Easter Dirt Cake Casserole (Printable)
Layers of creamy vanilla pudding and crushed Oreos topped with gummy worms for a festive spring dessert.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Cream Layer
01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
03 - 1 cup powdered sugar
04 - 2 packages (3.4 oz each) instant vanilla pudding mix
05 - 3 cups cold whole milk
06 - 12 oz whipped topping, thawed
→ Cookie Layer
07 - 1 family size package (14.3 oz) chocolate sandwich cookies
→ Decorations
08 - 1 1/2 cups gummy worms
09 - 1/2 cup pastel-colored candy-coated chocolate eggs (optional)
10 - 1/4 cup shredded coconut, dyed green (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Process chocolate sandwich cookies in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer crumbs to a separate bowl and set aside.
02 - Beat softened cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar and mix until fully incorporated.
03 - Whisk instant vanilla pudding mix with cold milk in a separate bowl. Let stand for 2 minutes until mixture thickens to pudding consistency.
04 - Fold prepared pudding into cream cheese mixture until smooth. Gently fold in whipped topping until completely blended.
05 - Spread half the cookie crumbs evenly across the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish, pressing lightly to create a compact base.
06 - Spoon cream mixture over cookie crust layer, smoothing the top with a spatula to create an even surface.
07 - Sprinkle remaining cookie crumbs over cream layer to create a uniform dirt-like topping.
08 - Arrange gummy worms partially buried in the crumbs. Add candy eggs and green coconut if using. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The creamy layers combined with crunchy chocolate cookie texture create something magical that adults and kids both go crazy for
- You can assemble it hours ahead and it actually tastes better after chilling making party prep completely stress free
02 -
- Mixing the pudding before it thickens will result in a runny dessert so patience during those two minutes really matters
- Folding the whipped topping too vigorously can deflate the airy texture so use gentle strokes to keep it light
03 -
- Dye the coconut by placing it in a sealed bag with food coloring and shaking until evenly colored
- Crush any leftover cookie pieces and store them in a jar for ice cream topping later