This no-bake Halloween Dirt Cake is quick to make, tastes amazing and looks spookily good, complete with tombstones!

Garibaldi biscuit tombstones and Halloween-themed candy sit atop a crushed Oreo soil, with a creamy chocolate-cheesecake filling lurking beneath. Dirt has never been this tasty!

This Halloween dirt cake is so simple to whip up that it would be perfect to serve as part of a last-minute Halloween feast or to take to a Halloween party.

To make it, you'll start by whipping cream, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and cocoa powder together until nice and thick, then stirring in some melted chocolate.

You'll then pile your gorgeously creamy filling into a dish - I like to use a clear one to show off the layers - and then scatter crushed Oreos on top!

For the tombstones, you'll take some garibaldi biscuits - or any rectangular cookie - and pipe RIP onto each one with a little tube of icing.

All that's left to do then is push your tombstones into the soil and add a few Halloween gummy sweets to complete your Halloween dirt cake!

The full recipe is below, complete with step-by-step photos to help you at every stage. Enjoy!

Ingredients

For The Filling

600 ml double cream heavy cream heavy cream
500 g light cream cheese
100 g white caster sugar (superfine sugar) superfine sugar superfine
1 tbsp vanilla extract
50 g cocoa powder dutch processed sieved
300 g milk chocolate melted

For The ‘Dirt’

350 g Oreo cookies crushed to a crumb

For the tomb stones

Garibaldi Biscuits
Black writing pen

To Decorate

100 g halloween gummy sweets such as worms

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 in a large mixing bowl.

Whisk until thick and fluffy.

Add the cooled chocolate.

Whisk to combine.

Spoon the filling into your dish and level off.

Sprinkle the crushed Oreo ‘dirt’ on top.

Make the tombstones

Use the black writing icing to write RIP across the top halves of the biscuits.

Push the biscuits into the top of the dish, standing up to resemble tombstones sticking up from the soil.

Add the Halloween candy

Dot the gummy worms and other halloween candies around the surface of the cake to finish.

Doesn't it look fantastic? I think this Halloween dirt cake would be a fantastic dessert to take to a Halloween party.

Enjoy!

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect Halloween Dirt Cake

Name: Halloween Dirt Cake Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 600 ml double cream (heavy cream heavy cream); 500 g light cream cheese; 100 g white caster sugar (superfine sugar) (superfine sugar superfine); 1 tbsp vanilla extract; 50 g cocoa powder (dutch processed sieved); 300 g milk chocolate melted; 350 g Oreo cookies (crushed to a crumb); Garibaldi Biscuits; Black writing pen; 100 g halloween gummy sweets (such as worms)

What is dirt cake?

Dirt cake is a no-bake dessert made to look like, you guessed it, dirt! It's usually made with chocolate pudding or custard, cream cheese, and whipped cream, then topped with crumbled Oreos (or another type of cookie) to resemble dirt.

For my take on a dirt cake, I made a mix of cream, cream cheese and melted chocolate for a super decadent filling. The top is decorated with Halloween candies and biscuits made to look like mini gravestones.

Is Halloween Dirt Cake easy to make?

With no baking and only 20 minutes of preparation time, this Halloween Dirt Cake is super easy to make. You'll melt some chocolate and add it to whipped cream and cream cheese for the filling. Then all you need to do is top the filling with your 'dirt' (crushed Oreos) and decorate!

This recipe is perfect for making with the kids, but it's also a lovely and easy way to surprise them at Halloween. You could quickly make one while they're napping or playing and then watch their eyes light up as they dig in. You could even bury some gummy worms inside the filling for them to find.

Will I need any special equipment to make this dirt cake recipe?

The only equipment you'll need is an electric whisk for whipping the cream filling and a food processor (or a bag and rolling pin) to crush the Oreos.

To assemble your dirt cake, you'll need a glass dish to assemble it all in. I used a 26cm (10 inch) square dish. A glass dish isn't essential, I just used one so you can see the layers. So if you only have a ceramic dish, that's fine.

You'll also need a black writing icing pen if you want to make tombstones out of biscuits. These are available in most supermarkets or failing that, you'll be able to order some from Amazon.

There's always a complete list of suggested equipment on the recipe card below my recipes if you're in doubt. I also always include links to example products to show exactly what I used to make each recipe.

How can I tell if cream cheese has gone off?

When cream cheese spoils, it usually begins to develop cracks like a dry desert floor, with liquid pooling at the bottom. This isn't caused by your cheese drying out. The cracks in cream cheese form when bacteria breaking down the cheese release lactic acid, destroying the bonds between fat and liquid and separating the two.

