This Easter dirt cake recipe takes minutes to put together but looks so fun and tastes absolutely delicious!

It's essentially an upside down chocolate cheesecake, with a sweet chocolate cream cheese base, an Oreo 'dirt' topping, gummy worms and Easter candy decorations.

To make it, you'll start by whisking cream, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and cocoa powder together, then whisk in melted milk chocolate and your filling is ready to pile into a shallow dish.

Next, you'll crush Oreos. I like to use a food processor for that job as it's so speedy, but putting them in a bag and bashing with a rolling pin is a good option too, and quite fun!

You'll sprinkle the Oreos into the dish and that's your 'dirt', so all that's left to do is top with some gummy worms and mini eggs!

You've probably spotted the creme egg chick in the centre of my dirt cake. I've also included full instructions if you want to make one of your own!

Read on for my full Easter dirt cake recipe.

Ingredients

For the filling

600 ml (2½ cups) double cream (heavy cream) heavy cream
500 g (2¼ x 8oz blocks) light cream cheese
100 g (½ cup) white caster sugar (superfine sugar) superfine
1 tbsp vanilla extract
50 g (⅓ cup + 2 tbsp) cocoa powder (dutch processed) sieved
300 g (10.5 oz) milk chocolate melted

For the ‘dirt’

350 g (12.5 oz) Oreo cookies 31 cookies, crushed to a crumb

To decorate

100 g (10.5 oz) mini chocolate eggs
100 g (3.5 oz) gummy worms

For the creme egg chick

1 Cadbury Creme Egg
10 g (½ oz) milk chocolate melted melted
2 white chocolate buttons
5 milk chocolate buttons
1 Black writing icing pen

Equipment

Weighing scales
Large mixing bowl
Food processor or bag and rolling pin to crush the Oreos
Kitchen knife
Chopping board
Electric whisk
26cm (10 inches) shallow glass dish

Instructions

Make the filling

Before you start, melt the milk chocolate and set aside to cool.

Put the cream, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and cocoa powder.

Whisk until thick and fluffy.

Add the cooled chocolate.

Whisk to combine.

Assemble

Spoon the filling into your dish and level off.

Sprinkle the Oreo crumbs on top.

Decorate with candy worms and mini eggs.

If you want to include the creme egg chick, here's what to do.

Make the chick

Place two milk chocolate buttons on a plate, side-by-side.

Put a small blob of melted chocolate between the two buttons, then stick a creme egg on top, pointy end up and hold it in place until the chocolate sets.

When the chocolate is completely set, turn the plate over, hold the egg and pour a tiny bit of hot water over the plate. Within seconds, the egg should release with the buttons attached.

Stand the chick up and use the melted chocolate to stick on milk chocolate wings.

Cut a couple of buttons into triangles and stick on to make the beak. You can add a crest, too, if you like.

Attach two white chocolate buttons for eyes and use a little black writing icing to give them pupils.

You can see a more detailed guide to making a creme egg chocolate chick in this post.

Chocolate Chicks Recipe - Made with Creme Eggs for Easter!

Follow this simple recipe to create your own creme egg chocolate chicks. It's a brilliant chocolate craft to do with the kids this Easter.

Get the recipe

To enjoy your Easter dirt cake, simply spoon onto plates and serve!

So, how did your dirt cake turn out? I'd love to see yours!

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect Easter dirt cake

Is Easter dirt cake easy to make?

This Easter dirt cake recipe is very easy to follow, as it takes minutes to put together and there’s no cooking or baking involved. The closest you’ll come to cooking with heat is melting the chocolate for the filling.

Will I need any special equipment to make Easter dirt cake?

One of the best things about this Easter dirt cake recipe is that you don't need any special equipment to make it! You’ll need some standard equipment that you probably already have (measuring scales, a mixing spoon, a knife and a chopping board).

To make the filling you’ll only need a bowl and a whisk. Then to put the Easter dirt cake together I used a shallow glass dish. But feel free to use any shaped dish you prefer. I just used glass so you can see the layers but it’s entirely up to you!

If you’re in doubt, there’s always a full list of suggested equipment on the recipe card below my recipes. I always include links to example products, so you can see exactly what I used to make each recipe.

What is dirt cake?

