If you love nostalgic no-bake desserts, this Oreo dirt cake is for you. It’s layered with creamy pudding, Cool Whip, and crushed Oreos for a treat that’s always a crowd-pleaser.

Square slice of Oreo dirt cake on a white plate topped with a whole Oreo cookie for garnish.

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Oreo Dirt Pudding

Oreo dirt cake is one of my favorite ways to use Oreos in a dessert. Along with Oreo ice cream cake, Oreo balls and mini cookies and cream cheesecakes, it’s a classic no-bake treat everyone loves.

This recipe layers Cool Whip, creamy pudding, and crushed Oreos for a kid-friendly dessert that’s quick to prep and perfect for potlucks, BBQs, or holiday gatherings.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Kid-friendly. Serve this fun dirt cake in individual cups, show off the layers parfait-style, or top it with gummy worms or a mini shovel for a playful twist.
  • Quick and easy. Just 20 minutes of prep time, and the fridge does the rest. Crush the Oreos, mix the creamy layer, and assemble, it’s even easier than chocolate lasagna!

Ingredient Notes

Overhead shot of Oreo dirt cake ingredients: Oreos, vanilla pudding mix, Cool Whip, cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and whole milk.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Oreos: Use 36 regular Oreos (not Double Stuffed). Keep the cream in the cookies, it helps everything stick together and adds extra sweetness.
  • Butter: Salted butter adds flavor and moisture to the crushed cookies. You’ll need melted butter for the Oreo base and softened butter for the creamy pudding layer.
  • Cream cheese: Softened cream cheese gives the filling a bit of structure and adds a slight tang that balances all the sweetness.
  • Powdered sugar: Blends smoothly into the cream cheese mixture and helps everything set up nicely.
  • Vanilla extract: Just a splash enhances the flavor of the vanilla pudding.
  • Cool Whip: Make sure it’s fully thawed before folding it in. You can also use homemade Cool Whip if you’d like.
  • Instant vanilla pudding: Be sure to use instant pudding mix, not cook-and-serve.
  • Milk: Whole milk makes the pudding layer extra rich and creamy.

How to Make Dirt Cake

In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla, then beat again until fluffy. Gently fold in the thawed Cool Whip to keep the mixture light and airy.

Crush Oreo cookies into fine cookie crumbs. Reserve 1/2 for the topping, then mix the rest with the melted butter. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish and chill for 5 minutes.

Cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar whipped together in a glass bowl with hand mixer beaters.
Finely crushed Oreos mixed with butter covering the bottom of a glass baking dish.

Spread creamy pudding layer over the chilled Oreo base, smoothing it out evenly. Finish with the reserved Oreo crumbs sprinkled on top.

Smooth cream cheese and pudding mixture spread evenly in a baking dish before adding Oreo topping.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight for the best texture!

Side view of Oreo dirt cake in a glass dish, topped with a thick layer of crushed Oreo cookies.

Serving Variations

Oreo dirt dessert is easy to make, but it’s also incredibly versatile, there are endless ways to dress it up for any occasion!

  • Swap the Oreos. Use Golden Oreos for a beachy “sand cake” look, it’s so cute for summer parties with mini umbrellas!
  • Try chocolate pudding. It won’t have the classic black-and-white layers, but it adds extra chocolaty flavor.
  • Serve it in a bucket. For birthdays or themed parties, layer the dirt cake in a clean sand pail and add gummy worms, mini shovels, or sprinkles.
  • Make it holiday-ready. Use a trifle dish for a festive look or decorate the top with seasonal candies and treats (like my Christmas dirt cake, Easter dirt cake or Halloween dirt cake).
  • Go individual. Layer the dessert into clear plastic cups for easy party servings or lunchbox treats.
Close-up of a creamy Oreo dirt cake slice being lifted from the pan, showing thick pudding layer and crushed Oreo topping.

Recipe Tips

  • Fine crumbs. If you can help it, it’s recommended that you use a food processor to crush the cookies into fine crumbs. It’s just easier!
  • Do not overmix. You are just folding the Cool Whip and pudding mix into the cream cheese mixture. Overmixing causes a release of air and will alter the texture of the filling.
  • Don’t skip the chill time. You need to allow time for the pudding to set. Otherwise, the Oreo dirt cake will be more pudding than cake!
  • Prep in advance. You can also make it in the evening and allow it to chill overnight. I wouldn’t keep it any longer than that or the crust will start to get soggy.
  • Use cream cheese from a block. The easy spread kind has too much water in it which won’t hold up in this dirt cake too well.
Slice of Oreo dirt cake on a plate with a fork removing a bite showing creamy layers with Oreos.

More no-bake desserts that we love include: this chocolate delight recipe, Oreo pie, frozen mud pie, and peanut butter lasagna!

More Oreo Dessert Recipes

Slice of dirt cake on a plate.

Oreo Dirt Cake Recipe

5 from 9 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 15
If you love nostalgic no-bake desserts, this Oreo dirt cake is for you. It’s layered with creamy pudding, Cool Whip, and crushed Oreos for a treat that’s always a crowd-pleaser.
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Video

Ingredients 

Oreo Crust

  • 36 regular Oreos
  • 3 Tablespoons salted butter , melted

Layer 1

  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese , softened
  • 5 Tablespoons salted butter , softened
  • ⅔ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces Cool Whip , thawed
  • 2 (3.9-ounce) boxes instant vanilla pudding
  • 2 ½ cups whole milk

Instructions

Oreo Crust

  • In a food processor or blender, blend 36 Oreos (whole cookies) into fine crumbs. Reserve 1/2 cup for topping and then mix in 3 Tablespoons melted butter until combined. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish and place in the freezer or the refrigerator for 5 minutes.

Filling

  • In a medium-sized bowl, whip 8 ounces cream cheese and 5 Tablespoons butter until fluffy with an electric mixer. Mix in 2/3 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Fold in 8 ounces Cool Whip.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk 2 boxes instant pudding and 2 1/2 cups milk together until thick. Let sit a few minutes to thicken. Then fold the pudding into the cream cheese mixture.
  • Spread the filling evenly over the Oreo crust until smooth.
  • Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup Oreo crumbs over the top. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill 4 hours before cutting and serving.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Oreo’s: Keep the cream in the center. You want to crush the whole cookie pretty fine, so I find using a blender or food processor is easiest. 
Cool whip: If you prefer a homemade cool whip, it is fairly easy to make. 
Make ahead: This dessert can easily be made 24 hours in advance. The crust will get softer the longer the pudding sits, so I don’t like to prep it more than 48 hours in advance. You can also make the crust and then keep the layers in separate bowls until ready to assemble. 
Variations:
  • Switch up the flavor of pudding. Cheesecake, chocolate or white chocolate would be great.
  • Make in individual serving cups.
  • Add gummy worms to make it fun for the kids.

Nutrition

Calories: 134kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 24mg, Sodium: 88mg, Potassium: 98mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 293IU, Calcium: 79mg, Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make an Oreo dirt cake in advance?

Yes! You can fully assemble it up to 48 hours ahead. The flavors get even better with time, but after 2 days the base may start to soften. For best texture, you can also prep the layers ahead and assemble just before serving.

How to store leftover dirt cake?

Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The crust will be softer, but it’ll still taste great.

Can I freeze it?

Technically yes, for up to 1 month, but freezing changes the texture. It’s best enjoyed fresh.

Why did my dirt cake dessert not set properly?

Make sure to use instant pudding (not cook-and-serve) and let it thicken before mixing. Also, use full-fat cream cheese and whole milk for structure, and give the dessert at least 4 hours in the fridge to fully set.