When cream cheese spoils, it will become mouldy, usually a furry blue mould but sometimes red. Unlike conventional (and not very wise) cheese wisdom, you can't just cut off the mouldy bit when cream cheese spoils and eat the rest. This is because the mould spreads throughout the soft cheese with invisible tendrils. So eating another part of the cheese could make you sick.

If your cheese looks fine, still check it by giving it a smell or tasting a little bit. If it smells or tastes sour or off, then it's best to discard it.

Is Halloween Dirt Cake suitable for vegetarians?

This recipe should be completely suitable for vegetarians as long as you use vegetarian Halloween candies.

Many Halloween sweets are vegetarian, but some jelly sweets or marshmallows can contain gelatin. If you're unsure, check the packaging or look for vegetarian Halloween candies online.

As always, please double-check the ingredients of all your products to make sure they fit your dietary requirements.

Is Halloween Dirt Cake suitable for vegans?

No, this recipe contains dairy, so it isn't suitable for vegans. However, this recipe isn't baked or cooked, so it should be easy to make a vegan version using vegan cream cheese, cookies, chocolate and Halloween candies.

Cream: You could whip a 50/50 mix of coconut milk and coconut cream for the same thickness as heavy cream. You may need to add a stabilizer like Xanthan Gum to ensure the coconut cream stays whipped, as it contains less fat than whipping cream. Though the cream cheese should help the mixture stay thick.
Light cream cheese: Cream cheese is easy to replicate with plant-based ingredients, so many supermarket brands in the US, UK, EU and AUS sell their own label versions or various brands. I always find Violife reliable, but any own-label version should work too.
Candies: Most Halloween sweets are vegan, but some jelly sweets or marshmallows can contain gelatin. So check the ingredients lists before you include anything.
Oreo dirt: At the time of writing (July 2022), 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. Feel free to use vegan chocolate sandwich biscuits if you prefer not to take the risk.
Garibaldis: Garibaldi biscuits are not vegan. So feel free to use any kind of rectangular vegan biscuit. Or you could even use Meera Sodha's Vegan Garibaldi recipe and make your own.
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. However, they do have a Nutella-like hazelnut flavour, so you may prefer a plain brand if you aren't nuts for hazelnut.

Is Halloween Dirt Cake gluten-free?

The Oreos in the crumb are the only ingredient containing gluten in this Halloween Dirt Cake recipe. Luckily, Oreo makes gluten-free Oreos, so you could use them or any kind of gluten-free chocolate biscuit for the dirt.

Double check all of your ingredients labels to make sure that they are gluten-free.

Is Halloween Dirt Cake keto-friendly?

This recipe contains a fair amount of sugar and carbs, so it isn't suitable for a ketogenic diet. Dairy is fine for a keto diet, so you could swap the sugar for sweetener and use crushed nuts instead of biscuits - but there isn't a keto replacement for Halloween candies.

So it's probably best to find a specifically keto-friendly Halloween recipe.

Is Halloween Dirt Cake suitable for those on a FODMAP diet?

This recipe isn't suitable for someone on a low FODMAP diet as it contains lots of sugar, dairy and some gluten. While low FODMAP doesn't exclude dairy, it reduces your lactose intake to a very small amount. So this recipe contains too much dairy and sugar for a low FODMAP diet.

Is Halloween Dirt Cake healthy?

You'll get plenty of calcium from this dirt cake, but the rest of the ingredients aren't particularly healthy! However, there's nothing wrong with the occasional treat, especially over the spooky season!

Is Halloween 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.

As always, consult with your doctor or healthcare professional if you have any concerns. A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice.

Is Halloween Dirt Cake suitable for babies and toddlers?

This recipe contains sugar, which isn't suitable for babies or toddlers. The NHS advises that you don't feed sugar to children under the age of 5.

A Mummy Too does not give medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns please speak to a health professional.

The NHS has some fantastic resources on their website on what to feed babies and young children.

What goes well with this dirt cake recipe?

Serve Halloween Dirt Cake with:

A seasonal drink like a Pumpkin Pie Smoothie or as part of a Halloween table with my Witches Fingers Breadsticks or Mummy Jalapeno Poppers.
Some Halloween party games like bobbing for apples or a Halloween scavenger hunt. You could even hide the prize inside part of the dirt cake - but make sure there are no choking risks!

Can I add extra chocolate to this recipe?

This dirt cake recipe already contains melted chocolate in the filling, but there's always room for more chocolate!

You could add extra chocolate by swirling through some more melted chocolate or chocolate sauce. Or you could add some chocolate chips into the filling or over the top.

How should I store this dirt cake recipe?

