Easter is one of our favorite holidays to gather with friends and family and to have some of our favorite recipes – and of course desserts!
Easter dirt cake takes our classic Dirt Cake and with a few additions, makes it a deliciously festive treat. It is a super easy recipe (just 15 minutes of prep), and one the kids love to be in charge of making! And really, who doesn’t love Oreo treats? Our kids sure do. Plus, it’s adorable and festive – great for sharing!
We love this holiday version of our dirt cake and make it EVERY year! For more Easter desserts, try Carrot Cake Cookies or Easter Basket Cookie Cups.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Minutes to make. Easter dirt cake only takes about 15 minutes to make. It does need to chill and set in the fridge.
- Great for little helpers. It takes little work and the result is amazing.
- Favorite flavors. If you like PEEPS and Oreos, you’ll love this Easter cake. The kids go nuts for it and adults do too!
Easter Dirt Cake Ingredients
- Oreos (1, 13.29-ounce package): Crushed into crumbs for the chocolaty base and the cute “dirt” topping. Any flavor can be used and no need to remove the cream filling. Use a food processor to create the Oreo crumbs or place the Oreos in a Ziploc bag and crush them using a rolling pin. Create fine crumbs or more chunky crumbs.
- Cream cheese, softened (1, 8-ounce package): Adds tang and body so the filling is rich yet not too sweet.
- Unsalted butter, softened (½ cup): Creams with the cheese for a smooth, stable filling.
- Powdered sugar (1 cup): Sweetens and keeps the filling silky.
- Cool Whip (1, 16-ounce container): Folds in lightness for a fluffy, spoonable texture. Or use Homemade Whipped Cream
- Instant white chocolate or vanilla pudding mix (2, 3.4-ounce boxes): Creates a smooth, quick custard that thickens the layers without cooking. Be sure to use INSTANT pudding as the cook-and-serve kind will not set. Instead of white chocolate, try instant vanilla pudding, instant cheesecake pudding, or instant chocolate pudding mix.
- Milk (3 cups): Hydrates the pudding for a velvety consistency.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Rounds out flavor and adds bakery style aroma.
- Easter candy, PEEP bunnies, edible grass, candy Easter eggs: Festive toppers that turn the pan into a spring garden, or add Carrot Chocolate Covered Strawberries.
Make Homemade Grass
In a separate bowl add ⅛ cup to ¼ cup of shredded coconut, add 1-2 drops of green food coloring, and stir. Continue adding food coloring one drop at a time until you reach your desired color. Sprinkle the coconut grass pieces over the dirt cake.
How to Make Easter Dirt Cake
OREO CRUST. Crush ⅔ package of Oreos and place it in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Set aside.
CREAM LAYER. Use a hand mixer, or stand mixer, to mix 8 ounces of softened cream cheese and ½ cup softened butter until smooth. Mix in 1 cup powdered sugar and fold in 16 ounces whipped topping. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl use a hand mixer or stand mixer to mix 2 boxes of instant pudding powder, 3 cups milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Fold this mixture in with the cream cheese mixture. Pour over the crumb mixture.
TOPPINGS. Sprinkle with the reserve crushed Oreos. Let set for a few hours and keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Top with marshmallow PEEPS, edible grass, and Easter-colored M&Ms right before serving.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Crush Oreos finely for the base and leave a few chunkier crumbs for the top so it looks like real “dirt.”
- Beat cream cheese and butter until completely smooth before adding sugar to avoid lumps.
- Let the pudding sit a minute after whisking so it begins to thicken, then fold into the cream cheese mixture.
- Chill at least 2 to 4 hours so slices hold shape; overnight is even better.
- Add Peeps, edible grass, and eggs right before serving so colors stay bright and tops stay crisp.
- Make Individual Servings. Divide into individual-sized portions. Use 8-ounce plastic party cups, mini pie tins, or Dixie cups. Simply fill the smaller serving containers with the pudding mixture, sprinkle on the Oreos, and top with festive decorations. Be sure to have spoons available.
Easter Dirt Cake Recipe
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (13.29-ounce) package Oreos
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 (16-ounce) container Cool Whip
- 2 (3.4-ounce) boxes instant white chocolate, or instant vanilla pudding mix
- 3 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Easter candy, (PEEP bunnies, edible grass, candy Easter eggs)
Instructions
- Crush ⅔ package of Oreos and place it in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Set aside.
- Mix cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar and fold in whipped topping. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl mix pudding powder, milk, and vanilla. Fold this mixture in with the cream cheese mixture.
- Pour over the crumb mixture.
- Sprinkle with the reserve crushed Oreos. Let set for a few hours and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
- Right before serving, top with bunny Peeps, edible grass, and Candy Easter Eggs.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Make this up to 24 hours in advance. Cover it with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. Add Easter candy before serving.
Cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for 3-4 days. The candies may need to be removed to do this.
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This recipe was first shared March 2018.
This looks so good. Can I double the recipe in the 9×13 pan?
Yummy
I made this last year for Easter after seeing it on your site. The grandkids loved it and also the adults. So easy and delicious! I’ve been using your recipes for awhile. You have the best recipes! Thank you!
Looking to make this for my daughter’s 1st birthday. Instead of using a 9×13 can the recipe be followed and placed into individual dessert cups for kids to enjoy?
My kids had the funnest time helping me make this AND eat it! So perfect in every way!
This is so adorable and cute! Kids super loved it! Can’t wait to make it again with the kids!
Delicious! But more importantly it was a fun project for me to make with my kids. Their friends loved it!
Yay! That makes me so happy to hear!
Hi Kristyn! Would the “cook and serve” pudding be ok to use with this recipe as well? Thanks in advance. BTW, I love all your recipes and direct my friends to your website! Thanks!
You cannot use the cook-n-serve pudding without adjusting the other ingredients and steps of the recipe. You need the instant pudding mix so that the dessert will set correctly.
The family had so much fun helping with the decoration. Turned out really delicious too.
So happy to hear that!!
how many ounces is the large cool whip? Our store has 8 oz as the largest size but I have heard there is a size larger
Yes, there is a 16 ounce size that is the larger one.
This is the best dirt cake recipe ive ever made! 1 question: I know it says 12 servings but what is the actual serving size? My daughter is T1D and its important to know. . I appreciate the nutrition facts included. 🙂
If you split the 9×13 into 12 servings (pieces), it would be about 10 ounces a serving.