Easter Dirt Cake

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Easter dirt cake is a cute and tasty treat perfect for a holiday gathering. In about 20 minutes, you can have a fully decorated cake with zero baking involved.

If you are looking for a decadent and special Easter dessert that doesn’t require a lot of work to assemble, this Easter dirt cake is the perfect option. You can even make it up to four days in advance.

Ingredients for Easter Dirt Cake

• Oreo Cookies – Oreo cookies give the cake the fun “dirt” appearance, while adding crunchy texture.  Your preferred chocolate sandwich cookie brand can be used.  Use golden Oreos for a vanilla flavor and a sandy appearance.
• Cream Cheese – Be sure to soften it.
• Unsalted Butter
• Powdered Sugar
• Whipped Topping
• Milk – I recommend using whole milk but you can use 2%, if preferred.
• Vanilla and Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix – Use instant vanilla and chocolate pudding mix, not the cook and serve variety for best results.  The 5.1-ounce box suggests 3 cups of milk but 2 ½ cups are used to ensure the pudding is thicker and easier to serve.
• Peep Candy Rabbits
• Candy Eggs

Essential Items for This Recipe

• 9×13 Dish – I like a deeper glass dish for this recipe.
• Food Processor
• Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer – The stand mixer will be easier but you can easily make this Easter dirt cake recipe using a hand mixer.
• Whisk

How to Make Easter Dirt Cake

The full list of ingredients, including measurements, and step by step instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below. Here is a brief overview of the steps to make Easter dirt cake.

• Crush the Oreos using the food processor. Reserve half.
• Mix half with melted butter.
• Layer the crumbs mixed with the butter into the bottom of the baking dish.

• Beat the cream cheese and butter with a stand mixer or with a hand mixer.
• Mix in the powdered sugar.
• Remove half of the cream cheese mixture and set aside.

• Mix vanilla pudding according to the package directions.
• Mix in half of the whipped topping. Add half of the cream cheese mixture.
• Mix the chocolate pudding according to the package directions.
• Mix in the remaining half of the whipped topping. Add the remaining cream cheese mixture.

• Spread vanilla pudding mixture on top of the Oreo crust.
• Spread chocolate pudding mixture on top of the vanilla pudding mixture.
• Top with remaining crushed Oreos and decorate with Easter candies.

I love using a combination of Peeps and Cadbury mini eggs for the decorations. To ensure rabbits set upright, insert a toothpick halfway into the Peep, inserting the toothpick into the cake. If serving to small children, be sure to remove any toothpicks used from the candy for safety though.

More Great Easter Dessert Recipes

• Carrot Cake Cheesecake Bars
• Vanilla Homemade Donuts with Spring Pastel Icing
• Carrot Cake Cookie Bars
• Berry Chantilly Cake

Easter Dirt Cake

Easter dirt cake is a cute and tasty treat perfect for a holiday gathering. Dirt cake is a great make-ahead dessert that can be made a day or two in advance.

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Refrigeration Time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 servings

Ingredients

Cookie Crumb Layers

• 40 Oreo cookies
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

Cream Cheese Mixture

• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Vanilla Pudding Layer

• 1 5.1 ounce box vanilla instant pudding mix
• 8 ounces whipped topping
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk

Chocolate Pudding Layer

• 1 5.1 ounce box chocolate instant pudding mix
• 8 ounces whipped topping
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk

Decorations

• Peeps candy rabbits
• Candy eggs

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Cookie Crumb Layers

• In the bowl of a food processor, process cookies until they resemble fine crumbs. Transfer crumbs to a bowl, remove 1 ½ cups, reserving for the topping.
  40 Oreo cookies
• To make the crust, add 4 tablespoons of melted butter to the cookie crumbs in the bowl, stir until thoroughly combined. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish into an even thin layer. Place it in the refrigerator until next layer is made.
  4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Cream Cheese Mixture

• To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter at medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, 1 minute, scraping down the bowl during mixing.
  8 ounces cream cheese, 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Add the powdered sugar, mix on low until the mixture begins to come together, increase speed to medium, mix until the mixture is smooth, 30-40 seconds. Remove half of the cream cheese mixture, about ½-¾ a cup, cover and set aside.
  1 cup powdered sugar

Vanilla Pudding Layer

• In a separate bowl add the vanilla pudding mix and 2 ½ cups of milk, whisk until thoroughly combined. Add the pudding mixture to the stand mixer bowl containing the cream cheese mixture, mix on medium speed for 20-30 seconds, scrape down the bowl and whisk, mix on medium for an additional 30-40 seconds until well combined.
  1 5.1 ounce box vanilla instant pudding mix, 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• Add 8 ounces of whipped topping, whisk until well combined.
  8 ounces whipped topping
• Spread vanilla pudding mixture in an even layer over the Oreo crust, cover and refrigerate until the next layer is made.

Chocolate Pudding Layer

• In a clean bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the chocolate pudding mix and 2 ½ cups of milk. Add the reserved cream cheese mixture and mix on medium speed until well combined, scraping down the bowl if necessary.
  1 5.1 ounce box chocolate instant pudding mix, 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• Fold in the remaining 8 ounces of whipped topping, mixing until fully combined.
  8 ounces whipped topping
• Spread the chocolate mixture over the vanilla pudding layer in a smooth even layer.

Top Cookie Layer

• Top the chocolate pudding layer with the reserved Oreo crumbs, cover and refrigerate 3-4 hours to set.

Decorations

• Before serving garnish cake with chocolate eggs and Peep rabbits or chicks. To ensure rabbits set upright, insert a toothpick halfway into the Peep, inserting the toothpick into the cake.
  Peeps candy rabbits, Candy eggs

Notes

• Make the cake up to two days in advance and decorate just before serving.
• Store dirt cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, any longer and the cookies may become soggy.
• If serving to small children, be sure to remove any toothpicks used from the candy for safety.

Nutrition

Calories: 378kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 213mg | Potassium: 234mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 510IU | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 4mg

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