NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

The non-baker’s dirt cake recipe

by

There are some things I’m good at. Baking is not one of them.

I believe much of my issue comes from baking taking a little bit of attention to detail. I don’t really like to measure. I don’t really like to wait. There are times I can’t find my measuring spoon so I just “eyeball” it. I often walk away from the oven and forget to turn on the timer.

You know. Sort of important things in baking.

My lack of baking expertise leads me to outsource this feat for parties. Last year, I got a smash cake and cupcakes from a local bakery. It turned out great and it was worth every dime. Both last year and this year, I ordered stunning cookies from a local baker.

But when we decided on a tractor theme, I got confident, thinking MAYBE make a cake this year. But not a true cake – a dirt cake. And now, I’m practically a professional baker. BAM.

Dirt cake1

Perfect for my tractor and digging-in-the-dirt loving two-year-old.

Dirt cake6

Since I had never made this delicacy before, I thought I’d share the super simple recipe we got from my aunt.

Dirt Cake

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 1 8 oz container of whipped topping
  • 2 packages Oreos
  • 2 packages vanilla instant pudding
  • 1-8 oz container cream cheese
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 3.5 cups milk
Directions:
  1. Cream butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar.
  2. Add pudding, milk, and whipped topping.  Add in cream cheese mixture.
  3. Crush one package of cookies in a food processor until fine.
  4. Add cookies to the mixture and mix with a wooden spoon until just combined.
  5. Fill cake pan or individual glasses with pudding mixture and chill for at least two hours.
  6. Crush the second package of cookies in a food processor until fine.
  7. When pudding mixture is set, add a bit of the cookies to the top for the “dirt.
  8. Top with gummy worms and a tractor cupcake topper. (I created the cupcake toppers on my Silhouette with the cut and print feature.)

For Henry’s cake, I put the cake into a toy tractor trailer. (I lined the bottom with aluminum foil.)

Dirt cake3

For other guests, I put the dirt cake into clear beverage glasses. (This avoided the mess of serving the cake, and it also looked adorable.)

Dirt cake4
There were only a couple of cake cups left, so I consider myself a baking expert now. Henry seemed content. Or high on sugar. I always get those two confused.
 Dirt cake8

He also couldn’t be bothered to take a family photo.

Dirt cake7

Can you blame him? DIRT CAKE!

Comments

  1. I followed your recipe to make Dirt Cake for a July 4th gathering yesterday. It was so easy to make and it went over really well with the crowd! Thanks so much for sharing, Kim!

  6. That looks DELICIOUS! And PS – I can bake my ass off (or I guess more accurately, bake my ass ON since it’s probably responsible for at least fifteen pounds of me). Maybe sometime we can trade skills: I’ll bake you something and you help me decorate. 🙂

  7. oh my gosh i love dirt cake- i didn’t even have it til i was an adult (if you can call me that)… and i love it!