A dirt cake (sometimes called ‘dirt and worm pie’) is a classic children’s American dessert designed to look like…dirt and worms.

It’s usually made with chocolate pudding and topped with Oreo cookies, as they have a darker colour similar to dirt. Most versions use only double (heavy) cream to make the pudding, but I use cream cheese for an extra luxurious texture.

This Easter dirt cake recipe adds a festive twist with the Easter chick. Regular dirt cake is either plain or has gummy worms and no bird.

How can I tell if my cream has gone off?

If your cream is past its ‘use by’ date you should throw it away. Dairy can harbour harmful bacteria so it isn’t worth the risk

If your cream is in its ‘use by’ date and you have already opened it, first check to make sure it isn’t darker in colour or yellowing.

If it looks thicker or has a sour and tangy smell, it’s likely off and should be thrown away.

How can I tell if cream cheese has gone off?

As I said above, if dairy is past its ‘use by’ date, you should throw it away.

Once you open cream cheese, it usually lasts for around 1-2 weeks as long as it has always been kept in the fridge. If it has been left at room temperature for more than two hours you should throw it out. This is because cream cheese is the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria.

If your cream cheese has mould, is dry/cracked or has an unusual smell you should definitely discard it.

With some hard cheeses, you can sometimes cut mould off - though it’s still risky. However, cream cheese is soft enough for mould to spread through to the centre of the cheese. So if you’re unsure, you shouldn’t use it.

It’s always best to use fresh cream cheese, both for safety and for taste.

Is Easter dirt cake suitable for vegetarians?

This Easter dirt cake recipe can be vegetarian, depending on the ingredients you choose.

Gummy worms can sometimes contain animal-derived ingredients, so as long as you buy vegetarian gummy worms it should be safe for veggies.

This is because some brands use gelatine in the ingredients for gummy worms. So keep an eye out for gelatine on ingredients lists. If in doubt, the Vegetarian Society has a great list of ingredients and e-numbers to look out for on packets.

Animal-derived products are used to thicken, colour or flavour sweet and savoury food, meaning they can sneak into unexpected ingredients.

So always make sure that you double-check all of your labels to ensure that they’re vegetarian. Also, don't forget to check anything extra that you intend to serve with your recipe.

Is Easter dirt cake suitable for vegans?

This Easter dirt cake recipe isn’t vegan, as it contains a lot of dairy. Luckily, you can easily find vegan substitutes for non-vegan ingredients.

Dairy cream/cheese

The bulk of this recipe is cream cheese and cream. So first you’ll need to find a replacement for the cream cheese and double cream.

This should be pretty easy, as there are many vegan brands that make non-dairy cream. There are also many dairy brands like Elmea which make non-dairy versions of their products too. Or you could use coconut cream made for whipping by brands like Biona.

Vegan cream cheese is just as easy to find. Many supermarkets produce their own brands of cream cheese or sell brands like Violife and Nush.

Chocolate

There are a few types of chocolate in this Easter dirt cake recipe, so you’ll need to find vegan versions of them, as chocolate contains dairy milk.

For the chick:

A brand called Mummy Meagz makes a vegan ‘Chuckie egg’ which would be a perfect stand-in for a Creme Egg.
Moo Free makes vegan chocolate buttons in both milk chocolate and white chocolate.

For decoration:

Moo Free also makes vegan chocolate mini eggs which would work for the decoration.

For the melted chocolate:

Vego makes excellent vegan chocolate melts designed for melting and baking. They should work as a substitute wherever this recipe calls for melted chocolate.

For the dirt:

Oreos contain no dairy or animal products. However, some people do not consider Oreos vegan. This is because they have potential cross-contamination with milk during production. If you prefer not to take the risk, feel free to use vegan chocolate sandwich biscuits.

Animal-derived products can be used to thicken, colour or flavour sweet and savoury food, so it sneaks into the most surprising ingredients!

So always make sure that you double-check all of your ingredients labels to ensure that they are vegan. Also, don't forget to check anything extra that you intend to serve with your recipe.

Is Easter dirt cake gluten-free?

The only ingredients in this Easter dirt cake recipe that contains gluten are the Oreos.

But don’t worry! Oreo makes gluten-free Oreos which you can buy from Amazon. Or, supermarkets like Tesco make gluten-free cookies and cream flavoured biscuits which would work as a replacement too!

