Halloween Dirt Cake (with gummy worms)

Make this easy no-bake Halloween Dirt Cake with creepy, crawly gummy worms for your next party! Crushed Oreos layered with creamy chocolate pudding and topped with cookie tombstones make the best Halloween dessert.

Anyone can make this no-bake Graveyard Dirt Cake! It’s an easy Halloween dessert, like our Oreo Mummy Pops, that comes together quickly. It’s a crazy-fun recipe to get the kids in the kitchen. 

And guess what? You can make it ahead so it’s ready when it’s time for your Halloween party! 

Dirt cake gets its name from the crushed Oreo crust that looks like "dirt," but don't be fooled, it is so yummy.

Ingredients

All you need are these simple ingredients to make your easy Halloween cake! In short, it's an Oreo crust, topped with a cream cheese pudding mixture and then sprinkled with more Oreos and cookie tombstones for more deliciousness.

• A bag of Oreos - to make the Oreo cookie crumb crust. We like regular Oreos, but you can also use double stuffed.
• A package of cream cheese - make sure to get it to room temperature.
• ½ cup butter - this help set the creamy pudding mixture. 
• Cup of powdered sugar
• A tub of refrigerated whipped topping - aka Cool whip.
• 2 boxes of instant chocolate pudding 
• 3 cups milk - to make the pudding
• 8-10 Nutter Butter cookies - you know those peanut butter sandwich cookies that taste delish!
• White candy melts - about 6 ounces to dip your cookies into.
• A handful of chocolate chips - to write on the tombstones. You can also use black writing icing.
• Gummy worms - these add to the fun factor!

Recipe measurements and directions are in the printable recipe card below.

How to make a dirt cake

Grab a 9 x 13 pan, and let’s get this no-bake Halloween dirt cake recipe underway! 

STEP 1 - MAKE CREAM CHEESE MIXTURE

Blend the cream cheese with a stand mixer or hand mixer until smooth. Next, add the butter and mix until incorporated. 

Slowly add the powdered sugar and thawed whipped topping and mix at a slow speed until incorporated. 

PRO TIP: If you forget to take your whipped topping out of the freezer, thaw it quickly for 30 seconds in the microwave!

Erin

STEP 2 - MAKE THE PUDDING & ADD IT TO CREAM CHEESE MIXTURE

Make the pudding with the milk in a large bowl according to the package directions. Fold in the cream cheese mixture with a spatula. Set aside.

STEP 3 - MAKE OREO CRUMBS

Add Oreo cookies to a food processor and pulse until you have crushed cookies. You may need to do two batches. 

NOTE: If you don’t have a food processor, place the Oreo cookies in a large plastic Ziploc bag and crush them with a kitchen mallet or rolling pin. 

STEP 4 - MAKE CRUST

Firmly press about half of the Oreo crumbs in the bottom of the 9 x 13 pan. You can use your hands, or the bottom of a measuring cup works well. 

STEP 5 - ASSEMBLE THE CAKE

Top the Oreo crust with an even pudding layer.

Then, cover with remaining Oreo crumbs. Place the cake in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours up to overnight. 

STEP 6 - MAKE TOMBSTONE COOKIES

While the cake is firming up in the refrigerator, melt your white candy melts in the microwave, coat each Nutter Butter cookie, and let dry on parchment paper. 

Then, melt chocolate chips in the microwave, place them in a small plastic bag with the corner cut off, and use it to write RIP on each cookie and allow it to dry. 

STEP 7 - DECORATE THE CAKE

Once the cake is fully set, press the Nutter Butter cookies into the top of the cake. Add gummy worms and any candy you’d like to finish the decorations. 

Enjoy immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Helpful tips

• Use instant pudding mix, NOT cook and serve for your no-bake dessert. 
• Soften cream cheese and whipped topping. Leaving your cream cheese and frozen whipped topping at room temperature for about 30 minutes will soften it enough to mix easily. 
• How to crush Oreos. If you don’t have a food processor to crush your cookies, place your Oreo cookies in a large plastic ziplock bag and crush them with a kitchen mallet or rolling pin until you have small, uniform crumbs. 
• Individual Oreo dirt cake cups. If you want to make individual cups to serve your Halloween dirt cake, layer the Oreo crumbs and pudding into each cup and top with a cookie tombstone and candy. 

Storing your dirt cake

Store any leftover Halloween Oreo Dirt Cake covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The Nutter Butter cookies may become soft, but they are still delicious!

Because this cake contains milk, it should not be left out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours.

Fun variations

• You can use whatever pudding flavor you like for your Halloween graveyard dessert. Vanilla pudding or butterscotch is also good. 
• Milano cookies work well as tombstones. 
• Add your favorite Halloween candy to your Halloween dirt cake. Monster hand candy, candy pumpkins, ghost peeps, whatever. 

More Halloween treats

We have tons more treats for Halloween parties. Check them out!

• Bat Treats - you only need 4-ingredients to make these little delicious bites of peanut butter and chocolate!
• Mummy Rice Krispies Treats - The traditional treat with a Halloween twist!
• Halloween Popcorn Balls - a little salty, a little sweet, and totally fun to eat!

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Printable Recipe