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This Dirt Cake is a moist chocolate cake filled with frosting that’s loaded with Oreos and layered with more Oreo crumbs! It’s even got gummy worms between the cake layers for a cake that’s creepy-crawly and perfect for Halloween!
This Dirt Cake has been a long time coming! One of my best friends since forever has been requesting I make a Dirt Cake for as long as I can remember. As it often happens, it took a while for the cake to take shape in my mind – and fortunately it’s just in time for Halloween! It was also just in time for when she came to visit last month. I texted her a photo as I was writing out the recipe and she was super pumped!
It also happened to be the weekend that she was celebrating two years since the bone marrow transplant that saved her life. She battled leukemia (after also fighting thyroid cancer just a few years prior) and is now cancer free, so it was awesome to be celebrating her health and I couldn’t have more happy to share this cake with her!
I have to give her some credit for how this cake took shape too. I was texting her and asking her preferences as I made it, since this cake was largely for her. I figured if she loves Dirt Cake that much, she would know best. She chose a vanilla based frosting full of Oreos and definitely wanted gummy worms between the cake layers. I have to say – I love the way it turned out! Gummy worms and all!
How to make a Dirt Cake
To get started with this Dirt Cake, you’ll want to make the chocolate cake layers. I used my favorite moist chocolate cake recipe as the base. It’s a super simple batter to put together – easier than even a cake mix! You can simply combine everything with just a whisk! And it makes literally the best and most moist chocolate cake ever. Don’t be alarmed by the thin batter or the low temperature that it’s baked at – those are all correct.
Once the chocolate cake has baked and cooled, it’s time for the frosting. The base of the frosting is a vanilla buttercream, but most of the flavor comes from the large amount of Oreo crumbs that it’s filled with – 3 full cups of crumbs.
When the cake is layered together, it’s not only full of the Oreo frosting that tastes like eating a big Oreo, it’s also filled with even more Oreo crumbs. Yum! You can never go wrong with more Oreos.
Also layered into the cake is quite possibly my favorite part – the gummy worms! They totally define a good, fun Dirt Cake so they had to be included in this one. I wasn’t entirely sure how the cake would slice with the gummy worms in the middle, but it actually sliced great! And while you don’t want to add too many and have them overwhelm the cake, they were a tasty and fun addition.
To finish off the cake, there’s some additional Oreo crumbs pressed into a few places around the cake to give it that “dirt” look. And then of course grass, because where else would the worms hang out? 😉 And if you can keep from eating all the gummy worms before they make it into and on top of the cake, you should add those too.
The final cake is seriously so fun! Not only is something everyone will fall in love with for it’s decor, it’s also sure to be devoured for it’s delicious cake and filling. It’s perfect for a celebration, a random Wednesday and especially for Halloween!
Dirt Cake
- Prep Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 33 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours, 18 minutes plus cooling time
- Yield: 12-14 slices
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Dirt Cake is a moist chocolate cake filled with frosting that’s loaded with Oreos and layered with more Oreo crumbs! It’s even got gummy worms between the cake layers for a cake that’s creepy-crawly and perfect for Halloween!
Ingredients
Chocolate Cake Layers
- 2 cups (260g) all purpose flour
- 2 cups (414g) sugar
- 3/4 cup (70g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (240ml) milk
- 1 cup (240ml) vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup (240ml) water
Oreo “Dirt” Frosting
- 1 1/4 cups (280g) butter
- 1 1/4 cups (237g) shortening
- 6 cups (690g) powdered sugar
- 3 cups Oreo crumbs (35–40 Oreos)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3–4 tbsp water or milk
- 1 3/4 cup Oreo crumbs (20–25 Oreos)
- About 30 gummy worms
Green Vanilla Frosting
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 cup (115g) powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1–2 tbsp water or milk
- Green gel icing color
Instructions
1. To make the chocolate cake layers, prepare three 8 inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom, and grease the sides. Preheat oven to 300°F (148°C).
2. Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and combine.
3. Add eggs, milk, vegetable oil and vanilla to the dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Slowly add water. Mix well.
5. Divide batter evenly between cake pans and bake for about 30-33 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
6. Remove cakes from oven and allow to cool for 3-4 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
7. To make the Oreo dirt frosting, add the butter and shortening to a large mixer bowl and beat until combined.
8. Add about half of the powdered sugar and the Oreo crumbs and beat until well combined.
9. Add the vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons of water or milk and mix until well combined.
10. Add the remaining powdered sugar and Oreo crumbs and mix until well combined and smooth.
11. Add additional milk or water until the right consistency is reached.
12. To build the cake, use a large serrated knife to remove the domes from the tops of the cake layers.
13. Place the first cake layer on a serving plate or cardboard cake circle and top it with about 3/4 cup of frosting.
14. Pipe a small dam around the outside edge of the cake, on top of the frosting, then add about 1/2 cup of Oreo Crumbs. Place 6-8 gummy worms around the crumbs and gently press them down into the crumbs.
15. Add the second layer of cake, then top with another layer of Oreo frosting.
16. Repeat step 14.
17. Top the cake with the final layer of cake, then frost the outside of the cake with the remaining Oreo frosting.
18. Use the remaining Oreo crumbs to press them into some areas around the outside of the cake to make it look “dirty”.
19. To make the green frosting, add the butter to a large mixer bowl and beat until smooth (if you can, since it’s such a small amount).
20. Add the powdered sugar and mix until well combined and smooth.
21. Add the vanilla extract and one tablespoon of water or milk and beat until smooth. Add additional water or milk, if needed to get the right consistency.
22. Use the green gel icing color to color the frosting green.
23. Use Wilton icing tip 233 (the grass tip) to pipe grass around the top edge of the cake and few places on top. Place a few more gummy worms around the top of the cake and finish it off with the remaining Oreo crumbs.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Slice
- Calories: 939
- Sugar: 91.8 g
- Sodium: 669.6 mg
- Fat: 51.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 118.5 g
- Protein: 7.2 g
- Cholesterol: 29.2 mg
Categories
Enjoy!
