This Easy Dirt Cake Recipe (Oreo Dirt Pudding) is one of our favorite no-bake desserts! Crushed Oreos are layered between a french vanilla pudding mixture for a kid-friendly, make-ahead dessert recipe perfect for any potluck or BBQ! Add gummy worms for a whimsical touch!
Remove 8 Oreos from the package and place on a cutting board.
Cut the cookies into small, ¼” pieces, set aside.
Put the remaining Oreos into the container of a food processor fit with an “S” blade.
Process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You may need to pause, break apart cookies that get stuck to the blades, and continue processing.
If you don’t have a food processor, you can crush the Oreos with a rolling pin.
Set aside.
Make the pudding:
In a medium bowl, whisk together milk and pudding. Set aside in the refrigerator to solidify.
In the bowl of your standing mixer or with a hand-held mixer in a large bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese. Beat until well combined & smooth (about 30-60 seconds).
Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
Add pudding to the butter/cream cheese mixture (make sure it has set before adding), and beat on low speed to combined.
Fold in cool whip until the mixture is homogenous (uniform throughout).
Assemble:
Layer the pudding mixture and cookies. Start by pouring 2 cups of pudding mixture into the bottom of a trifle dish and spread it until level.
Sprinkle ½ cup cookie crumbs and ¼ cup chopped cookies evenly over the pudding.
Repeat using 2 cups of pudding, ½ cup cookie crumbs and ¼ cup chopped cookies for each layer.
Add gummy worms to each layer as desired, or only add some to the top.
Be sure the final layer is cookie crumbs!
Refrigerate overnight before serving.
Video
Notes
Ingredient Substitutions
Milk. I recommend using 2% milk or whole milk.
French Vanilla Pudding.This is the secret ingredient that makes this recipe the best. I use Jello Instant French Vanilla Pudding & Pie Filling and it is the absolute best. I once bought an off brand french vanilla pudding and Ritch could actually taste the difference! Now you could substitute regular vanilla pudding or chocolate pudding (to look more like dirt), but I really think the secret to making the best dirt cake ever is using french vanilla pudding!
Oreos. I only ever buy double stuffed Oreos, but any variety with any amount of "stuff" work well. This recipe calls for a 15 oz package, but you can add more if you wish! You can also use gluten-free sandwich cookies or another cookie if you prefer (such as JoJos).
Butter. salted or unsalted butter works perfectly in this recipe. I use salted.
Cool Whip. Any cool whip variety works great in this dirt cake recipe. I chose extra creamy because we are already indulging when we make this recipe, so I want it to be as rich and creamy as possible! Choose your favorite! Or you can make your own homemade whipped cream.
Store/Freeze
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days, or you can wrap the top of the serving dish with plastic wrap to keep in the refrigerator too.Store it in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Thaw slowly in the refrigerator (do not microwave).