Description
This Halloween Dirt Cake is a festive no-bake dessert featuring a creamy chocolate pudding layer with a crunchy Oreo crust, decorated with spooky tombstone cookies and gummy worms. It’s perfect for Halloween parties and easy to prepare with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese (1 package room temperature)
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 8 ounce container frozen whipped topping (thawed)
- 2 3.4 ounce boxes Instant Chocolate pudding
- 3 cups milk (to make the pudding)
Oreo Crust and Topping
- 1 15.5 ounce package Oreo Cookies (a regular size bag)
Tombstone Graveyard Decorations
- 8-10 Nutter Butter Cookies
- 6 ounces White Candy Melts
- ¼ cup chocolate chips (melted for writing RIP on cookies)
- 8-9 gummy worms (or other Halloween candy)
Instructions
- Prepare the cream cheese mixture: Blend the softened cream cheese with a stand or hand mixer until smooth. Add the softened butter and mix until combined. Slowly add the powdered sugar and thawed whipped topping and mix at a slow speed until incorporated. Set aside.
- Make the pudding: Prepare the instant chocolate pudding in a large bowl using 3 cups of milk according to the package directions. Once set, gently fold the cream cheese mixture into the pudding using a spatula until fully combined. Set aside.
- Crush the Oreos: Place Oreo cookies, including filling, into a food processor and pulse until finely crushed. You may need to crush in two batches if necessary.
- Create the Oreo crust: Firmly press about half of the crushed Oreo crumbs into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan to form an even crust. Use your hands or the bottom of a measuring cup for even pressing.
- Assemble the pudding layer: Spread the pudding and cream cheese mixture evenly over the Oreo crust in the pan.
- Top with remaining Oreos: Sprinkle the remaining crushed Oreos evenly on top of the pudding layer to resemble dirt.
- Refrigerate: Place the assembled cake in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to overnight to allow it to set firmly.
- Prepare tombstones: While the cake chills, melt the white candy melts in the microwave. Dip each Nutter Butter cookie into the melted candy to coat fully, then lay them on parchment paper to dry.
- Decorate tombstones: Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave and transfer to a small plastic bag with a cut corner. Pipe “RIP” onto each coated Nutter Butter cookie and let the writing dry completely.
- Decorate the cake: Once the cake is set, press the decorated tombstone cookies into the top layer of the cake. Add gummy worms and other Halloween candies to complete your graveyard scene.
- Serve: Serve the Halloween Dirt Cake immediately or keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Notes
- Use instant pudding mix only, avoid cook and serve pudding for this no-bake dessert.
- Soften cream cheese and whipped topping by leaving them at room temperature for about 30 minutes before mixing for easier incorporation.
- If you lack a food processor, crush Oreos by placing them in a large ziplock plastic bag and using a rolling pin or kitchen mallet to crush them into uniform crumbs.
- Store leftover cake covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
- Nutritional values are approximate and vary depending on brands used and preparation methods.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
