Honestly, this Oreo Dirt Cake has stolen my heart. The moist chocolate cake pairs with rich hot fudge, smooth pudding, and airy Cool Whip, all crowned with crunchy crushed Oreos. Each bite delivers a perfect mix of textures and playful flavors, making it a seriously irresistible dessert masterpiece I love.
I love making my Oreo Dirt Cake recipe because it’s super simple and so fun to create. I like using a box of chocolate cake mix with water, eggs and oil, combined exactly as directed.
Then I add a package of instant chocolate pudding mix and 2 cups of cold milk to give it that rich texture. In my version, I layer the moist cake with 1 1/2 cups of hot fudge sauce and a generous dollop of Cool Whip.
I mix in 16 crushed Oreo cookies so that the dessert really has that dirt-like look. I also like to top it off with some gummy worms for a playful twist.
I think its nutritional value is decent considering its ingredients, rich in dairy protein and calcium from the milk and eggs. This no bake oreo dirt cake is one of the best oreo pudding dessert dirt cake recipes that reminds me of classic mud cake recipes oreo dirt cups.
Enjoy!
Why I Like this Recipe
I like this recipe because it’s super easy to make and the instructions are straight forward, even if I mess up a bit along the way. I love how the dessert layers all mix together into a cool texture – the moist cake crying with the fudge, pudding, and whipped topping just makes my day. I also really enjoy that it looks downright fun with the Oreo crumbs and gummy worms on top; it feels like I’m treating myself to a playful dessert. And most of all, it tastes amazing – one bite and I’m hooked on that rich, chocolaty flavor and the sweet crunch that follows.
Ingredients
- Chocolate cake mix: provides carbs and sweet flavor for a fluffy, satisfying dessert base.
- Water, eggs, and oil: essential wet ingredients that bind the mix and maintain moist texture.
- Instant chocolate pudding mix: adds creamy texture and extra chocolate goodness with hidden protein benefits.
- Hot fudge sauce: a sugary drizzle that intensifies richness without being overly healthy.
- Cool Whip: offers smooth creaminess and light texture making each bite feel heavenly.
- Oreo cookies: crunchy bits loaded with sugar, fat, and irresistible chocolate taste excitement.
- Gummy worms: a playful garnish adding fun color and a hint of fruity tang.
Ingredient Quantities
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (about 15.25 oz, like Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker)
- Water, eggs, and oil as directed on the box (usually about 1 cup water, 3 eggs, and 1/3 cup vegetable oil)
- 1 package instant chocolate pudding mix (3.9 oz)
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 1/2 cups hot fudge sauce (store bought or homemade works fine)
- 1 tub Cool Whip (8 oz or 16 oz, depending on how creamy you like it)
- 16 Oreo cookies, crushed until they look like dirt
- Gummy worms for garnish (optional but totally fun!)
How to Make this
1. Preheat your oven according to the cake mix instructions (usually around 350°F) and grease your baking dish.
2. Mix the chocolate cake mix with the water, eggs, and vegetable oil until smooth and well combined.
3. Pour the batter into the greased dish and bake for the recommended time (usually 25-30 minutes) or until a toothpick comes out clean; then let it cool.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the instant chocolate pudding mix with 2 cups of cold milk until the pudding starts to thicken.
5. Crumble the cooled cake into a large bowl to create that “dirt” texture.
6. Drizzle 1 1/2 cups of hot fudge sauce over the crumbly cake evenly.
7. Carefully spread the prepared pudding over the fudge-soaked cake, making sure it’s evenly distributed.
8. Gently fold in the Cool Whip to create a creamy layer on top of the pudding; you can use either the 8 oz or 16 oz tub depending on how creamy you like it.
9. Sprinkle the crushed Oreo cookies over the top to finish off the “dirt” look.
10. For a fun twist, add gummy worms on top as garnish and refrigerate the cake for at least one hour before serving so all the layers set nicely.
Equipment Needed
1. Oven set to about 350°F
2. Baking dish that you can grease
3. Mixing bowl for the cake batter (mixing the cake mix, water, eggs, and oil)
4. Whisk or electric mixer to blend ingredients until smooth
5. Measuring cups and spoons for water, oil, and milk
6. Separate bowl for whisking the instant pudding mix with cold milk
7. Large bowl for crumbling the cooled cake and mixing in the pudding and fudge
8. Spatula for gently folding in the Cool Whip
9. Toothpick for checking if the cake is baked through
10. Spoon for drizzling the hot fudge sauce over the cake
FAQ
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Question: Can I use any chocolate cake mix for this recipe?
