Best Recipe for Dirt Cake

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With years of experience as a baker, I’ve perfected the art of dirt cake, and I’m here to share my expertise with you, ensuring your dessert is always a crowd-pleaser. Trust me; follow these tips, and you’ll be making dirt cake like a pro in no time!

close up of a large trifle bowl of dirt cake topped with crushed oreos and gummy worms

Your inner child needs this Dirt Cake Recipe (Easy!)

You may have seen dirt cups at birthday parties, but have you ever made an entire dirt cake? As a mom who is also a baker, I invested time into creating the perfect dirt cake (not a bad job, eh?). My dirt cake dessert upgrades the traditional dirt cups, with a pretty presentation and addictive taste and texture.

Making the perfect dirt cake may seem simple, but it can be a bit challenging. No stress though, because I’ve got the tips you need to nail it every time!

a large clear glass trifle dish full of dirt cake topped with gummy worms surrounded by smaller dirt cake trifle dishes, a teal towel, gummy worms and oreos

One common issue is runny pudding; always use instant pudding and let it set properly before assembling. If your cookies get too soggy, try layering them more carefully and avoid over-soaking them with pudding. Lumpy cream cheese can also be a problem—beat it until smooth before mixing it with other ingredients.

And who says dirt cake is just for kids? Adults love dirt cake, too, especially my version! Using full-fat ingredients can significantly enhance the texture and taste of your dirt cake, which is just one of the tricks I have up my sleeve.

Keep reading for my best tips on serving, storing and more!

over head view of the ingredients for dirt cake including butter, instant vanilla pudding mix, milk, oreos, gummy works, cream cheese, cool whip, and powdered sugar

Oreo Dirt Cake Recipe Ingredients

This fun dirt cake recipe uses very simple ingredients (and fun gummy worms). Here’s what you’ll need:

Milk
Instant vanilla pudding mix
Oreo cookies
Unsalted butter: softened
Cream cheese: softened
Powdered sugar
Cool Whip
Gummy Worms

How to Make Oreo Dirt Cake

Another win for this recipe is that it’s the perfect make-ahead dessert. As a busy mom, anything that comes together quickly and easily gets bonus points! Here are the easy steps to making this dirt dessert recipe:

instant vanilla pudding mixed in a clear glass bowl with a whisk

Prepare the Pudding: In a large bowl, combine the milk and vanilla instant pudding. Whisk together until the mixture thickens. Set aside.
Crush the Oreos: Place the Oreos in a large ziplock bag. Using a rolling pin, crush the cookies into fine crumbs. Alternatively, you can use a food processor to achieve this. Set aside about 1/4 of the crushed Oreos for the top layer.

a cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar mixture being beaten in a large clear glass bowl with an electric mixer

cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar mixed in a clear glass bowl with an electric mixer

Make the Cream Cheese Mixture: In a separate mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until well combined.

vanilla pudding mixture in a large clear glass bowl with a cream cheese mixture on top that is not mixed in yet

ingredients for dirt cake pudding layer in a large clear glass bowl with a spatula

Combine Pudding and Cream Cheese Mixtures: Fold the cream cheese mixture into the prepared pudding until thoroughly combined. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until the mixture is smooth and uniform.

instant vanilla pudding mixture in a clear glass bowl topped with whipped topping that is not mixed in yet

milk and vanilla instant pudding mixed in a large clear glass bowl

Assemble the Trifle: In a trifle dish, start by adding a layer of the crushed Oreos at the bottom. Next, add a layer of the pudding mixture over the Oreos. Continue layering, alternating between the crushed Oreos and the pudding mixture, until you reach the top of the trifle dish. End with a layer of the reserved crushed Oreos.
Decorate: Decorate the top layer with gummy worms, placing them so they look like they’re crawling out of the “dirt.”
Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the dirt cake for at least 2 hours before serving to allow it to set. Serve chilled, scooping into individual bowls to reveal the layered “dirt” effect.

a spoon full of dirt cake resting on a wooden platter beside small trifle dishes of dirt cake with oreo crumbs and gummy worms scattered around

