Dirt Cake

ByJennifer Allen

If you want a fun, no-bake dessert that everyone can enjoy, give this Dirt Cake a try. Made with layers of smooth pudding and crushed cookies, it’s rich, nostalgic, and incredibly simple to make. It’s always a crowd-pleaser at gatherings, and kids especially love the gummy worm topping.

A slice of dirt pudding topped with crushed cookies and gummy worms sits on a glass plate; a larger dish of the dessert and extra Oreos are nearby.

It’s the kind of dessert that brings back childhood memories but still impresses adults. The best part? You can prepare it in advance, store it in the fridge, and serve it when you’re ready.

A slice of chocolate cake with crushed cookies and gummy worms on a clear plate, surrounded by whole cookies and a striped cloth.

Ingredients

  • Oreo cookies – Finely chopped in food processor. Don’t use the bag of crumbs. You need the creme filling to help bind the crumbs.
  • Cream cheese 
  • Unsalted butter 
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla pudding mix
  • Milk
  • Whipped topping 
  • Gummy worms 
Ingredients for a dessert recipe arranged on a countertop: milk, unsalted butter, vanilla pudding mix, whipped topping, cream cheese, Oreo cookies, gummy worms, and sugar.

Instructions

  1. Crush the Oreos into fine crumbs using a food processor. If you don’t have one, place the cookies in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
  2. Beat the softened cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar together in a large bowl until smooth.
  3. Whisk the pudding mix with the cold milk in another bowl. Do it for about 2 minutes, or until thickened.
  4. Add the pudding mixture to the cream cheese mixture and stir until well combined. Gently fold in the whipped topping until the mixture is uniform.
  5. Spread a layer of crushed Oreos in the bottom of a 9×13-inch dish. Top with a layer of the pudding mixture. Continue layering, ending with a layer of cookie crumbs on top.
  6. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Right before serving, decorate with gummy worms or other fun toppings.

Step-by-Step Process

Assorted ingredients on a countertop, including milk, butter, powdered sugar, whipped topping, cream cheese, chocolate sandwich cookies, gummy worms, and shredded coconut.
Prepare all ingredients.
A food processor bowl filled with finely ground chocolate cookie crumbs sits on a light countertop next to a blue and white striped cloth.
Crush the Oreo cookies into fine crumbs.
A white mixing bowl containing cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar sits on a marble surface next to a blue striped cloth.
In a bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar until smooth.
A glass bowl filled with a pale yellow batter and a whisk, placed next to a blue striped cloth on a light surface.
In another bowl, whisk pudding mix and cold milk for 2 minutes until thick.
A glass bowl with flour, milk, and wet ingredients being mixed with a metal whisk, set on a light countertop beside a blue striped cloth.
Add pudding mixture to the cream cheese mix. Stir well.
A glass baking dish filled with a layer of crushed chocolate cookies sits on a marble surface next to a blue striped cloth and gummy worms.
Spread a layer of Oreo crumbs in a 9×13-inch dish.
A glass baking dish filled with a smooth layer of pale batter next to a blue cloth and a few gummy worm candies on a marble surface.
Add a layer of the pudding mixture over the crumbs.
A rectangular glass dish filled with a dessert topped with a layer of finely crushed chocolate cookies, placed on a marble surface next to a blue striped cloth.
Repeat the layers, ending with Oreo crumbs on top.
A glass baking dish filled with crumbled chocolate cookies topped with multi-colored gummy worms, next to a blue striped cloth on a marble surface.
Decorate with gummy worms or flowers before serving.

Chef Jenn’s Tips

  • Let the cream cheese and butter soften completely for a smooth base.
  • Prefer chocolate? Use instant chocolate pudding instead of vanilla.
  • Add extra crunch by sprinkling cookie crumbs in the middle layers.
  • Serve in clear cups or mason jars for individual portions—great for parties.

Serving Suggestions

This dessert is a fun way to finish off casual meals like burgers or BBQ sliders. It’s also a great fit for birthday parties or summer gatherings, or after a weeknight dinner like Mississippi Salisbury Steak.

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A fork holds a bite of layered chocolate and cream dessert with a slice of the dessert, chocolate cookies, and gummy worms on a plate in the background.

Storage

Cover and store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. It’s best eaten within the first 1–2 days for the best texture, as the cookies will soften over time. Avoid freezing—it doesn’t hold up well due to the creamy layers.

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A slice of dirt pudding topped with crushed cookies and gummy worms sits on a glass plate; a larger dish of the dessert and extra Oreos are nearby.

Dirt Cake

Chef Jenn
This no-bake Dirt Cake recipe layers crushed Oreos with a creamy blend of pudding, cream cheese, and whipped topping. Topped with gummy worms for a playful touch, it's a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing dessert perfect for parties, potlucks, or summer gatherings. Quick to prepare and easy to serve, it’s best enjoyed chilled.
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Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10 Servings
Calories 571 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 package Oreo cookies Finely chopped
  • 1 package cream cheese softened
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup sugar powdered
  • 2 package instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 2¾ cups cold milk
  • 1 container whipped topping like Cool Whip, thawed
  • 1 package Gummy worm

Instructions
 

  • Crush the Oreos into fine crumbs using a food processor. If you don’t have one, place the cookies in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
  • Beat the softened cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar together in a large bowl until smooth.
  • Whisk the pudding mix with the cold milk in another bowl. Do that for about 2 minutes, or until thickened.
  • Add the pudding mixture to the cream cheese mixture and stir until well combined. Gently fold in the whipped topping until the mixture is uniform.
  • Spread a layer of crushed Oreos in the bottom of a 9×13-inch dish. Top with a layer of the pudding mixture. Continue layering, ending with a layer of cookie crumbs on top.
  • Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Right before serving, decorate with gummy worms or other fun toppings.

Notes

Chef Jenn’s Tips

  • Let the cream cheese and butter soften completely for a smooth base.
  • Prefer chocolate? Use instant chocolate pudding instead of vanilla.
  • Add extra crunch by sprinkling cookie crumbs in the middle layers.
  • Serve in clear cups or mason jars for individual portions—great for parties.

Nutrition

Serving: 1squareCalories: 571kcalCarbohydrates: 80gProtein: 7gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 411mgPotassium: 265mgFiber: 1gSugar: 63gVitamin A: 572IUCalcium: 133mgIron: 6mg
Keyword dirt cake, easy no-bake dessert, gummy worm dessert, oreo pudding dessert
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