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Graveyard Dirt Cake Recipe

Graveyard Dirt Cake Recipe


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4.8 from 17 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Graveyard dirt cake delights Halloween enthusiasts with spooky chocolate layers and cookie crumble. Creamy pudding and crushed Oreos create a haunting dessert perfect for seasonal celebrations you’ll want to devour at frightful gatherings.


Ingredients

Scale

Cake Base:

  • 1 (15.25 ounces / 432 grams) chocolate cake mix
  • Ingredients required to make the cake (as specified on cake mix package)

Pudding and Cream Layer:

  • 1 (3.9 ounces / 110 grams) package instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 (8 ounces / 226 grams) container Cool Whip, thawed
  • 25 Oreo cookies, crushed

Decorative Toppings:

  • Milano or Nutter Butter cookies for tombstones
  • Assorted Halloween candy (gummy worms, candy pumpkins, marshmallow ghosts, candy bones)
  • Melted chocolate for decorating
  • Gel food coloring or edible markers

Instructions

  1. Craft the chocolate base by following package instructions in a 9×13 inch pan, ensuring thorough cooling to room temperature.
  2. Pulverize Oreo cookies using a food processor or by sealing in a resealable bag and crushing with a rolling pin until achieving a fine, sandy texture.
  3. Whisk instant pudding with milk and powdered sugar until smooth, then gently incorporate Cool Whip to create a light, airy filling with a creamy consistency.
  4. Evenly distribute the pudding mixture across the completely cooled chocolate cake, creating a uniform layer that covers the entire surface.
  5. Generously sprinkle the ground Oreo cookies over the pudding layer, mimicking the appearance of freshly disturbed earth or graveyard terrain.
  6. Transform the dessert into a spooky scene by strategically placing Halloween-themed candies and crafted cookie tombstones across the “dirt” surface.
  7. Enhance cookie tombstones by using melted chocolate and food coloring to add personalized details, names, or eerie designs that amplify the graveyard aesthetic.

Notes

  • Crush cookies finely for an authentic dirt-like texture that mimics fresh soil.
  • Chill the cake thoroughly before serving to help pudding layer set and enhance flavor blending.
  • Swap traditional ingredients for dietary needs like using gluten-free Oreos or dairy-free whipped topping for allergen-friendly version.
  • Create realistic graveyard effect by varying Oreo crumb sizes and adding edible rocks or chocolate pebbles for more depth.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 22 g
  • Sodium: 300 mg
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 45 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 20 mg