Double-check all of your ingredients labels to make sure that they are gluten-free. Don't forget to check anything extra that you intend to serve the recipe with.

Is Easter dirt cake keto-friendly?

This recipe contains a lot of sugar and carbs, so it isn’t suitable for a keto diet - sorry!

Is Easter dirt cake healthy?

This Easter dirt cake recipe is definitely best enjoyed as a seasonal treat. It contains a fair amount of sugar and fat, so it’s not something that would be healthy to eat regularly. However, there’s nothing wrong with a treat!

Is Easter dirt cake safe to eat while pregnant?

Many pregnant people are told to avoid soft cheese while pregnant, as it is often unpasteurised. Luckily, the cream cheese in this recipe is the kind that is pasteurised, so it should be perfectly safe.

You should always take extra care when you cook for someone in a high-risk group (pregnant people, people living with long term health conditions, young children or older people). So make sure that all of your ingredients are in good condition and that this meal is prepared safely and hygienically.

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. Please seek help from a medical professional if you need further information or have any concerns.

What goes well with Easter dirt cake?

This Easter dirt cake recipe has everything you need - soft, crunchy, moist, dry, chocolate, cream, carbs, fat. I don’t think it needs anything with it but a cup of tea, and maybe some extra chocolate - it is Easter after all!

Can I make Easter dirt cake without gummy worms?

If you can’t find gummy worms, or you just don’t like them, then it’s fine to skip them. You could even decorate the dirt cake by grouping the eggs together, so it looks more like a bird's nest.

If you do want worms in your dirt pie but you can’t find them, you could use fizzy laces instead. Strawberry flavour fizzy laces are even worm coloured, so they would work perfectly.

Can I add extra chocolate to this recipe?

This dirt cake recipe is already chock full of chocolate, but if you can find room to add any more, feel free! Apart from the filling mixture, this recipe should be easy to add to without impacting the outcome too much. For example, you could mix grated chocolate with the Oreo crumb for more chocolate on top.

Though personally, I would keep the recipe as it is, otherwise it might be too rich to enjoy.

How should I store Easter dirt cake?

You will need to store your Easter dirt cake in the fridge. Otherwise, the dairy in the cake will spoil within a few hours of being at room temperature.

How long will my Easter dirt cake keep?

Your Easter dirt cake should keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator - as long as it’s in a sealed container. However, the Oreo crumb will most likely end up soggy within a day or two, so it’s best to enjoy it as fresh as possible.

Can I leave Easter dirt cake out on the counter?

No. As I said above, this Easter dirt cake recipe is mainly dairy, so if it’s left at room temperature for too long, it will spoil. It’s best to keep it in the fridge when it isn’t being served.

Can I make Easter dirt cake ahead?

Sure! You can make all the elements of the dirt cake 2-3 days ahead and keep it in the fridge. Though you should assemble the cake on the day you serve it to keep the topping as crunchy and fresh as possible.

Can I keep Easter dirt cake in the refrigerator?

The best place to keep your Easter dirt cake is in the fridge, as it contains dairy.

To store your dirt cake, you can just cover the dish with cling film and place it in the fridge as it. Or you could put the dish on top of a lunchbox lid, then use the lunchbox as a lid over the top of the cake.

Your dirt cake should keep for up to 5 days in the fridge, but it will be at it’s best within 2-3 days.

Can I freeze Easter dirt cake?

Technically, you can freeze your Easter dirt cake, but as with any recipe containing cream - it’s not ideal.

Dairy with a high water content tends to split when it freezes, which changes the texture and taste of food. This is because the water in the dairy freezes, separating from the fat and protein. Then once it defrosts, the water melts, usually leaving a more chunky or curdled version of the dish you put in the freezer. So ultimately, it’s always better to refrigerate your cream-based desserts.

What is the best way to defrost Easter dirt cake?

If you really need to freeze your dirt cake, it’s best to portion it into small sealed containers when you freeze it. This will make defrosting easier, and help reduce the chance of freezer burn.

When you defrost your dirt cake, pop the container or portion into the fridge and leave it for 3-5 hours.

Can I make Easter dirt cake in a different size?

This recipe is perfect for adjusting in size because there’s no cooking involved.

You can double the ingredients, or half them, or change the size however you prefer. You just need to make sure you have the right sized dish to hold your size-adjusted recipe.

