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.
This was fun to make and delicious! My husband doesn’t care for cool whip and had two servings. Couldn’t find the grass so used green sprinkles.
Thank You!
Love to hear that your hubby had two servings! It’s hard to just have one! Sprinkles are a great option 🙂 Thank you so much!
That is really cute and festive. I remember doing this when my kids were young. Thank you for the memory.
You are so welcome! That’s a good memory!
Why did my bunny cake not set up? The middle is runny. Thanks for advice
I’m not really sure what you did? Did you make the pudding according to the box, then add the milk in the recipe? I know some do & that would make it runny, because of the extra milk.
I did no follow as directed.. Maybe next time be more time aware .. Thanks
I am sorry. I try not to work on the weekends, especially since it was Easter weekend & I was out of town.
Is the pudding 2 regular boxes? Or 2 large boxes? Thanks
2 regular boxes, the ones that are 3.4 ounce. Sorry, to have not responded sooner!
Can I use a blender instead a mixer?
Can I leave overnight in the fridge?
Thanks
Yes, you can make ahead 🙂 I have not used a blender. I’m thinking that might mix it too much, but honestly I’m not sure. Hope that helps!
I love your recipes I’m making the Easter Dirt Cake this weekend!!!!
Thank you so much!! It is a must at our Easter 🙂 Hope everyone loves it!
What size cool whip container? How many oz?
It’s the 16 ounce 🙂
So I made a silly mistake and accidentally only did one small container of whip topping and I wondered why it was so soupy. Will putting it in the freezer help at all?
Hmmm..I don’t know. You didn’t make the pudding, then add more milk, did you? I know some make that mistake, which makes it super soupy. You will just have to see if that helps. I know it needs that bigger amount, so it might change it up a little.
Had a question for the the Easter dirt cake. For the 2 boxes of instant white chocolate or pudding mix, is it the small box or larger box of pudding mix? Also is there is there a white chocolate pudding mix or would I buy vanilla pudding mix?
Thank you
Marissa
It is the 3.4 ounce box & yes, there is a white chocolate pudding 🙂 Hope you like it!
where do you get edible grass?
I have found it at Target. I think Walmart might have it & probably even Amazon! Hope that helps you 😉
My only other question is that you use 2 3.4 oz pudding mix but don’t follow the directions on the box? Because then you would use 4 cups milk and not 3?
Right, do not make the pudding according to directions on the box, but on the recipe only 🙂 It will be too soupy if you do.
What size box of pudding mix for Easter dirt cake.
Thanks
It is the 3.4 ounce ones 🙂 Hope you like it!!