This is quite literally the best Dirt Cake recipe on the internet. In just 15 minutes you can make this delicious dessert with yummy chocolate and cream OREO cookies layered with a rich, creamy custard.
Dirt Cake is a classic all American dessert recipe. It features layers of crushed OREO cookies and a thick, creamy custard that just melts in your mouth. It takes just 15 minutes to make and is guaranteed to be the hit of the party!
How to Make Dirt Cake
This recipe is very easy to make, in just 15 minutes you can have it ready to go. It does need to chill in the refrigerator at least two hours for the best taste though so plan ahead. I personally prefer to let it sit overnight so I try to make it the day before ideally.
(Full step-by-step How to Make OREO Dirt Cake video at the bottom of the post!)
Dirt Cake Ingredients
- OREO cookies
- butter
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
- milk
- French Vanilla pudding mix
- Cool Whip
Making the Pudding Mixture
You can make the dirt pudding mixture with either a hand mixer or stand mixer (affiliate link). Combine softened cream cheese, softened butter, and powdered sugar and cream together in the mixer until combined.
In a separate large bowl whisk together the milk, pudding mix, and whipped cream as shown in step 1 below. As the mixture combines you will notice the whipped topping stays on the top like in step 2. Continue mixing until the mixture is completely uniform like step 3 and a lovely buttery yellow color.
Pour the whipped cream mixture into the cream cheese mix as shown in step 4 above and mix on medium speed until completely blended. The pudding will be thick and thicken further as it sits.
STYLING TIP: For a pretty presentation, set aside one OREO to top the dirt cake with after it’s finished!
Use a food processor or blender (affiliate link) to crush the OREO cookies into fine crumbs as shown above. I use my Ninja Blender for this and it works perfectly with just a few pulses.
Layering the OREO Dirt Cake in a Trifle Dish
Now it’s time to layer the dirt cake! I like to make my dirt cake in a trifle dish so you can see all the deliciousness! You will need your dirt pudding mix, cookie crumbs, a ladle, and two spoons-one for the cookies and one to spread the pudding as shown in step 1 below.
Use a ladle to scoop about a cup of pudding mixture (step 2) and plop it right down in the middle of your trifle dish. Use the back of a spoon (step 3 above) to push the pudding out from the middle to the edges of the dish. If you are worried about smudges showing on the glass, use a paper towel to wipe them clean as you go as in step 4 above.
Sprinkle about 1/4 inch layer of OREO crumbs over the pudding (step 1 above). Continue layering the pudding adding new layers to the middle of the cookie layer (step 2) then gently pushing the pudding to the edges (step 3). Add the pudding and OREO crumbs until it is gone, usually four layers of each.
For the prettiest layers always place the custard in the middle over the crumbs and push outward gently with the back of a spoon. Pat the top layer of OREO down with the back of a spoon as well (step 4 above). Top with a whole OREO if desired.
Expert Tips for Making Dirt Cake
- Be sure to thoroughly soften the butter and cream cheese before creaming together to ensure your pudding layer turns out smooth.
- If your dirt cake turns out runny instead of thick, check to make sure you used INSTANT pudding, not traditional stovetop pudding.
- If you do not have a food processor or blender (affiliate link) to crush the OREOS, simply place them in a large gallon storage bag and crush with a rolling pin.
- You can eat the dirt cake right away but it tastes so much better if you let it chill to let the flavors blend. I recommend no less than 2 hours of chill time or preferably overnight.
- To achieve the pretty layers in a trifle dish, ladle the pudding mixture into the direct center of the dish then use the back of a spoon to gently push it towards the edges. Keep the spoon away from the crumbs so they don’t mix together.
VIDEO: How to Make OREO Dirt Cake
How to Serve Dirt Cake in a Flower Pot
My aunt always served her dirt cake in a plastic flower pot with gummy worms and fake flowers stuck in. It is a super cute way to serve dirt cake. If you know a kid who loves dirt cake, try serving it up in mini flower pots like this and watch those smiles!
For similar recipes try my Peanut Butter Dirt Cake Trifle, Mint OREO Truffles, or 3 Ingredient OREO Fudge.
Useful Tools for Making Dirt Cake:
You might also like these OREO dessert recipes:
- Dark Chocolate Mint OREO Truffles
- Red Velvet OREO Pudding Cups by Shaken Together
- OREO Fudge
- Dirt Cake Pie
If you’ve tried this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!
OREO Dirt Cake Recipe
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This is quite literally the best Dirt Cake recipe on the internet. In just 15 minutes you can make this delicious dessert with yummy chocolate and cream OREO cookies layered with a rich, creamy custard.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup butter, softened
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 packages French Vanilla Jello INSTANT Pudding
- 3 1/2 cups milk
- 8 oz container of Cool Whip
- 1 family size (1 lb 3 oz) package OREOS cookies
Instructions
- Cream together butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar in a large bowl until just blended. Do not over mix.
- In a separate large bowl whisk together pudding mix, milk, and Cool Whip.
- Add pudding mixture to the cream cheese mixture and mix until uniform.
- Crush Oreos into fine crumbs using a food processor or blender (affiliate link).
