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Dirt Cake

This Dirt Cake recipe features a moist chocolate cake filled with Oreo frosting and layered with more Oreo crumbs! It's also adorned with gummy worms for a fun, creepy-crawly dessert perfect for Halloween or any occasion.
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Prep Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Cook Time 33 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 18 minutes
Servings: 12
Cuisine: Chinese
Calories: 120
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chocolate Cake
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 0.75 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup water
Oreo Dirt Frosting
  • 1.25 cups butter, softened
  • 1.25 cups shortening
  • 6 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 cups Oreo crumbs about 35-40 Oreos
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 tbsp water or milk or more as needed
Decoration
  • 1.75 cup Oreo crumbs about 20-25 Oreos
  • 30 gummy worms
  • 0.25 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 0.25 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp water or milk or more as needed
  • 1 green gel icing color

Method
 

Chocolate Cake Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 300°F (148°C). Prepare three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom, and grease the sides.
  2. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Add eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients and mix well.
  4. Slowly add water and mix until the batter is well combined.
  5. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 30-33 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  6. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 3-4 minutes, then invert them onto wire racks to cool completely.
Oreo Dirt Frosting Preparation
  1. In a large mixer bowl, beat together the softened butter and shortening until well combined.
  2. Add about half of the powdered sugar and the Oreo crumbs. Beat until well combined.
  3. Stir in the vanilla extract and 3 tablespoons of water or milk. Mix until well combined.
  4. Add the remaining powdered sugar and Oreo crumbs. Mix until smooth and well combined.
  5. Add additional milk or water, one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches your desired consistency.
Cake Assembly and Decoration
  1. Use a large serrated knife to carefully level the domes off the tops of the cooled cake layers.
  2. Place the first cake layer on your serving plate or cake board. Spread about 3/4 cup of the Oreo Dirt Frosting evenly over the top.
  3. Pipe a small dam of frosting around the outer edge of the frosted layer. Sprinkle about 1/2 cup of Oreo crumbs inside the dam. Arrange 6-8 gummy worms around the crumbs and gently press them down.
  4. Place the second cake layer on top of the first. Spread another 3/4 cup of Oreo Dirt Frosting over it.
  5. Repeat step 14: pipe a frosting dam, add Oreo crumbs, and place gummy worms.
  6. Top the cake with the final cake layer. Frost the entire outside of the cake with the remaining Oreo Dirt Frosting.
  7. Press the remaining Oreo crumbs into some areas around the outside of the cake to create a 'dirty' effect.
  8. For the green frosting: In a small mixer bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth.
  9. Add the powdered sugar and mix until well combined and smooth.
  10. Stir in the vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of water or milk. Beat until smooth. Add more liquid, if needed, to reach the right consistency.
  11. Add green gel icing color and mix until the frosting is a vibrant green.
  12. Using a grass piping tip (like Wilton tip 233), pipe grass around the top edge of the cake and in scattered patches on top.
  13. Place a few more gummy worms around the top of the cake and finish by scattering the remaining Oreo crumbs over the top.

Notes

This dirt cake is best served chilled. It can be made a day in advance.