Something sweet
Dirt Cake
Chocolate cookie crumbs cover a cool, creamy vanilla filling in this easy dessert for a crowd. Mix it the night before your cookout, leave it in the fridge, and add a few gummy worms when it is time to serve.
- Makes
- About 12 dessert servings
- Preparation
- About 20 minutes
- Chilling
- At least 4 hours
Get everything ready
Ingredients
One 9 by 13 inch dish, about 12 servings
What you need
Food processor or a sealed food storage bag and rolling pin, two mixing bowls, electric mixer, spatula, and a 9 by 13 inch dish with a cover.
Make room in the fridge
Method
Crush the cookies
Crush the whole sandwich cookies into small crumbs using a food processor or a sealed bag and rolling pin. Set half aside for the top. Spread the remaining half over the bottom of your dish without packing it into a firm crust.
Mix the pudding
Whisk the instant pudding mix with the cold milk for 2 minutes, then refrigerate it for 5 minutes to thicken. This recipe uses less milk than a pudding bowl so the finished dessert can hold its shape.
Make the creamy filling
In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Beat in the thickened pudding a little at a time. Use a spatula to fold in the thawed whipped topping until the mixture has an even color.
Fill and chill
Spoon the filling over the cookie layer and spread it gently into the corners. Scatter the reserved crumbs evenly over the top. Cover and refrigerate at 40°F or below for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
Decorate and serve cold
Add the optional gummy worms just before serving. Scoop into bowls or cut into 12 soft portions. Put the dish back in the refrigerator between servings rather than leaving it beside the grill.
Before you make it
Check the pudding box
Use regular instant pudding mix in the size listed. Pudding that needs cooking, sugar free mixes, and plant based milk can set differently and need their own package directions.
Expect a soft dessert
Dirt cake is a chilled pudding dessert rather than a sponge cake. A serving spoon is useful even after a full night in the fridge. Keep the cookie crumbs loose so they are easy to scoop.
Make more without a deeper dish
For a larger group, use another dish and make a separate batch. The planner scales the ingredients, but the chilling time still depends on the depth of the filling.
Preparation times and serving counts are estimates.
Keep it cold
This dessert contains perishable dairy ingredients. Keep it at 40°F or below. Refrigerate within 2 hours of serving, or within 1 hour when the temperature is above 90°F.
See USDA food handling guidance for cold storage and serving.