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Best OREO Dirt Cake Recipe. Ever.

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This is quite literally the best OREO Dirt Cake recipe (OREO Dirt Pudding) on the internet. In just 15 minutes plus chill time, you can make this delicious dessert with yummy chocolate and cream OREO cookies layered with a rich, creamy custard.

dirt cake with oreo on top in glass trifle dish

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What is dirt cake?

Dirt Cake is a classic all American dessert recipe, also called Dirt Pudding. It features layers of crushed OREO cookies and a thick, creamy custard that just melts in your mouth. It is often served with gummy worms on top (pictures below.)

No only is it a no bake dessert, but it is perfect to make ahead for entertaining or potlucks.

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.

Ingredients

  • OREO cookies
  • butter
  • cream cheese
  • powdered sugar
  • milk
  • French Vanilla pudding mix
  • Cool Whip
dirt cake ingredients oreos pudding mix milk butter cream cheese whipped cream powdered sugar

Step by step

creamed cream cheese and butter on the whisk of a stand mixer

Step 1: Combine sugar, butter, and cream cheese

You can make the OREO 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.

overhead view of stand mixer glass and measuring cups full of milk container whipped cream pudding mix

Step 2: Make the pudding

In a separate large bowl whisk together the milk, pudding mix, and whipped cream as shown in photo 1 below.

As the mixture combines you will notice the whipped topping stays on the top like in photo 2 below.

Continue mixing until the mixture is completely uniform like photo 3 and a lovely buttery yellow color.

collage of step by step photos for mixing pudding for dirt cake

Pour the whipped cream mixture into the cream cheese mix as shown in photo 4 above and mix on medium speed until completely blended. The pudding will be thick and thicken further as it sits.

collage showing before and after pulsing OREOs in a blender to crumbs

STYLING TIP: For a pretty presentation, set aside one OREO to top the dirt cake with after it’s finished!

Step 3: Crush OREOS

Use a food processor or blender (affiliate link) to crush the OREO cookies into fine crumbs as shown above.

You can also crush the OREOs by hand by placing them in a gallon size Ziploc bag, sealing it, and crushing with a rolling pin. (The kids love to help with this!)

Step 4: Layer the dirt pudding and OREOs

To layer in a trifle dish, you will need your pudding mix, cookie crumbs, a ladle, and two spoons-one for the cookies and one to spread the pudding.

Now it’s time to layer the dirt cake! I like to make this recipe in a trifle dish so you can see all the deliciousness! If you don’t have a trifle dish you can easily make it in a 9×13 pan, the layers will just be thinner.

step by step tutorial for spreading pudding mix in a trifle dish for dirt cake

How to make perfect layers in a trifle dish

Use a ladle to scoop about a cup of pudding mixture (photo 2) and plop it right down in the middle of your trifle dish.

Use the back of a spoon (photo 3 above) to push the pudding out from the middle to the edges of the dish.

TIP: 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.

step by step layering cookies crumbs and pudding for dirt cake

Sprinkle about 1/4 inch even 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 remaining cookie crumbs until it is gone, usually four layers of each.

TIP: 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 or gummy worms if desired.

top of a dirt cake covered in crumbed OREOs with whole OREO on top

Tips & Tricks

  • Be sure to thoroughly soften the butter and cream cheese before creaming together to ensure your pudding layer turns out smooth without lumps.
  • If your dirt cake turns out runny instead of thick, check to make sure you used INSTANT pudding mix, 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.
dirt cake in a red flower pot with two gummy worms

Substitutions

  • Milk: Use any milk for this recipe, I usually use 2%
  • Pudding: For the very best results use Jello Instant French Vanilla pudding, regular vanilla can be used if necessary. Make sure it is INSTANT, not stovetop. I have readers who have used instant chocolate pudding for another variation with good results.
  • Cool Whip: Any brand of whipped topping is fine, there is no difference between brands.
  • OREOs: I have made this with both regular and double stuffed OREOs. If you use Double Stuff you may want to add a little more than one package so there is plenty of cookie in the dirt layers. I don’t suggest off-brand sandwich cookies.

