Oreo Dirt Cake

This Oreo Dirt Cake has chocolate pudding, a chocolate Oreo topping, a layer of cookie crumbs and gummy worms on top! It’s like the childhood classic “Dirt Cups” but in a delicious cake form!

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Did you grow up requesting Dirt Cups for your birthday?? It was a favorite dessert of mine growing up!! When I chose a birthday treat for school, I typically debated between Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes and Oreo dirt dessert cups.

If you're not sure what a "dirt cup" is, it's essentially a cup with chocolate pudding, Cool Whip, Oreo crumbs and a worm setting on the top layer. It's such a delicious dessert, but I thought it would be fun to turn it into a poke cake recipe, so here we are!

Ingredients Needed

• Chocolate Cake Mix, prepared (or a homemade 9x13” chocolate cake)
• Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix
• Milk
• Oreo Sandwich Cookies
• Whipped Topping
• Chocolate Syrup
• Gummy Worms

How to Make Oreo Dirt Cake

First, you’ll make a chocolate cake. You can either use a boxed cake mix and prepare it according to the package instructions OR make a homemade chocolate cake. I love this chocolate cake recipe and use it over a box mix most times (it’s just so good)!!! 

Then use the end of a wooden spoon or a straw to poke holes into the cake. Be sure to poke the holes only about ⅔ the way through the cake, not to the bottom.

Next, you’ll mix the milk and the instant chocolate pudding mix in a medium bowl. Whisk it together (or use a hand mixer) and then reserve ½ cup of the mixture for later. Spoon the remaining pudding over the cake and spread it out evenly.

Now it's time to crush the cookies. I find it easiest to put them in a food processor, but you can also place them in a large resealable bag and crush them with a rolling pin.

Add the tub of whipped topping and ½ of the crushed cookies to the pudding that you set aside. Stir until well-mixed and then spread over the pudding.

Drizzle the chocolate syrup over the whipped topping and then cover the cake with the remaining crushed Oreos to look like dirt.

Place the gummy worms on top of the dirt cake. I recommend refrigerating for at least an hour to make sure it's completely set up before serving.

Variations

Sandy Beach Cake - Use the same concept, but use a yellow cake mix, instant vanilla pudding mix (or White chocolate or French vanilla pudding) and Golden Oreos. It'll look like a "sandy beach" rather than "dirt!"

Oreo Dirt Trifle - Make the cake, let it cool and then cut into cubes. Next, make the pudding and the whipped topping mixture. Place half of the cake cubes into a trifle dish (or glass bowl) followed by half of the pudding, half of the whipped topping mixture and half of the Oreo cookie crumbs. Repeat and then top with gummy worms!

Other Options - Feel free to get creative - there are lots of fun ways to mix it up! Use different cake flavors, pudding flavors, different flavors of Oreos, etc.!

Other Desserts for Oreo Lovers

Oreo Mini Cheesecakes - The chocolate cookies on the bottom of these are a fun surprise for weeknight desserts or special occasions!

Oreo Fudge - This easy recipe is a family favorite!! ...and it's a no bake dessert, so that's always a plus!!

Cookies and Cream Puppy Chow - Chocolate Oreos are made into fine crumbs and used as the coating in this delicious snack mix!