A good way to test how much mixture a dish can hold is to pour some water up to the fill line of a dish. Next, pour it into a measuring jug to see how much the dish can hold. Then, when you’re adjusting the recipe size you’ll know the maximum size you can make your mixture.

This multipack of glass dishes would be useful as it has dishes in 3 different sizes. So if you want to make different sized dirt cakes, look for something similar.

Can I make mini individual Easter dirt cakes?

Sure! This Easter dirt cake recipe makes 12 portions, so you could make 12 mini dirt cakes, or double up the individual portions and make 6 small dirt cakes.

If you make mini or small Easter dirt cakes, I’d recommend using a smaller chocolate egg for the chick. Cadbury usually sells mini Creme Eggs from January to April, worldwide. So check your local supermarket or Amazon and see if you can get some.

Can I make Easter dirt cake in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

A stand mixer would be ideal for whipping the cream for your dirt cake filling. Though it’s best to gently fold in the melted chocolate with a spatula, so you don’t over mix the cream and cause it to split.

Can I make Easter dirt cake with a food processor or power blender?

A food processor would be helpful for blitzing and breaking up the Oreos in this Easter dirt cake recipe. Take care not to over blitz them or you’ll end up with an Oreo paste, rather than a crumb!

How can I make sure my Easter dirt cake turns out perfectly?

This recipe is super simple, as there’s no baking or cooking involved - it’s all mixing and melting. So to make sure your Easter dirt cake turns out perfectly, you just need to prepare well and follow the instructions.

Here are a couple of bits of good practice and tips for common issues:

First, make sure everything you need is available to use and clean.
Before you begin any recipe it’s good practice to measure out all the ingredients and leave them out in sight. This stops any mix-ups with measurements and ensures that you don’t leave any ingredients out.
Whipping the cream: Make sure you don’t over whisk your cream or it might split. If it splits from overmixing, then all you need to do is pop it in the fridge for 15 mins. Once it’s cooled down gently whisk it until it’s at the right consistency.
Melting the chocolate: Melt your chocolate in the microwave in 15-second bursts so you don’t accidentally burn it. For more chocolate melting tips, download my FREE Easter baking eBook.

Why did my Easter dirt cake turn out wet/soft/dense?

Your Easter dirt cake should be wet and soft, but if it’s dense then something is definitely wrong.

Too much chocolate will set and solidify your filling. Too much cream cheese or over mixed cream will also produce a dense filling.

So make sure you get the perfect ratio of these ingredients by measuring everything out before you begin cooking.

Why did my cream cheese filling split or turn very loose?

If your filling split, then it sounds like you over whisked it or the temperature is too high.

When cream cheese is whipped, you loosen the bonds between the water, protein and fat molecules so it all becomes a little more fluid. If you do this too much, you will completely separate them, causing it to split. This is the same reason that double cream splits.

If this happens you can usually fix it by cooling down your cream/cream cheese and then remixing it.

Or, if your cream/cream cheese is already cold, you can add a splash of cream to the mix and it should come together.

How can I add/change the flavours in this Easter dirt cake?

This Easter dirt cake recipe is a chocolate heavy recipe. So whatever you add, it will need to go well with chocolate.

Who invented dirt cake?

It’s thought that dirt cake evolved from a dish called ‘Mississippi mud pie’. If the name didn’t give it away, Mississippi mud pie is an American dessert, named after the banks of the Mississippi River because of its chocolate, muddy appearance.

So, a dirt cake is something like a deconstructed mud pie, with filling on the bottom, and the typical biscuit base crumbled over the top instead of as a pie crust.

It’s unclear who invented Dirt cake or Mississippi mud pies, but the earliest known reference to a mud pie is from 1975. So it’s most likely they were invented in the US somewhere in the middle of the 20th century.

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5 from 1 vote

Easter Dirt Cake Recipe

This Easter dirt cake recipe takes minutes to put together but looks so fun and tastes absolutely delicious! It's essentially an upside down chocolate cheesecake, with a sweet chocolate cream cheese base, an Oreo 'dirt' topping, gummy worms and Easter candy decorations.

Prep Time20

Total Time20

Course: Desserts and sweet treats, Easter

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: 12 servings

Author: Emily Leary