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There’s no sharing this Oreo Dirt Cake! The chocolate cake is soaked in hot fudge and covered with a Chocolate Oreo Mousse also known as “dirt”. This mouthwatering poke cake is to-die-for.
What a kick weekend in Vermont. I flew home for about 48 hours to help take care of my dad while he is recovering from his double knee replacement. He’s a trooper, trying to show me his dance moves with his walker as he made his way down the hallway.
I did my part, making him batches of my favorite snickerdoodle cookies and some bourbon salted caramel cookies. Plus I stocked the freezer with some dinners, did the laundry and helped clean up the house. It was a quick weekend but I got to have my favorite pumpkin ice cream and my favorite local beer, so all in all a win win! Plus we even got about 6 inches of snow the night before I left. It looks so different when the ground is covered with snow.
Since I first made this recipe, it has been my most requested poke cake. I’m not going to apologize for the excess chocolate in this recipe because it’s a necessary thing in my life.
Usually on Halloween I make those Oreo dirt cups with the cookie grave and the gummy worms on top. People go absolutely crazy for them. Every year at least 3 people from the party ask me for the recipe. Guys, it’s only pudding, Cool Whip and Oreos. It just doesn’t get any easier than that. My Grandma used to call this “dirt” and she made it all the time. I did a from-scratch version for my cookbook, using some chocolate stout to make it boozy.
Well when I was trying to think of new ways to make my ever popular Triple Chocolate Poke Cake, a light bulb went off and there entered this dirt cake. You could also make this as a layer cake.
First it starts with a chocolate cake. You can make a homemade version of my super moist chocolate cake, or you can buy the darkest fudgiest cake mix you can find. Once it’s baked you poke holes all over and pour hot fudge over top. Then it’s covered in the Oreo dirt.
I’ll also suggest to take this one step further and add chocolate pudding over the cake; you can’t go wrong either way. Just mix the pudding and milk and pour it over the cake before it sets THEN pop it in the refrigerator until the pudding sets.
To make the dirt, I just did it the same way my grandma would. I made a batch of instant chocolate pudding, wait until it sets, then mix in a container of Cool Whip and crushed Oreos. Then I spread this over the top of the cake, drizzle with some hot fudge sauce and more Oreos on top.
The end result is a chocolate lovers dream. This cake is another “boyfriend approved recipe”. I mean Oreos? He’s sold.
The best part about this recipe is that it isn’t overly complicated, but it will definitely impress your friends. You don’t even have to tell them how easy it is.
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Oreo Dirt Poke Cake
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 15 slices
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There’s no sharing this Oreo Dirt Cake! The chocolate cake is soaked in hot fudge and covered with a Chocolate Oreo Mousse also known as “dirt”. This mouthwatering poke cake is to-die-for.
Ingredients
- 1 Box (15oz) Chocolate fudge cake mix
- Ingredients on the box: eggs, water, vegetable oil
For the topping:
- 1 package (14.3oz) Oreo cookies
- 1 Jar (12.8oz) Hot fudge sauce
- 1 box (3.4 oz) Hersey’s Dark Chocolate instant pudding mix (see notes)
- 1¾ cup Milk (see below)
For the dirt
- 1 box (3.4 oz) Hersey’s Dark Chocolate instant pudding mix
- ¾ cup Milk
- 1 container (8 ounces) Cool Whip
- Additional hot fudge sauce for drizzling
- Additional crushed Oreos for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Combine cake mix according the instructions on the box, adding eggs, oil and water. Beat on medium speed until well combined.
- Bake the cake in 9×13” pan for 22-28 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the middle of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, you cake is done. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- For the topping: While the cake is still warm, take the end of a wooden spoon or another round object and poke holes all over the top of your cake.
- Heat the jar of hot fudge sauce in the microwave for about 30 seconds until you can stir it and thin it out. You may need an additional 30 seconds. Pour the entire jar of hot fudge sauce (minus 3 tablespoons) on the top of cake and allow it to absorb in the cake until cake is cooled.
- Optional: When the cake has cooled, prepare the pudding layer by mixing a package of instant dark chocolate pudding with 1 3/4 cups of cold milk. Before the pudding sets, pour it over the top of the cake and put the cake in the fridge to let the pudding set, about 15 minutes.