Serving suggestions

  • I usually use a trifle dish so you can see all those delicious layers but you can also serve this in a 9 by 13 inch glass baking dish.
  • 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, especially for kids.
  • This recipe is also cute in a sand bucket with a shovel for serving.
  • You can also serve it in clear plastic single serve cups like I did with these strawberry “carrots” for this Easter dirt cake recipe.

For similar recipes try my Peanut Butter Dirt Cake Trifle, Mint OREO Truffles, or 3 Ingredient OREO Fudge.

OREO dirt cake in a trifle dish

Useful Tools:

If you’ve tried this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!

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easy oreo dirt cake trifle

Dirt Cake Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 11 reviews

  • Author: Melissa Riker
  • Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

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

Units Scale
  • 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

  1. Cream together butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar in a large bowl until just blended. Do not over mix.
  2. In a separate large bowl whisk together pudding mix, milk, and Cool Whip. 
  3. Add pudding mixture to the cream cheese mixture and mix until uniform.
  4. Crush Oreos into fine crumbs using a food processor or blender (affiliate link).
  5. 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.
  6. Use a large spoon to cover pudding with about 1/4 inch of OREO crumbs. 
  7. 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.
  8. For best results, chill at least two hours before serving.

Equipment

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.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours
  • Category: dessert
  • Method: none
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 274
  • Sugar: 29 g
  • Sodium: 210.8 mg
  • Fat: 14.3 g
  • Trans Fat:
  • Carbohydrates: 33 g
  • Protein: 4.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 34.3 mg

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137 Comments

  1. First….I love this recipe! The recipe actually says “Instant Pudding” so that’s not the problem. The reason why people are having “pudding soup” is because they’re making the pudding with the 2 cups of milk the box is requesting(which is a total of 4 cups for the 2 pudding boxes) AND…. they’re adding the 3.5 cups the recipe is requesting.

  2. I just wanted to say that mine turned out fine and I accidentally poured the milk in the cream cheese,butter and powdered sugar mixture Before I had creamed it…. I am having a Hectic Night been busy all day so I messed up!
    Anyway,I just dumped in the pudding and I beat it like Crazy..lol
    I then folded in the cool whip and it turned out Great!! Thank God!!
    Thank you so much for this recipe it is So So Good!! Happy Thanksgiving!! 🙂

  3. Made this for work….stuck some fake eyeballs on the top to make it more Halloweenish….everyone loved it!!! Super easy and a great hit!!! Thxs for sharing.

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    1. You want to follow the directions as they are written. In one bowl, mix the cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar until it’s smooth. Don’t over mix cream cheese – that can also cause some of the runny/soupy results the previous commenters are saying they have had.

      In another bowl, mix your milk and pudding together. I would then add the Cool Whip once the pudding and milk have combined.

      Then you dump the pudding/Cool Whip mixture into the cream cheese mixture.

      Hope that helps and isn’t too late!

      1. Totally agree Mandy, follow the directions exactly as written and it should turn out perfect! This is one of my very favorite recipes!

  5. This is a good recipe. For those that think it is too runny. I only use 2 – 2.5 cups of milk because I like mine thick anyways. I also use 12 oz of cool whip instead of 8. I do one batch vanilla and one chocolate and layer with the chocolate on top.

  6. This recipe is excellent. It is a lovely simple trifle recipe. You can use other cookies too. Pecan sandies with butterscotch pudding, vanilla wafers with banana pudding, etc are all excellent combinations. If using cookies other than those with a icing middle add melted butter and a small amount of sugar so there is some sticky body to the mixture to layer. Dirt cake is similar to the very well known Southern classic trifle Banana Pudding made with Vanilla Wafers which is served warm. These recipes are fun to experiment with to find your own favorite.

  7. I also have an aunt who serves hers in a flower pot. In our family we call it “dirt dessert”. I love how pretty it looks in a trifle.

