Chocolate Dirt Cake

ByCarlee UpdatedDecember 28, 2025

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Chocolate dirt cake features layers of crushed Oreos and a fluffy chocolate pudding mixture that looks like dirt but tastes like heaven. It is a great no bake summer dessert that will have everyone coming back for seconds.

Serving spoon filled with dirt cake showing layers of Oreo crumbs, fluffy chocolate pudding mixture and sour gummy worms.

Dirt cake is a childhood favorite of nearly everyone who grew up in the Midwest. It is easy to make and is as fun as it is tasty.

My family has always been a fan of treats like this. So much so that my sister requested jars of dirt pudding as part of her wedding dessert buffet.

When my brother recently gifted me some spoons shaped like shovels, I took that as a hint that it was time to make another batch. We had done peanut butter dirt pudding jars recently, so this time I decided to go full on chocolate.

Small shovel shaped spoon going into a pan of chocolate dirt pudding.

Dirt cake ingredients including Oreos, milk, chocolate pudding mix, butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, Cool Whip and gummy worms.

My brothers practically licked the pan clean. Luckily, there was just a little bit left in the pan so that Little Dude could enjoy the rest for snack the next day.

I think this might be one of our favorite versions of dirt cake. So, whip up a batch to see what all of the fuss is about.

How to Serve Dirt Cake

This dirt cake recipe is the perfect size for a 9×13-inch pan. That makes it easy to transport and serve. However, the options really are endless.

I have seen people make their dirt pudding in plastic sand buckets. It also works great layered in a trifle bowl.

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Half of the Oreo crumbs in a food processor and the other half of the crumbs in the bottom of a 9x13-inch pan.

Mixing bowl filled with cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar mixture next to smaller mixing bowl with chocolate pudding and tub of cool whip ready to be combined to make the chocolate pudding filling.

You can make your dirt cake in glass pint jars. That makes them easy to take along for picnics, etc.

Any large bowl or serving container will do. There is definitely something in your house that will work well to make a batch.

You can decorate it with gummy worms to really play up the dirt look. Or you can use carrot or flower shaped candies to make it look like a garden.

Chocolate pudding and cream cheese mixture spread over bottom layer of Oreo crumbs in pan with the remaining Oreo crumbs and gummy worms in the background.

Dirt cake topped with Oreo crumbs with sour gummy worms nearby, ready to go on the top to finish the dessert.

We have even decorated it with pumpkins to make pumpkin patch dirt cups. And we have made green pudding for Frankenstein dirt pudding cups, so let your imagination run wild.

Feel free to experiment with different flavors of Oreo cookies or different pudding flavors to make this recipe your own. With the vast variety of Oreo fillings and pudding varieties, the combinations are nearly endless.

Chill the dirt pudding for at least a couple of hours for the best texture and flavor. You can even make it a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to dig in.

Jars of dirt pudding with layers of Oreo crumbs, chocolate pudding mixture and a gummy worm on top.

Serving of dirt cake on small plate showing fluffy chocolate pudding center, Oreo crumbs and gummy worms served with a shovel shaped spoon, ready to eat.

Storage

Cover the dirt cake or put it in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You could freeze small containers of dirt pudding for longer storage and either eat it frozen or defrost it in the refrigerator overnight before enjoying.

4.63 from 24 ratings

Chocolate Dirt Cake

Author: Carlee

Servings: Servings

This Oreo dirt cake recipe features layers of crushed Oreos and a fluffy chocolate pudding mixture that looks like dirt, but tastes like heaven. It is a great no bake summer dessert that will have everyone coming back for seconds.

Prep: 15

Cook: 0

Additional Time 2

Total: 2 15

Ingredients

▢ 14.3 oz. Oreos
▢ 3 cups milk
▢ 6.8 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix 2 small boxes
▢ 8 oz. cream cheese softened
▢ ¼ cup butter softened
▢ 1 cup powdered sugar
▢ 8 oz. whipped topping like Cool Whip

Makes: 9 x 13inch rectangle, 2inch height

Instructions

Crush 14.3 oz. Oreos into fine crumbs using a food processor or rolling pin. Spread half of the crumbs in the bottom of a 9×13" pan.
In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the 3 cups milk and 6.8 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix until all of the powder is dissolved. Place bowl in the refrigerator to set up while you do the next step.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together ¼ cup butter and 8 oz. cream cheese until smooth. Add the 1 cup powdered sugar and mix until combined.
Add the chocolate pudding to the cream cheese mixture and mix until combined. Fold in 8 oz. whipped topping.
Dollop the pudding mixture over the bottom layer of cookie crumbs. Spread into an even layer in the pan, being careful not to incorporate too many Oreo crumbs.
Top the pudding mixture with the remaining cookie crumbs. Cover and chill for at least two hours.
Garnish with gummy worms or other candies if desired and serve.

Notes

You can also make this recipe in a trifle dish or even in individual cups or jars if desired.