Chocolate Dirt Cake

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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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 Oreos 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.

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.

How do you store leftover dirt cake?

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.

Yield: 12 Servings

Chocolate Dirt Cake

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.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

14.3 oz. package Oreos
3 cups milk
2 (3.4 oz.) boxes instant chocolate pudding
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
8 oz. whipped topping (like Cool Whip)

Instructions

Crush the Oreos into crumbs. Spread half of the crumbs in the bottom of a 9x13" pan.
In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the milk and instant pudding until all of the powder is disolved. Place bowl in the refrigerator to set up while you do the next step.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and mix until combined.
Add the chocolate pudding to the cream cheese mixture and mix until combined. Fold in the whipped topping.
Dollop the pudding mixture over the bottom layer of Oreo 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 Oreo 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 bowl or even in individual cups or jars if desired.

Chocolate Dirt Cake