreo cookies can be crushed with a rolling pin or food processor. We find the machine makes the most consistent crushed cookie product.
- Start with softened cream cheese and butter or pudding mixture will likely be lumpy.
- Tastes best when chilled. Mixture will be cool after an hour in the refrigerator, but 4 hours of refrigeration is optimum.
- Flavors meld together and taste great the first 2 days, but the Oreos begin to get soggy. Dirt cake lasts for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Always store in the refrigerator. Recipe does not freeze well.
- Our family didnt notice a flavor difference between vanilla and French vanilla pudding. We noticed that the regular vanilla is more cream-colored where the French vanilla is more yellowish. Both are enjoyable in this dish!
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How To Serve Dirt Cake:
My Mom always served Dirt Cake layered in a large glass bowl, but this is the perfect summer dessert recipe to get creative with. Layer the ingredients in plastic cups for an individual presentation. Add faux or even edible flowers for a more convincing garden look. You can even play around with the color of the pudding and/or sandwich cookies to cater to different holidays!
Tips And Tricks For Graveyard Dirt Cake:
- I usually make this cake with traditional Oreos and chocolate pudding but you can make this cake with your favorite type of Oreos and pudding to change up the flavor of the cake based on your preference.
- This will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week. You can easily make this ahead of time to cut down on things you need to do the day of the party. Just remember to wait to decorate it until you are ready to serve.
- Dont have a food processor? Place the cookies inside a ziplock bag and seal tightly. Use a rolling pin or back of wooden spoon to crush them.
- This recipe is perfect in a 9×13 baking dish. The ones with the lid are really handy if you are taking this dessert somewhere.
- I often use the disposable pans for the dirt cake if Im taking it to a cook out or party. I like not having to worry about the pan.
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Easy Graveyard Dirt Cake Is So Easy
Get creative and feel free to decorate this with what you have on hand. Googly eyes are fun too. We have so much fun creating these.
Let the kids help! It might just become an annual tradition. My kids like to put the gummy worms and cookies on top!
Please leave a comment if you make this. I would love to hear how it turned out. It is just so fun!
If you are not a fan of cream cheese also check out Dirt Cake Recipe without Cream Cheese.
Crush The Rest Of The Oreos
After you’ve chopped a few Oreos, crush the rest. It’s very easy to do this in a food processor fitted with an “S” blade. Just be aware that you may have to pause, release any Oreos that get stuck to the blades, and process some more!
If you don’t have a food processor you can use a rolling pin. Just be sure to crush them into a fine powder so they look like dirt!!
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Chocolate Dirt Pudding Or Vanilla That Is The Question
There is disagreement in our home about what makes the absolute BEST dirt cake. My husband prefers his dirt recipe with chocolate pudding. I prefer it with French vanilla pudding.
Weve also tried chocolate fudge pudding and a mix of chocolate and cheesecake. For Halloween, we love to use pumpkin pudding and make Halloween Dirt Pudding!
My recommendation is to try a couple different versions and see what your family likes best.
Easy Recipes For Dirt Cake
Easy Recipes For Dirt Cake, How To Make: OREO DIRT CAKE, Plowing Through Life, Homemade Chocolate Dirt Cake | The Domestic Rebel, gummy fudgy, easy-recipes-for-dirt-cake, The Cake Boutique.
This cookies and cream pudding dessert made in a 9 x 13 inch pan is a family favorite! Oreo Dirt Cake is a super easy recipe that calls for layers of crushed Oreos to alternate with creamy pudding, cream cheese and Cool Whip layers.
Pudding is so good on its own, but when its enhanced with powdered sugar and whipped topping and topped with Oreos vanilla pudding becomes irresistible!
Grab the full recipe and FREE printable recipe here: plowingthroughlife.com/oreo-dirt-cake/
Chop some of the oreos. There’s a very good chance you already have most of the ingredients at home to make this yummy dessert. Most of these recipes are quick and easy ones made especially for busy weeknights. 15 dirt cake recipe with french vanilla pudding.
Using a blender or food processor, crush of the cookies. In a medium bowl, stir together the instant pudding. Let sit for 5 minutes to thicken. Add heavy cream to your stand mixer on high speed until it reaches a soft peak stage . Add in the cream. To make the skeleton. Place white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Place them in the microwave and heat them on high for 30 seconds. Stir and if needed heat for.
The best oreo dirt cake recipe . Using a blender or food processor, crush of the cookies.
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How Do You Use Golden Oreos
Golden Oreo Dessert is a no-bake pudding dessert with layers of white chocolate and vanilla cookie crust, cream cheese, more cookies, cinnamon vanilla pudding, and whipped topping. To top it all off, I added some white chocolate curls for garnish. Try my Oreo Brownie Dessert for a milk chocolate dessert.
Layer The Dirt Pudding And Oreos
To layer in a trifle dish, you will need your pudding mix, cookie crumbs, a ladle, and two spoons-one for the cookies and one to spread the pudding.
Now it’s time to layer the dirt cake! I like to make this recipe in a trifle dish so you can see all the deliciousness! If you don’t have a trifle dish you can easily make it in a 9×13 pan, the layers will just be thinner.
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Did You Make This Recipe
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Dirt Cake is a runaway hit with kids and adults will love it too! With a luscious chocolate pudding filling flecked by plenty of Oreo cookies, this easy summertime dessert makes any family meal or celebration more fun.
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Sweetie Belle smiled at the sight of the town. Everything was in brighter colors! She was able to smell everything! And her eyesight was even better as she skipped along the road. “Alright Sweetie, step 1, find Fluttershy’s mate, step 2, convince him to go to the manner, step 3, plan a date for them, step 4, they fall in love and live happily ever after! Piece of cake what can go wrong” “THIS IS ALL GOING HORRIBLY WRONG!!” screamed Rarity as her mascara was running due to her blood tears. “Alright don’t panic everyone, I got a plan” everyone…
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