Easter Dirt Cake is a delicious and fun dessert that is perfect for Springtime. Like the traditional dirt cake, it's an easy recipe. Made with chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos, and Cool Whip, and it's always a huge hit at parties! The perfect end for Easter Dinner!
Next time try this recipe for Chocolate Hershey Pie!
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Why you'll love this recipe
It's a simple no bake dessert!
✔️ It's festive, colorful, and most importantly fantastic!
✔️ A delicious dessert that everyone will love.
✔️ Kids will love helping to make this tasty treat. It's just so much fun to eat and enjoy!
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- One package of Oreo cookies or other chocolate cookies if you'd prefer.
- cream cheese
- butter
- powdered sugar
- cool whip
- INSTANT pudding mix, you can use instant chocolate pudding or vanilla pudding mix - either is delicious!
- milk
- Easter Candy - Peeps bunnies, candy eggs or easter m&m and sprinkles
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Place cookies in a large ziplock bag. Using a rolling pin, crush the Oreos into fine crumbs and place ⅔ in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and mix again. Fold in cool whip, set aside.
- Prepare the pudding in a separate bowl. Whisk together the milk and chocolate pudding mixes. Fold into the cream cheese mixture.
- Pour over Oreo crust.
- Top the pudding cheesecake filling with remaining crushed Oreos, sprinkle them evenly over the top, refrigerate.
- Decorate with easter candies, mini eggs and marshmallow peeps before serving, and enjoy!
Equipment
- large storage bag
- 9x13 inch pan
- large bowls
- whisk
FAQ's
The dirt pudding cake is traditionally made with chocolate pudding, cream cheese, and Cool Whip.
It gets its name from the "dirt" or Oreo crumbs that make up the top layer.
Dirt cakes are believed to have originated in the United States and are a twist on a Mississippi Mud Cake.
Things to know
- You'll need to allow time for the cake to chill in the fridge before serving. I recommend making it at least a few hours ahead of time, or even the night before.
- If you want to get really creative, you can use fun-shaped pans to make this Easter Dirt Cake. I have used both bunny and chick pans with great success.
- For a little extra flavor, try adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the pudding mixture.
- Easter Dirt Cake is best enjoyed within a few days of making it.
- This recipe can easily be halved to make a smaller batch or doubled for a larger batch.
- Instead of crushing your Oreo's in a ziploc bag you can crush them in a food processor or blender instead.
Variations
- Dip strawberries in orange melt-aways and "plant" them in the dirt, they will look like little carrots!
- You can also make adorable easter dirt cake cups. Make chocolate pudding cups by layering the cake inside plastic cups or flower pots for Easter dirt cups - fun!
- Use chocolate candy eggs instead of the easter m&m's for an Easter egg hunt.
- You could use any type of cookie for the crust, graham crackers, or even gingersnaps!
- Edible grass, coconut grass or "grass" made with green sprinkles or coconut mixed with a little green food coloring.
- Gummy worms are also a fun topper to use on top of this dirt cake.
Storage
Refrigerate - Store the Easter Dirt Cake in an airtight container for up to 3 days. However, do not refrigerate the peeps; just remove them before refrigerating.
Freezer - You can freeze this dessert for up to 2 months if you remove the marshmallows first. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
Related recipes
- Apple Spice Bundt Cake is simple to make and full of delicious and comforting flavor.
- Better than Sex Cake is a delicious blend of chocolate and caramel that you won't be able to resist.
- This sweet and gooey Butter Cake is a dessert for the whole family.
- The Strawberry Crunch Cake Recipe is always a hit!
- Spooky and fun, the Halloween Dirt Cake is super fun for parties in October!
Serve with
- Orange Marmalade Ham is the perfect main dish to go along with this tasty Easter dessert.
- Free up oven space on Easter by making this Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe.
- Steamed Green Beans are a simple vegetable side dish that is always a staple at Easter.
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If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Easter Dirt Cake Recipe
Equipment
- 9x13 casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 package Oreos
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese softened
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 16 oz cool whip
- 2 boxes INSTANT chocolate pudding 3.9 oz box size
- 3 cups milk
- Easter Candy - Easter Peeps candy eggs or easter m&m and sprinkles
Instructions
- Place cookies in a large ziplock bag. Crush the Oreos and place ⅔ in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl cream together the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and mix again. Fold in cool whip, set aside.
- Prepare the pudding. Whisk together the milk and chocolate pudding mixes. Fold into the cream cheese mixture.
- Pour over Oreo crumb mixture.
- Top with remaining crushed Oreos, sprinkle them evenly over the top, refrigerate.
- Decorate with easter candy before serving and enjoy!
Notes
- Dip strawberries in orange melt-aways and "plant" them in the dirt, they will look like little carrots!
- You can also make this recipe inside plastic cups or flower pots for individual servings.
- Use chocolate candy eggs instead of the easter m&m's for an Easter egg hunt.
- You could use any type of cookie for the crust, graham crackers, or even gingersnaps!
- Edible Easter grass or coconut grass would also look cute on top of this delicious cake.
- Gummy worms are also a fun topper to use on top of this dirt cake.
Lois says
This is just a fun wonderful cake for a treat on Easter. Love it.