Dirt and Worms Cake Variations

There are many ways you can change this recipe with substitutions. Here are some ideas:

Change the oreos: You can use different flavors of oreos to change the flavor or color for a certain theme. Think vanilla oreos for a sandy beach tropical themed dirt cake.
Change the size: You can make this in a large glass bowl or several small bowls or cups for individual servings.
Change the pudding: You can use instant chocolate pudding or any other flavor you want to try.
Substitute the gummy worms: Gummy worms are the traditional choice, but if you’re changing the theme you can use any candies you like!

three small trifle dishes of dirt cake topped with gummy worms on a wood platter surrounded by oreos, crushed oreos, gummy worms and a light teal towel

Easy Dirt Cake Recipe Serving Ideas

Here are some creative and easy ways to serve dirt cake:

Flower Pots: Serve the dirt cake in small, clean flower pots. Add a gummy worm or two on top, and decorate with an artificial flower sticking out of the “dirt.”
Mini Buckets: Use mini metal or plastic buckets to serve individual portions. These can be found at party supply stores and add a fun, whimsical element to the presentation.
Mason Jars: Layer the dirt cake in mason jars for a rustic and charming look.
Toy Dump Trucks: For a kid’s party, serve the dirt cake in the bed of a toy dump truck. This idea is fun for construction or vehicle-themed parties.
Sand Pails: Small, colorful sand pails are a super cute serving option, especially for beach or summer-themed parties.
Individual Cups: Serve the dirt cake in clear plastic cups for easy individual servings. Top each with a gummy worm and a small plastic spoon. Easy clean-up!
Terrarium Bowls: Small terrarium bowls can create a garden-like presentation. Add gummy worms and candy rocks.

three small trifle dishes of dirt cake topped with gummy worms on a wood platter surrounded by whole oreos, oreo crumbs, gummy worms, spoons and a light teal towel

Storing this Recipe for Dirt Cake

You can make this in advance, in fact it’s best served chilled so you really need to make it in advance. Store it wrapped tightly with saran wrap/plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Dirt and Worms Cake FAQs

What does the dirt cake Oreo taste like?

Oreo dirt pudding has a layer of oreos (or in my version, multiple oreo layers) that taste like oreo cookie crumbs, or oreo crust.

Why is my dirt pudding runny?

Dirt pudding can be runny if you use the wrong pudding mix or don’t let it set long enough. To ensure it isn’t runny, be sure to use instant pudding mix and give it enough time to set.

More Recipes with Pudding

a large trifle dish of dirt cake topped with gummy worms surrounded by smaller dishes of dirt cake, gummy worms and a light teal towel

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Dirt and Worms Cake

By: Beth

Prep Time: 20

Chill Time: 2

Servings:

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With years of experience as a baker, I've perfected the art of dirt cake, and I'm here to share my expertise with you, ensuring your dessert is always a crowd-pleaser. Trust me; follow these tips, and you'll be making dirt cake like a pro in no time!

Ingredients

Instructions

Prepare the Pudding: In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk and vanilla instant pudding. Whisk together until the mixture thickens. Set aside.
Crush the Oreos: Place the Oreos in a large ziplock bag. Using a rolling pin, crush the cookies into fine crumbs. Alternatively, you can use a food processor to achieve this. Set aside about 1/4 of the crushed Oreos for the top layer.
Make the Cream Cheese Mixture: In a separate mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until well combined.
Combine Pudding and Cream Cheese Mixtures: Fold the cream cheese mixture into the prepared pudding until thoroughly combined. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
Assemble the Trifle: In a trifle dish, start by adding a layer of the crushed Oreos at the bottom. Next, add a layer of the pudding mixture over the Oreos. Continue layering, alternating between the crushed Oreos and the pudding mixture, until you reach the top of the trifle dish. End with a layer of the reserved crushed Oreos.
Decorate: Decorate the top layer with gummy worms, placing them so they look like they’re crawling out of the “dirt.”
Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the dirt cake for at least 2 hours before serving to allow it to set. Serve chilled, scooping into individual bowls to reveal the layered “dirt” effect.