- For the dirt topping: Prepare the pudding layer by mixing a package of instant dark chocolate pudding with cold milk. Refrigerate until the pudding has set.
- Take a large Ziploc bag and crush the 3/4 of the bag of Oreos into smaller pieces using a rolling pin or other large, heavy object.
- Once the pudding has set, mix in a container of Cool Whip until well blended.
- Mix in crushed Oreos into the mousse and spread the dirt over the top of cake. You can top you cake with the remaining hot fudge and some leftover Oreos. Serve cold.
Notes
- Optional: Add a layer of chocolate pudding over the hot fudge to soak into the cake
- To make a homemade chocolate cake, try my super moist chocolate poke cake
- Category: Cake
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Poke Cake, Chocolate Cake, Pudding Cake, Chocolate Poke Cake, Poke Cake Recipe, Pudding Poke Cake, oreo chocolate cake, oreo cake recipe,oreo cookie cake recipe, chocolate oreo cake
So I made this, but I added a cream cheese layer
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
8 ounce tub Cool Whip
Literally the best thing everyone at the party had ever eaten. Every single person wanted more and the recipe. Forking delicious!
★★★★★
Sounds incredible to me! Thanks for sharing!
I saw a previous comment about making the cake a day before, but if I wanted to make this two days early, should I worry about it getting soggy? How long will the cake keep in the fridge before serving?
No, because the cake is soaked in pudding, it’s already going to be a “wet’ cake. I do recommend adding the topping the same day if possible, but it will keep in the fridge for a few days.
When making the pudding for the dirt topping, how much milk do you put in? I see the 1 3/4 cups if you are using it to pour over the cake to soak in, but I’m not doing that. Is it just 3/4 cups of cold milk mixed with the instant pudding mix?
for the just the dirt portion, yes, 3/4 cups of milk mixed with the pudding
What is the best storage for this cake? Can it be out in a room for a day?
Hi Kristin, no it has to be refrigerated because there’s whipped cream in the frosting
Want to try it but wondering if the dirt can be used as a filling? Will cake last outside the fridge without collapsing?
Hi Chinette, I’ve never tried, but as long as you don’t put too much in between the layers, it might work? I’d recommend no more than 3 layers.
“You can top with leftover Oreos”…. nah, not gonna happen. There are never left over Oreos! Lol
BAHAHAHA!!
Thawed cool whip or will frozen soften as it mixes into the pudding?
It should be thawed!
I accidently bought brownie mix! ??♀️ Think it will be okay? Obviously not as soft.
Hi Katie- No Brownie mix would not work for this unfortunately.
Hi, do you usually make this with or without the extra pudding poured over it before frosting? I can’t decide which would be better. ? Thanks!
Hi Shannon, I always make this with the pudding poured over the cake, I love the combination of the cake, the pudding and the topping!
I’m not a fan of dark chocolate, is the dark chocolate taste very strong in this recipe?
Hi Nicole, you can just use regular chocolate pudding!
Can you use real whipping cream, Dream Whip, or something without High Fructose Corn Syrup,?
Hi Shonnana, yes you can use a homemade whipped cream. I recommend 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream mixed with 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Have you ever made this the day before? I worry it may be soggy….
Hi Amanda, yes I do this quite often. The cake itself it more like a “wet” cake because it’s soaked in the pudding. The Oreo cookies get soft and cake like once mixed into the topping. That is the way it is supposed to be 🙂
Are you supposed to mix the pudding over heat with the milk? My first pack set immediately with cold milk. My second will not set.
I don’t see how many oreos you need besides “additional” – am I just not seeing it? thanks!
Hi Chanda, silly me I forgot to include it. You will need one bag. I updated the recipe. Thank you!
The recipe for Oreo Dirt Poke Cake does not say ANYTHING about how many Oreos are needed!!!
Hi Sharon, thanks for calling that to my attention! The recipe has been updated 🙂
You had me at “soaked in hot fudge”. Oh my I could sure use a piece of this on a Monday morning. Snow! You know what that means….. shredding soon.
Yes it does Debbie!