Chocolate Dirt Cake

If you want to get kids excited about dessert, chocolate dirt cake will do it every time. It looks like a pan of dirt, tastes like chocolate heaven, and if you add gummy worms on top, the kids will love it even more.

 

Why We Love Chocolate Dirt Cake

• Fun To Make With Kids – This is a great recipe to get the kids involved in the kitchen, from crushing the cookies to decorating with gummy worms. Parents and grandparents might even remember this one from their own childhood!
• No Bake and No Special Skills Required – No oven, no special equipment, just a few bowls and a pan and lots of chocolate!
• Feeds A Crowd – This makes a big pan that everyone loves, and you can make it up to 48 hours ahead so you’re not scrambling at the last minute.

Ingredients For Chocolate Dirt Cake

• Double Stuff Oreos – or similar chocolate sandwich cookies
• instant chocolate pudding – not the cook and serve kind of pudding
• milk – I used 2%, but you can use what you prefer
• cream cheese – full fat is best here, I don’t recommend reduced fat in this recipe
• butter – salted butter works fine
• powdered sugar – dissolves much better than granulated sugar in a no bake recipe
• vanilla extract
• whipped topping – like Cool Whip, or similar frozen store brand
• gummy worms – optional, but fun

How To Make Chocolate Dirt Cake

1. Place all Oreo cookies in a food processor and pulse until they are crumbs.
2. Place about ⅔ of the crushed cookies in a 9×13 casserole pan, placing the rest of the cookie crumbs to the side. Lightly press the cookie crumbs into the bottom of the pan.

3. In a medium bowl, add all of the instant chocolate pudding and milk. Mix until fully combined, then set to the side.
4. In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, add softened cream cheese and softened butter and mix until fully combined. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, then mix until well combined. Add the pudding mixture and mix until fully combined and smooth.

5. With a silicone spatula, fold in the whipped topping into the pudding mixture until just smooth.

6. Place large spoonfuls of the pudding mixture over the crushed cookies in the pan. Carefully spread it into an even layer, then sprinkle the remaining cookie crumbs over the top.

7. Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving. If refrigerating overnight, carefully cover the pan with plastic wrap. Top with gummy worms if desired, then serve and enjoy!

Can I Make This Chocolate Dirt Cake Ahead Of Time?

Yes, you can make this chocolate dirt cake 24 or even 48 hours in advance. I usually leave off the gummy worms until I am ready to serve the dessert for the main event, as the cold fridge temperature can make them extra chewy.

Can You Freeze Chocolate Dirt Cake?

“Yes! If you want clean slices, pop the dirt cake in the freezer for at least two hours before serving to help it set up firmer. Otherwise it will scoop more than slice. You can also freeze leftovers, just cover the pan tightly. Let it thaw in the refrigerator before serving.”

Why Is My Dirt Cake Runny?

The most common reason is using cook and serve pudding instead of instant pudding. Make sure you are using instant chocolate pudding, as cook and serve will not set up properly in a no bake recipe like this. Also make sure your cream cheese and butter are fully softened before mixing, as this helps everything come together smoothly.

Can I Use Different Oreo Or Pudding Flavors?

Yes, you can swap in any Oreo flavor you like. Vanilla, peanut butter, or mint would all be fun options. You can also switch up the pudding flavor too. Just stick to flavor combinations that make sense together, like vanilla Oreos with vanilla pudding or peanut butter Oreos with chocolate pudding.

How Long Will Chocolate Dirt Cake Last?

The chocolate dirt cake will last for about 4-5 days if stored in the refrigerator, covered with a lid or tightly wrapped plastic wrap.