Answer: Yep, any chocolate cake mix works as long as you follow the water, eggs, and oil instructions on the box. -
Question: Do I have to use store-bought hot fudge sauce or can I make it myself?
Answer: You can totally make your own hot fudge sauce. Just make sure it’s a bit runny so it blends nicely with the pudding. -
Question: How do I get the Oreos to look like dirt?
Answer: Just put the cookies in a sealable bag and crush them with a rolling pin until they come out crumbled like dirt. It’s ok if some pieces are a bit bigger. -
Question: Can I store the Oreo Dirt Cake for later?
Answer: Sure thing, just cover it up and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just be careful with those gummy worms if they’re still on top! -
Question: Is it really necessary to use gummy worms as a garnish?
Answer: Not at all, theyre just a fun extra if you want to add a playful twist. You can skip them if they’re not your thing.
OREO DIRT CAKE Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- If you can’t find the chocolate cake mix, you can use a homemade chocolate cake recipe or try another brand that your local store carries.
- Instead of the instant chocolate pudding mix, you might try using a butterscotch pudding mix for a slightly different flavor.
- If you don’t have hot fudge sauce, you can simply substitute it with chocolate syrup or even a quick homemade chocolate sauce made with cocoa powder, sugar, and heavy cream.
- For Cool Whip, you can make your own whipped cream or use any whipped topping you like if you’re looking for a fresher alternative.
- If Oreos are hard to come by, try using any kind of chocolate sandwich cookies or even crushed graham crackers for that “dirt” texture.
Pro Tips
1. Make sure your cake is totally cooled before you start crumbling it so it falls apart easier and you get that perfect dirt texture.
2. When you mix your pudding with the milk, let it sit for a few minutes so it thickens correctly. Dont rush it or you might end up with a runny layer.
3. If you wanna add extra creaminess, try using a mix of both sizes of Cool Whip, or stick with one if you like a more defined layer.
4. Be gentle when crumbling the cake; sometimes using your hands rather than a fork gives you those ideal crumbles without turning everything to dust.
5. Chill the whole dessert for at least an hour before serving so all the layers settle in and your gummy worms stay in place longer.
OREO DIRT CAKE Recipe
My favorite OREO DIRT CAKE Recipe
Equipment Needed:
1. Oven set to about 350°F
2. Baking dish that you can grease
3. Mixing bowl for the cake batter (mixing the cake mix, water, eggs, and oil)
4. Whisk or electric mixer to blend ingredients until smooth
5. Measuring cups and spoons for water, oil, and milk
6. Separate bowl for whisking the instant pudding mix with cold milk
7. Large bowl for crumbling the cooled cake and mixing in the pudding and fudge
8. Spatula for gently folding in the Cool Whip
9. Toothpick for checking if the cake is baked through
10. Spoon for drizzling the hot fudge sauce over the cake
Ingredients:
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (about 15.25 oz, like Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker)
- Water, eggs, and oil as directed on the box (usually about 1 cup water, 3 eggs, and 1/3 cup vegetable oil)
- 1 package instant chocolate pudding mix (3.9 oz)
- 2 cups cold milk
- 1 1/2 cups hot fudge sauce (store bought or homemade works fine)
- 1 tub Cool Whip (8 oz or 16 oz, depending on how creamy you like it)
- 16 Oreo cookies, crushed until they look like dirt
- Gummy worms for garnish (optional but totally fun!)
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven according to the cake mix instructions (usually around 350°F) and grease your baking dish.
2. Mix the chocolate cake mix with the water, eggs, and vegetable oil until smooth and well combined.
3. Pour the batter into the greased dish and bake for the recommended time (usually 25-30 minutes) or until a toothpick comes out clean; then let it cool.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the instant chocolate pudding mix with 2 cups of cold milk until the pudding starts to thicken.
5. Crumble the cooled cake into a large bowl to create that “dirt” texture.
6. Drizzle 1 1/2 cups of hot fudge sauce over the crumbly cake evenly.
7. Carefully spread the prepared pudding over the fudge-soaked cake, making sure it’s evenly distributed.
8. Gently fold in the Cool Whip to create a creamy layer on top of the pudding; you can use either the 8 oz or 16 oz tub depending on how creamy you like it.
9. Sprinkle the crushed Oreo cookies over the top to finish off the “dirt” look.
10. For a fun twist, add gummy worms on top as garnish and refrigerate the cake for at least one hour before serving so all the layers set nicely.