This Oreo dirt cake is a no-bake recipe layered with Oreo cookies, a creamy pudding cheesecake center and crushed Oreos. Kids love this dessert topped with gummy worms!
More dessert recipes with pudding that we love include pistachio dessert, banana pudding and peanut butter lasagna!
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A Fun No-Bake Dessert!
Oreo dirt cake is just one of many ways I love to use Oreos in desserts! Oreo ice cream cake, Oreo balls and mini cookies and cream cheesecakes are only the beginning.
This dirt cake recipe is where Oreo lovers, pudding lovers, and no-bake dessert lovers unite! It’s a classic kid-friendly recipe that takes minutes to prep time and can be made-ahead for potlucks and BBQs to holiday parties and family gatherings.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Kid-friendly. Serve this fun dirt cake recipe in individual cups, show off the layers parfait style, or add gummy worms or a mini bucket and shovel on top for effect.
- Budget-friendly. Or should we say it’s dirt cheap? Oreo dirt cake uses just a handful of ingredients, some of which you may already have. There’s nothing fussy about it!
- Easy peasy. In 20 minutes prep time, this cake is ready to chill in the fridge. Crush the Oreos, mix the creamy layer and assemble. It’s easier than chocolate lasagna!
Dirt Cake Recipe Ingredients
There’s no ice cream in this recipe, kids! For that, you’re going to have to check out my mud pie recipe!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- For the crust: You’ll need 36 regular Oreos (not double stuffed) and melted salted butter. Keep the cream in the center of the cookies. You’ll need it for binding as well as additional sweetness in the crust.
- Cream cheese softened: Both Cool Whip and pudding are quite light and airy, the softened cream cheese adds a bit of sturdiness to the layer. It, of course, also adds the tangy cheesecake flavor too!
- Salted butter, softened: Bring the butter to room temperature so that it creams easily without leaving chunks of butter throughout. We’re using salted butter to balance the sweetness.
- Powdered sugar: Confectioners’ sugar is perfect for when you need to blend it without worrying about leaving any granules behind. It also helps to stabilize creams.
- Vanilla extract: A warm flavor addition that would be missed if not there. It enhances the vanilla pudding flavor so much!
- Cool Whip: Remember to thaw it first. Homemade cool whip is easy if you want to give it a try!
- Instant vanilla pudding mix: Not cook and serve! It has to be an instant pudding.
- Whole milk: When mixed with the instant pudding powder it turns it into a rich, creamy, pudding.
How to Make Dirt Cake
In a medium mixing bowl, with a hand mixer whip cream cheese and butter. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, then fold in Cool Whip. Separately, mix pudding and milk until it’s thick then fold it into the cream cheese mixture.
Crush the Oreo cookies into fine cookie crumbs. Reserve 1/2 for the topping, and mix the rest with the melted butter. Press the sandy mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish and chill it in the fridge or freezer for 5 minutes.
Remove crust from the fridge and spread the pudding mixture evenly over the entire surface of the cookie crust. Smooth out the top as best as you can.
Sprinkle the remaining cookie crumbs over top, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and place the Oreo dirt cake in the fridge to chill for 4 hours before serving. Enjoy!
Serving Variations
Oreo dirt dessert is an easy dessert recipe as is, but it’s also one that is so versatile, there are endless ways to make it fit any occasion!
- Swap the regular Oreos for golden Oreos for sand instead of dirt to make it a beach theme! Mini umbrellas are optional!
- Get down and dirty for a birthday party, serve it in a bucket and add extra toppings on top. Sprinkles, hot fudge, gummy worms, mini shovels, etc. The kids love it!
- Use instant chocolate pudding instead. You won’t get the distinct black and white layers, but you’ll get even more chocolaty flavor!
- For something a little extra special for the holidays, serve the Oreo dirt cake in a trifle dish or make my recipe for Oreo pie.
- You could also make individual dirt cake cups in clear cups.
Recipe Tips
- Fine crumbs. If you can help it, it’s recommended that you use a food processor to crush the cookies into fine crumbs. It’s just easier!
- Do not overmix. You are just folding the Cool Whip and pudding mix into the cream cheese mixture. Overmixing causes a release of air and will alter the texture of the filling.
- Don’t skip the chill time. You need to allow time for the pudding to set. Otherwise, the Oreo dirt cake will be more pudding than cake!
- Prep in advance. You can also make it in the evening and allow it to chill overnight. I wouldn’t keep it any longer than that or the crust will start to get soggy.
- Use cream cheese from a block. The easy spread kind has too much water in it which won’t hold up in this dirt cake too well.
More fun kid-friendly desserts include these Fruity Pebbles treats, muddy buddies recipe, and funfetti cookies!
More Oreo Dessert Recipes
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Oreo Dirt Cake Recipe
Video
Ingredients
Oreo Crust
- 36 regular Oreos
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter , melted
Layer 1
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese , softened
- 5 Tablespoons salted butter , softened
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces Cool Whip , thawed
- 2 (3.9-ounce) boxes instant vanilla pudding
- 2 ½ cups whole milk
Instructions
Oreo Crust
- In a food processor or blender, blend 36 Oreos (whole cookies) into fine crumbs. Reserve 1/2 cup for topping and then mix in 3 Tablespoons melted butter until combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish and place in the freezer or the refrigerator for 5 minutes.
Filling
- In a medium-sized bowl, whip 8 ounces cream cheese and 5 Tablespoons butter until fluffy with an electric mixer. Mix in 2/3 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Fold in 8 ounces Cool Whip.
- In a separate bowl, whisk 2 boxes instant pudding and 2 1/2 cups milk together until thick. Let sit a few minutes to thicken. Then fold the pudding into the cream cheese mixture.
- Spread the filling evenly over the Oreo crust until smooth.
- Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup Oreo crumbs over the top. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill 4 hours before cutting and serving.
Notes
- Switch up the flavor of pudding. Cheesecake, chocolate or white chocolate would be great.
- Make in individual serving cups.
- Add gummy worms to make it fun for the kids.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
You sure can. Giving the flavors time to meld makes it even better!
You can either assemble it completely and make it up to 48 hours ahead, or keep the layers separate until you’re ready to assemble it and serve.
Any longer than 48 hours you’ll notice the crust start to get soggy.
Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The crust will be softer, but it’ll still taste great.
Technically you can freeze it for up to 1 month. If you do, be prepared that once thawed, the texture of the filling will be different.
The culprit could be not using instant pudding, or using it but not allowing it to sit and thicken before adding it with other ingredients.
You also want to make sure to use full-fat cream cheese and whole milk, and make sure the butter and cream cheese are softened beforehand.
Last, you want to make sure you’re giving the Oreo dirt cake enough time to chill and set in the fridge. No shortcuts!
Categorized as: American, Cake + Cupcakes, Desserts, Kid-Friendly, Nut-Free, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
These are really fun treats! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
This was a huge hit at our party last night! Super easy to make too so thank you.
Delicious dessert, a total hit! So easy! Oreo crust, creamy pudding cheesecake filling, topped with crushed Oreos. Optional gummy worms for fun.