Easter is one of our favorite holidays to gather with friends and family. We love serving 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, festive, and 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 softened cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar and fold in whipped topping. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl use a hand mixer or stand mixer to mix instant pudding powder, milk, and 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.
Would like to know what you used for the grass, please. I’d love to make this with my 8-year old granddaughter!
This was so yummy! I posted our version on my blog with a link back to yours for the recipe (I hope that’s ok!?) Ours doesn’t look nearly as cute, but we had fun making it (and eating it!)
check ours out if you have a minute: http://www.huggedbyatomato.com/2016/03/easter-garden-cake.html
That’s totally ok:) I will check it out!! Thanks so much for sharing and I’m glad you liked it!!
Is the butter melted or softned
Softened:) Thanks for stopping by!! I know it’s passed Easter, but I have the recipe for our regular Kansas City Dirt Cake on the blog, that we enjoy all year long:)
The Easter Dirt Cake was a hit! So much fun to make, and eat! Thank you for sharing this! (For anyone planning on making the portion size in the photo, make sure you half the recipe.)
Will the peeps hold up in the fridge overnight or should I wait til tomorrow to decorate?
I couldn’t find the edible grass, so we used some food coloring to dye shredded coconut. Turned out great!
I’ve done that too:) Thanks so much for sharing!! Glad it turned out!
Does the cookie crust hold together to slice this like a cake or do you scoop it out like a pudding?
Did you give it a try? I have a recipe for Dirt Cake that we eat all year long, that is so good! It’s our go-to dessert and it’s just scooped out:)
Hi I’m from Australia and want to know what cool whip is..or what I can use as a substitute and it says a container, how much is that…?
It’s whipped cream and a 16 ounce container. You can make your own, using heavy whipping cream. Just google how to make homemade whipped cream/topping. Hope that helps!!
I’ve never had white chocolate pudding. Is it as good as regular chocolate pudding?
It’s my favorite!!! I love anything white chocolate. You could always use vanilla too:)
If i use vanilla pudding do i use vanilla extract too??
Yes 🙂 Enjoy!!
Enjoy your recipes and posts very much ! Thank you !
Thank you Pam for stopping by and checking them out!!
Do you only use the pudding mix or do you actually make the pudding?
You will just use the pudding mix, but it will get mixed with the milk and vanilla, so it’s like making the pudding. You can make this year round, without adding the treats on top..we love it!!
Do you use the pudding mix, milk and vanilla and whisk it until it is set like pudding or do you just whisk it until is mixed, but still runny and then fold it into cream cheese mix?
I whisk until it starts getting thick like pudding, then fold it in. I hope that helps you 🙂 Good luck!