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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Dirt and Worms Recipe

    Published: Sep 15, 2020 · Modified: Feb 5, 2022 by Erin · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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    Individual container of dirt cake with gummy worm on top and Oreo crumbles on the counter.

    Dirt and Worms is a fun family-friendly dessert that is easy to make and decadent to eat! You may know this as Kansas Dirt Cake or Dirt Pudding, but my kids think calling it Dirt and Worms is way more fun!

    Crushed Oreos, cream cheese, white chocolate pudding, and whipped cream make up this creamy dessert. It's kind of like a no-bake cheesecake, but a lot more fun! We did ours in individual portions, but if you assemble this in a 9x13 pan it will feed a crowd!

    If you are looking for more ways to use Oreos, check out these no-bake Oreo balls!

    One individual dirt and worms portion in a parfait bowl. Spoon sticking straight up. Two additional portions on either side.
    Jump to:
    • Steps to Make
    • Getting Kids Involved
    • Dirt and Worms Variations
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Steps to Make

    There are a few variations of dirt and worms out there. Pretty much all of them call for Oreos to be crushed and layered on both the top and bottom of the pan. Our recipe follows the basic ingredients of Kansas Dirt Cake, which is a filling that combines cream cheese frosting with white chocolate pudding and Cool Whip.

    You can crush your Oreos with a food processor, or put them in a plastic bag and pound them. I like to do this part by hand because it is one less dish to wash! For the filling, do go ahead and pull out your hand mixer. The cream cheese gets a lot fluffier this way than if you mix it by hand.

    Bowl of cream cheese and powdered sugar mixed together with a red hand mixer.

    Getting Kids Involved

    There is no baking involved in making Dirt and Worms, and there are no knives, so it is the perfect recipe to get kids in the kitchen! Not to mention, they are a lot more excited to help when there is a fun name like Dirt and Worms! If I call my kids in to help make pudding cake it is hit or miss the reaction I will get. But "come make dirt and worms" gets them running excitedly into the kitchen!

    Cora and Levi love pounding the Oreos to crush them. We split them into two bags so that they each have their own bag to crush. This also helps me to divide the top and bottom crusts evenly, though this exactness really isn't necessary for the recipe.

    For our individual dirt and worms cups they completely assembled them from start to finish! Sure, it was a little messy. But they felt like amazing chefs.

    Boy with a blue shirt getting Oreo crumbs from a bag to put into the parfait bowls. A large bowl of whipped filling is next to him.

    Dirt and Worms Variations

    This recipe is a great foundation that can be customized to so many different desserts! Here are just a few suggestions:

    • Chocolate Cream: Some recipes call for regular chocolate instead of white chocolate. White chocolate is more traditional for Kansas Dirt Cake, but regular dirt and worms often has chocolate pudding. It's a straight sub - just switch out the pudding flavor!
    • Mint Chocolate: Perfect for the holidays, replace the regular Oreos with mint. Then crush peppermints and sprinkle over the top.
    • Strawberry Cheesecake: For an elegant dessert, use cheesecake flavored pudding. Spread half of the pudding/cream cheese mixture, then add a layer of strawberries, following by the remaining pudding. Mix it up even more by using graham cracker crumbs instead of Oreos.
    • Banana Pudding: Swap out the Oreos for vanilla wafers and layer the bananas like the directions for the strawberries above.
    • Butterscotch: A great fall flavor, use butterscotch pudding and sprinkle toffee over the top.
    • Halloween: Use vanilla wafers to create gravestones and make ghosts out of marshmallows.
    4 partfait bowls of Oreo crumbs topped with whipped filling. Bags of crushed Oreos in the background.

    Dirt and Worms (Kansas Dirt Cake) was our dessert for our Kansas state dinner. Check out our Exploring the States series for more iconic desserts from across the United States!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make Dirt and Worms ahead?

    This recipe needs to be made at least 3 hours in advance, but can even be made a day ahead. The pudding mixture is good for up to a week in the refrigerator, but the Oreos will start to get soggy. It is best enjoyed within 3 days.

    Can I use fresh whipped cream instead of Cool Whip for this recipe?

    Because this recipe already has all of the processed ingredients from the Oreos and pudding I decided to stick with using Cool Whip for simplicity's sake. But stabilized whipped cream can be used instead!

    It is important to use stabilized whipped cream instead of regular whipped cream. Whipped cream separates as it sits, which will result in a soggy crust. Fortunately, making stabilized whipped cream is pretty easy. Just follow the steps that I share in the Strawberry Pretzel Salad post.

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    Let me know how you like this recipe by leaving a review! And follow along on Instagram @stateofdinner for behind-the-scenes and to be among the first to know when new recipes post!

    Recipe

    Single glass of dirt and worms with some Oreos stacked on the side.

    Dirt and Worms

    Recipe by: Erin
    Dirt and worms like an easy no-bake cheesecake. It has crushed Oreos on top and bottom, with a cool and creamy layer in the middle!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 3 hours hrs
    Total Time 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 428 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 16 oz Oreos
    • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
    • ½ cup butter, softened
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 boxes (3.4 oz each)instant white chocolate pudding
    • 3 cups milk
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 8 oz whipped topping, thawed
    • Gummy worms
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Crush Oreos. You can do this in a food processor, or place in a zip-top bag. If using a bag, press excess air out and seal completely before pounding.
      16 oz Oreos
    • Spread half of the Oreo crumbs in the bottom of a 9x13 dish. If making individual portions place 2 tablespoons of crumbs in each cup.
    • In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and mix well.
      8 oz cream cheese, softened, ½ cup butter, softened, 1 cup powdered sugar
    • In a medium bowl, beat together pudding, milk, and vanilla for 2 minutes.
      2 boxes (3.4 oz each)instant white chocolate pudding, 3 cups milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • Add pudding mixture to cream cheese mixture and beat well.
    • Gently fold whipped topping into cream cheese mixture until well combined.
      8 oz whipped topping, thawed
    • Spread cream mixture over crumbs. Top with remaining Oreo crumbs and refrigerate for 3 hours, or until set.
    • Decorate with gummy worms.
      Gummy worms

    Nutrition

    Calories: 428kcal
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Share a photo of your creation with your friends!Mention @stateofdinner or tag #stateofdinner!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Ronda

      September 18, 2020 at 9:31 am

      5 stars
      It is so pretty! I think my boys would love it. We may make some sugar free subs for the littlest but there is so much available. Thanks for the fun project.

      Reply
      • Erin

        September 20, 2020 at 2:03 pm

        It is a really versatile recipe. I would love to hear how you sub for sugar-free. That would be a great variation I could share with others.

        Reply

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    Photo of Erin Gierhart

    Welcome! I'm Erin: Wife, mom, lover of great food, and former food safety administrator. I am passionate about cooking mostly from scratch recipes that bring comfort, without spending all day in the kitchen. Most recipes on this site can be made in under 30 minutes! This approach to cooking allows me to provide delicious meals for my family while freeing up time to spend with those I love.

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