  8. Just a thought, what if people are adding the 3.5 cups of milk on top of the milk that the pudding calls for, that would be a reason why it’s extremely runny. Trying the recipe out right now!! Pinned it a few days ago and have been wanting it every time I see it on my Pinterest 🙂

    1. True Paige. Be sure to only use the 3.5 cups and make sure it’s instant pudding! I hope you like it- it’s my absolute favorite!!

  9. For those wanting a different flavor than the traditional vanilla/chocolate, I have used banana, peppermint, and strawberry extract in the pudding mixture. Will prob be using cherry next as my kids (5 Girls!) love this as their birthday cake. I use a garden pot (no holes on the bottom), a gardening trowel as the serving spoon, and each girl has their own set of fake flowers that goes in the pot on their birthday. I have been making this for years and it was previously made for me and my sisters by my parents when we were growing up.

    1. Great ideas Amanda! I grew up with dirt cake too and my aunt served it in the pot too, love it!

  10. We always use instant chocolate pudding instead of vanilla and it’s the best!! Also we use a pre-made oreo crust you can buy in the baking aisle. Then the mixture of pudding then the crushed Oreos on top. And some gummy worms if desired. Once you try it with chocolate pudding, you’ll never go back to vanilla 🙂

  11. I noticed there wasn’t a size on what pudding box you bought. There are a couple different sized in INSTANT pudding box option. Going to the store tomorrow and need to know which to purchase! Thanks!

    1. Hi Katrina, they are the smaller boxes, I don’t know what the exact size is but I am going to the store tomorrow and will look and update the post-looking online it looks to be the 3.4 ounce size. I’ll check for sure tomorrow though. Thanks so much for pointing that out so I can fix it! Take care!

    1. Hi Tonya, I crush the entire Oreo! I usually dump a package into a gallon zip lock bag and seal it then use a rolling pin to crush them. (Just make sure the bag is all the way closed!)

  12. This recipe is not turning out!!!!! This recipe needs to be edited to call for “INSTANT PUDDING”. Use instant pudding to not have pudding soup!

    1. I’m so sorry the recipe didn’t turn out for you Bobbi but I wanted to thank you IMMENSELY because I have been trying to figure out for a year and a half why every now and then it doesn’t turn out for someone!!! It never occurred to me that I hadn’t specified Instant pudding because I’ve never bought the other kind myself! Thank you!

  13. I added another 8 oz cool whip and chilled it overnight. It did solidify after being in the fridge.
    I suppose the other dirt cake recipe I had tried didn’t have the same consistency. I was looking for another one simply because the first one I tried left me with a lot of extra pudding mixture. You have been very helpful. I will view the video!

    1. Hey there, me again! Did you chill the dirt cake before serving it? I recreated it tonight and I could see how it may seem thin as you are layering it but after chilling it per the recipe it was perfect. I made a video when I made it today and will add it to the post in the coming week to see if it helps. ~Melissa

      1. Hi Melissa,

        Do you “make” the pudding according to the box before adding it or do you just use to the pudding mix dry and add it with all the other stuff?

  14. I followed the exact recipe. I am definitely not a “natural” cook which is why I search out recipes. With that being said, I wonder if it has anything to do with the humidity of southern living. I have always heard it effects baking! Just a fat guess!

    1. Where are you? I’m in NC and have always been in the south… I’m going to make it Friday to try and figure out what might be going wrong.

    1. I’m so sorry Bridget…for the life of me I can’t figure out why a few people haven’t had luck with the recipe-I’ve been using the same one for going on 20 years and have never had it turn out thin like that. Did you make any substitutions? I’m determined to figure out why a few people are having “soupy” results.

      1. I’m sure these people that are having problems are actually making the pudding per the instructions on the back of the pudding box, then adding pudding to the recipe. That is not what you’re supposed to do. You simply pour the pudding powder in with the other ingredients listed on that step and mix. I guarantee you this is their problem!

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