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This deliciously addicting dirt cake recipe preps in minutes for a cool, creamy, family-favorite treat perfect for Oreo lovers!
Long Time Family Favorite
Oreos are one of my favorite ingredients to add to desserts. They make everything so yummy!! That is probably why this dirt cake recipe has been one of my all-time favorite cakes since childhood.
Our mom has been making it since we were little, and it’s one of those TOP 10 recipes all the grandkids all request now. In fact, it’s become a must-have dessert for almost every family and holiday get-together because it’s so creamy and cool, beyond delicious and loved by EVERYONE!
Why we love it:
- Quick + easy. From start to finish, this easy dessert recipe for kids only takes about 10 minutes to prep.
- Good all year long. It’s cool and creamy and especially great for summer but great to enjoy all year long and for any holiday.
- Easy to change up. Switch the pudding mix or the type of Oreos to make it the flavor you need for the event/holiday.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
CHILL TIME: 3 hours
- 1 (14.3-ounce) package Oreo cookies – Change this up with your favorite Oreos
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese softened – If the cream cheese is too rich for you or it’s just not your favorite, simply leave it out! My family loves the richness that the cream cheese adds, but this dessert is delicious with or without.
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 (16-ounce) tub whipped topping (or 4 cups whipped cream)
- 2 (3.4-ounce) boxes instant white chocolate – You can also use instant vanilla pudding or instant chocolate pudding (or any flavor of choice).
- 3 cups milk – we prefer to use 2% or higher
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Make it Look More like dirt
- Add some candy bugs and gummy worms.
- Serve it out of a bucket or flower pot.
- Divide the dirt cake mixture into plastic cups, place the plastic cups in mini terra cotta flower pots, and stick a mini shovel in each one to use as a spoon.
How to Make Dirt Cake
- OREO. Crush 1 (14.3-ounce) package of Oreos (the entire Oreo) in a large resealable plastic bag with a rolling pin (for small and chunky pieces) or in the food processor (for super fine crumbs) until they are crumbs.
- Press two-thirds of the crushed cookies into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside. Reserve the remaining cookie crumbs.
- CREAM CHEESE MIXTURE. In a large bowl, beat 8 ounces of cream cheese and ½ cup butter with a hand mixer until smooth. Mix in 1 cup powdered sugar. Fold in 16-ounce whipped topping until well combined and set aside.
- PUDDING MIXTURE. In a separate bowl, mix 2 (3.4-ounce) boxes of instant white chocolate pudding powder, 3 cups of milk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Let sit until thickened.
- COMBINE. Fold this mixture into the cream cheese mixture.
- LAYER + CHILL. Carefully pour the pudding/cream cheese mixture over the crumb crust in the pan. Sprinkle with the reserved Oreo crumbs. Refrigerate for 3–4 hours before serving.
Keep it Chilled!
We don’t recommend keeping this dirt cake at room temperature for more than an hour or so before putting it back in the fridge. Plus, this dessert tastes best when nice and chilled!
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Dirt Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (14.3-ounce) package Oreos
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 (16-ounce) tub whipped topping (or 4 cups whipped cream)
- 2 (3.4-ounce) boxes instant white chocolate or vanilla pudding
- 3 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Crush all the Oreos in a large resealable plastic bag or in the food processor until they are crumbs. Press two-thirds of the crushed cookies into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside. Reserve the remaining crushed Oreos.
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter with a hand mixer until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar. Fold in whipped topping until well combined and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix pudding, milk, and vanilla. Let sit until thickened. Fold this mixture into the cream cheese mixture.
- Carefully pour the pudding/cream cheese mixture over the crumb crust in the pan.
- Sprinkle with the reserved crushed Oreos. Refrigerate for 3–4 hours before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
– Make sure to use INSTANT pudding. Whisk the pudding and milk until it takes on a creamy pudding consistency. To be extra cautious, refrigerate it for 5-10 minutes before combining it with the other ingredients.
– Use chilled metal bowls to mix and fold the ingredients in.
– Use whole milk for the creamiest texture.
– FOLD do not mix: Fold gently when adding the Cool Whip to the cream cheese mix and then again when adding the pudding.
– Use softened butter and cream cheese, but not too soft and definitely not melted.
– Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
We almost always make this Oreo dirt cake recipe ahead of time. We typically make this the morning of, but it can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Place the crushed Oreos on top right before serving – those can get a little soft with the moisture of the cake.
I do not recommend freezing this ahead of time to serve on another day, it will not thaw well. However, leftovers can be divided and frozen to eat more like ice cream.
Do you use the 3.4 oz or the 5.1 oz boxes of pudding?
Two boxes of the 3.5 oz.
hello!
I’m on my way to purchase ingredients for the cake…but a question: the kansas city dirt cake recipe states white chocolate or vanilla pudding, is the pudding instant?
Yes. I will make sure to edit the recipe so it says that. 🙂
Yes. I will make sure to edit the recipe so it says that. 🙂
Is a large cool the16 ounce size or a reg. 8 oz size
I use the LARGE size. 🙂
Getting ready to make this recipe for my sons birthday tomorrow, does it matter if the cool whip is frozen or sofTened?
Sorry to have not gotten back to you sooner. It is usually softened. Hope everyone likes it!
if ypu freeze almost like homemade icecream
Yum! My husband would appreciate this post 😀
Looks fabulous! Unfortunately I just started a healthy diet and exercise routine this week, so I’ll have to file this away for the someday-when-I’m-skinny-and-oreos-are-calorie-free file… that day will come, right???
And I have to ask what’s probably a totally dumb question… as a Kansas Citian, I can’t figure out what on Earth makes this a “Kansas City” dirt cake… I was looking for BBQ sauce, or a side of beef, maybe something jazzy… but alas, I couldn’t find any Kansas City in the cake… so where’s the name from??? 🙂 🙂 🙂
~Jess
Good question!! I have NO idea!! Our fam got the recipe so long ago and when we did it was called this, so we’ve kept the name. I’m thinking maybe someone from Kansas City made it up. ??
Nom, nom, this looks amazing!!! I love the name too, it’s always fun to have a fun name for something we love to make (and eat!)
xoxo, Tanya
Looks so yummy! For the halloween version, you using the candy corn oreos? 😉
DROOOOOOOOOOOOL ——- DROOOOOOOOOOOOL ——— DROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
MY HIPS THANK YOU