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This spooky Graveyard dirt cake is EASY, festive and perfect for Halloween! It can be on the table in 10 minutes!!

Everyone (especially the kids) loves this simple Halloween Dirt Cake for all the holiday festivities. We also like to make our Pumpkin Magic Cake and Spider Cake.

Halloween dirt cake topped with mallow pumpkins in a glass baking dish


a halloween favorite

Earlier today I shared with you another family favorite recipe called Kansas City Dirt Cake.

It’s such a family favorite with its Oreo cookie crumbs, so I decided to make a different version of this cake that was jazzed up a bit for Halloween. I loved it so much and wanted to share it with you today.

Not only is it an easy and yummy cake but it’s one of those desserts that looks like you spent hours on it and really didn’t. It just looks that good!! Fun and festive, right?!

This Halloween dirt cake is definitely a family favorite!

hand full of mallow pumpkins

How to make Halloween Dirt Cake

Everyone loves this Halloween Dirt Cake recipe that tastes so delicious and simple to make for any Halloween party.

OREO. Crush ⅔ package of Oreo cookies and place in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Set aside.

FILLING. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese and margarine (or butter) until smooth with a hand mixer. Mix in powdered sugar and fold in whipped topping. Set aside.

PUDDING. In a separate bowl whisk together the instant pudding, milk and vanilla. Fold this mixture in with the cream cheese mixture.

ASSEMBLE + DECORATE. Pour and layer over the crumb mixture. Sprinkle with the reserved crushed Oreos. Add cookies and candy pumpkins to the top. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

whipped white chocolate pudding in a white bowl

Recipe Tips

For super fine Oreo crumbs you should put the Oreos in a blender or in a food processor (you can also put in a Ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin).

This “cake” is more like a delicious pudding and does not have a traditional cake texture.

Use the pudding mix only. Do NOT make the pudding first. Also, be sure that the pudding mix is the INSTANT kind. 

To serve, slice/scoop this into individual servings or you can use the tombstone cookies to scoop the cake out like a dessert dip. Do whatever feels right!

While it is not required, letting the cake set up in the fridge for an hour or so would make it easier to slice and serve.

Mother's double fudge cookies

Variations

Any rectangular shaped cookie will work for the tombstones such as: 

  • Keebler Deluxe Grahams
  • Chocolate Wafer cookies broken in half
  • Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
  • Milano Cookies
  • Use chocolate graham crackers for the tombstones
  • Use chocolate covered nutter butters

Dessert Variations – Change it up:

  • Making a white chocolate skeleton out of molds to lay on top of the cake
  • Use traditional instant chocolate pudding mix
  • Make a gate out of piped chocolate
  • Top with creepy gummy worms, ghost peeps or candy bones.
  • Make a graveyard dirt cups version in individual clear plastic cups.

Storing Info

STORE this cake covered in the fridge for up to a week.

To FREEZE this cake you will want to remove any toppings and cover the cake tightly in plastic wrap and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

This would be the perfect Halloween dessert that is festive and yummy!!

Halloween dirt cake in a glass baking dish close up image.

For some more yummy Halloween recipes:

5 from 11 votes

Halloween Dirt Cake Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
White chocolate pudding and Oreo Graveyard dirt cake is EASY, festive and perfect for Halloween! It can be on the table in 10 minutes!!
Servings: 12
Prep: 10 minutes
Refrigerate: 3 hours
Total: 3 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 package Oreos
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 16 oz cool whip
  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine
  • 6.6 oz instant white chocolate or vanilla pudding
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 package Mother's Double Fudge Cookies
  • candy corn pumpkins

Instructions 

  • Crush ⅔ package of Oreos and place in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Set aside.
  • Mix cream cheese and margarine (or butter) until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar and fold in whipped topping. Set aside.
  • In a separate bowl mix pudding, milk and vanilla. Fold this mixture in with the cream cheese mixture.
  • Pour over crumb mixture.
  • Sprinkle with the reserved Oreos.
  • Add cookies and pumpkins to the top. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 530kcal, Carbohydrates: 63g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Cholesterol: 47mg, Sodium: 454mg, Potassium: 229mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 50g, Vitamin A: 615IU, Calcium: 125mg, Iron: 3.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Making this recipe? Tag us!
Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!


About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




19 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I make your Kansas city dirt cake ALL the time! This is such a fun version and Im just in time to make it this month for Halloween.

  2. 5 stars
    A very favorite dessert that we have been making for years. Creamy and over the top delicious! Great for Halloween.

      1. it might be helpful to edit it to say pudding mix, i had made the pudding as well and was surprised at the amount of milk i was going to have to add before i came and read the comments to see if anyone else had the same question i did. otherwise the user is adding 6 cups of milk. thanks –