- Use a ladle to scoop about 1-1 1/4 cups pudding mix into the center of a trifle dish. Push to the edges with the back of a spoon.
- Use a large spoon to cover pudding with about 1/4 inch of OREO crumbs.
- Repeat layers until done, about 4 layers of each. Tap final OREO layer into the top of the dirt cake with the back of a spoon.
- For best results, chill at least two hours before serving.
Notes
- Be sure to thoroughly soften the butter and cream cheese before creaming together to ensure your pudding layer turns out smooth.
- If your dirt cake turns out runny instead of thick, check to make sure you used INSTANT pudding, not traditional stovetop pudding.
- If you do not have a food processor or blender to crush the OREOS, simply place them in a large gallon storage bag and crush with a rolling pin.
- You can eat the dirt cake right away but it tastes so much better if you let it chill to let the flavors blend. I recommend no less than 2 hours of chill time or preferably overnight.
- To achieve the pretty layers in a trifle dish, ladle the pudding mixture into the direct center of the dish then use the back of a spoon to gently push it towards the edges. Keep the spoon away from the crumbs so they don’t mix together.
Keywords: oreo dirt cake, dirt cake
This post was originally published in August of 2012 and updated May 2019 with new photos and additional details.
Keone says
Im just curious, can you use regular sugar instead of powdered sugar?
Danielle says
I wouldn’t use regular granulated sugar if I were you. it won’t dissolve and I’ll make the cream cheese frosting that you mix with everything else grainy.
Finley Anthony says
How many does this recipe typically serve?
Melissa says
About a dozen depending on serving size!
Emily says
Quick question.. if I chill this before layering, will the pudding layer be too thick to use with a piping bag? I’m going to be making the pudding a day ahead of time, and then layering the morning I need it so the Oreos don’t get soft. Thanks!
Aman says
I really love this cake recipe. And you have made it with cream cheese icing, it’s really going to be awesome in taste.You have really done a nice job. As you have shared the best things for me. Even this recipes can be made in busy time also. It’s really special for me. thanks for sharing it here on this site.
Johnna says
Made this for a Halloween party I have for my niece & nephew & it turned out great. I used instant chocolate pudding instead of vanilla. We used Vienna finger cookies for tombstones & wrote RIP on them & put them in the pudding to look like a graveyard. This recipe is a keeper!
Melissa says
Such a cute idea, I may have to try that next year!!
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Zach says
I just made this today for the first time and I can’t for the life of me fathom how people are getting a soupy result out of this. Some people, I think, just need to stay out of the kitchen! Happy Thanksgiving!!
Resep Masakan says
I love this recipe! Would it be just as yummy with chocolate pudding instead of vanilla, I wonder?
Thanks for sharing this !
Melissa says
I’ve had readers make it will all sorts of different variations in both the pudding flavor and OREO flavor-I don’t think you can go wrong Resep! ~Melissa
Sam says
I was living in Japan without an oven, but wanted to make a crowd-pleasing American dessert. I remembered loving dirt cake at birthdays as a kid and decided to try making it. I found your recipe, which is indeed wonderful, but did not have access to cool whip. Instead, I made homemade whipped cream (by hand since I had no blender/mixer). It worked out really really well.
resep minuman says
nice, i like it.
Resep Kue says
thanks melisha for cakes recipes,… i can feel this recipes so easy to try..
thanks so much melisha.. you are great 🙂
Katie says
This recipe isn’t that good. Little to no flavor of the pudding mixture.
Melissa says
So sorry you didn’t enjoy it Katie, I haven’t had anyone complain of that before, I actually love the flavor of the pudding layer-did you change the ingredients at all? I’m curious what went wrong…
Brandi says
Hi, this is probably a stupid question, but what size trifle dish do I need for this recipe? Thank you.
Melissa says
Mine is a 3 quart dish Brandi!
Heidi says
So…just to clarify- I don’t need to boil the instant pudding powder/milk ahead of time? I’m just adding the powdery packets along with 3.5 cups milk and cool whip? I’ve tried both ways…the second time not doing any boiling-but it seemed super soupy (hoping as it chills it all thicken up) Then I started reading all the comments. But maybe the recipe could read “whisk pudding powder mix” for those that are confused like me 🙂
Melissa says
I’ll make that clarification Heidi. You don’t do anything with the instant pudding mix but whisk it into the milk and cool whip. It does thicken quite quickly when it chills-I just made this again for my husband’s military promotion party this past week!
Clara Ingewati says
wow…. it’s look heavenly delicious <3
Rachel Page says
My goodness that sounds amazing. I bet the flavor was fantastic.
Melissa says
It’s my absolute favorite dessert Rachel, let me know if you try it what you think!
Amanda says
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I cannot wait to try it! I may have missed it, but do you have an idea of how many it will serve? I think I need to double the recipe but wanted to check if you had a guesstimate. Thank you!
Melissa says
It serves 8 Amanda!
Sinthia Lawren says
Dark cake is my favorite along. I will try to make this. Thanks for sharing.
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Such a fun recipe! Love the gummy worms!
Patrick says
Please specify measurement amounts of packages. It is helpful for overseas readers and also, over time, packaging may change.