This Halloween Dirt Cake contains uncooked cream and cream cheese, so you should store your dirt cake in the fridge in an airtight container. It will last for 3-4 days in the fridge.

How long will Halloween Dirt Cake keep?

Your Halloween Dirt Cake should keep for up to 4 days, but the longer you leave it the soggier the crumb top will become. So it's best to make your dirt cake on the day you want to serve it.

Can I leave Halloween Dirt Cake out on the counter?

No, this Halloween Dirt Cake contains cream and cream cheese which will spoil if left at room temperature.

Can I make Halloween Dirt Cake ahead?

This Halloween Dirt Cake is best on the day you make it, as the Oreo crumb tends to get soggy if you leave it in the fridge for more than a day.

However, the dirt cake should be safe to eat for up to 4 days if you store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

You could make the filling a couple of days ahead and decorate it on the day you plan to serve it.

Can I keep Halloween Dirt Cake in the refrigerator?

The best place to keep your dirt cake is in the fridge. Make sure you store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh for longer.

Can I freeze this dirt cake recipe?

The cream and cream cheese would change texture in the freezer, and the Oreos would disintegrate on defrosting, so I wouldn't recommend freezing your dirt cake.

Can I make these Halloween Dirt Cake in a different quantity?

It's easy to make more or less of this dirt cake, as it involves no cooking. The ratio for the filling is an almost equal mix of cream and cream cheese, with roughly 1/2 the amount of chocolate and 1/5th the amount of sugar.

So as long as you have that ratio, your filling should have the correct consistency, and you can decorate how you like.

You can use an online recipe calculator to work out specific changes i.e. if you want to make 20 portions.

Can I make Halloween Dirt Cake in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

You can make the filling for Halloween Dirt Cake in a stand mixer, but it's not necessary. I find it just as easy (and less washing up!) to use a handheld electric whisk.

Can I make Halloween Dirt Cake with a food processor?

You can use a food processor to break up the Oreos into a crumb. However, a food processor wouldn't work for mixing the filling, as it would most likely cause the cream and cream cheese to split.

Can I make Halloween Dirt Cake in a different tin?

You can make your Halloween Dirt Cake in any container, as long as it's big enough to hold the filling. You could even make and present your dirt cake in spooky containers like plastic cauldrons to skulls.

How can I make sure my Halloween Dirt Cake turn out perfectly?

Here are a few tips to help you make the perfect Halloween Dirt Cake:

Make sure your cream and cream cheese are at room temperature before beginning. This will help them to mix together more easily.
Don't overmix your cream and cream cheese. Cream and cream cheese split when you mix them so much that the bonds between liquid, fat and protein unravel. So only mix until the filling is thick and fluffy - it doesn't need to be stiff.
Taste the filling as you're adding the sugar. You may find that 100g is too much or too little for your personal palette. So try adding a few teaspoons at a time until you're happy with the flavour.
Make sure you use a deep dish or cake tin so that you have enough room for all the filling and decoration.
Use good quality chocolate for the filling. I like to use milk chocolate with a higher amount of cocoa as it has a richer flavour, but feel free to use any milk chocolate you prefer.

Why did my cream cheese filling split or turn very loose? How can I fix split cream?

Cream and cream cheese are basically an emulsion of fat, dairy protein and liquid. So when you overmix them, the bonds between liquid, fat and protein unravel or collapse, causing the emulsion to split into separate groups of solids and liquid.

If your filling splits, you might be able to repair it by cooling it down. Pop the mixture back into the fridge for 30 minutes or freezer for 15, then try gently mixing it again. The mixture should come together and become smooth and creamy.

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

You could add some chocolate chips into the filling or decorate with melted chocolate or chocolate sauce for an extra chocolatey hit.
If you want a stronger Halloween theme, you could use Halloween Oreos (available in most supermarkets in October) or decorate with Halloween sprinkles.
Make sure you store your dirt cake in the fridge in

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.

While the first recipe for Mississippi mud pie is thought to date back to the 1930s, it wasn’t until the 1970s that dirt cake as we know it began to take shape. A recipe for ‘dirt pudding’ appeared in a 1976 edition of Family Circle magazine, and from there, the popularity of dirt cake snowballed.

Dirt cake is now a Halloween staple in America and has even made its way across the pond to the UK! Halloween dirt cake is usually made with Oreo cookies, chocolate pudding mix, gummy worms, or other spooky treats.

Print this Halloween Dirt Cake recipe

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Halloween Dirt Cake Recipe

This Halloween dirt cake is quick to make, no bake, tastes amazing and looks spookily good, complete with tombstones!

Prep Time20

Total Time20

Course: Dessert, halloween

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12 portions

Author: Emily Leary