These Dirt Cake Cookies have a soft dark chocolate based cookie, topped with a rich chocolate pudding frosting, and then are topped with Oreo crumbs, and a chewy gummy worm! They bring the classic flavors of dirt cake into a rich, fudgy cookie!
Dirt Cake isn’t actually a cake, but a layered no bake dessert made with layers of chocolate pudding, Oreo crumbs, and lots of gummy worms on top! The Oreo topping looks like a brown crumbly dirt, hence the name, and then these Dirt Cake Cookies were born.
For the base of the cookie I used the same recipe as my Better than Sex Cookies, which is another Crumbl inspired favorite. It’s a thick chocolate cookie dough that is rolled in crushed up Oreo cookie crumbs. After baking its topped with a silky chocolate frosting, more Oreo crumbs, of course a gummy worm.
For other bakery inspired cookies, try our Recipe for Swig Cookies, Muddy Buddy Cookies, or Levain Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Why make these cookies
- Kid-Friendly: If your kids are anything like mine, they will love the cute presentation of these cookies with a colorful gummy worm on top!
- Easy to Make: These cookies have a few steps, but none of them are hard! Even the most amateur baker can make these.
- Perfect for Chocolate Lovers: If you love chocolate as much as me, you’ll love these soft chocolate cookies with their rich chocolate frosting!
Ingredients Needed
This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Chocolate Dirt Cake Cookie Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- Unsalted Butter – to hold all the ingredients together, and give the cookies flavor. You can substitute for Salted Butter.
- Brown Sugar and Granulated Sugar – to make these cookies, sweet, and soft
- Eggs – to help hold all the dry ingredients together, and provide moisture
- Vanilla Extract
- All Purpose Flour – measure carefully by spooning it into the cup, then leveling off the top
- Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder
- Cornstarch – helps keep the cookies extra soft
- Baking Soda – gives the cookies their lift
- Salt – balances out the sweetness
- Oreo Crumbs – complete the “dirt” look on the cookies
- Heavy Cream – To make the pudding mix frosting
- Powdered Sugar – To sweeten and thicken the pudding mix frosting.
- Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix – not prepared, just the dry mix
- Gummy Worms – Mini or Full size, or even sour worms will work.
How to make Oreo Dirt Cake Cookies
Step 1: Cream the butter and sugars. Cream together the butter and sugars in a large bowl until they’re nice and light and fluffy. Add in the eggs, and vanilla extract until just combined.
Step 2: Combine the dry ingredients. Add the flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt to a medium bowl, then add them into the wet ingredients, and stir them together until you have a nice soft cookie dough.
Step 4: Make the Cookie Balls. Scoop the dough into large cookie balls, about 1/4 cup in size each and roll them into balls. Roll them into a bowl of Oreo crumbs. Place them onto a lined cookie sheet and press each ball at the top to flatten slightly.
Step 5: Bake the Cookies. Bake the cookies until the sides start to crinkle and the tops look just set. You don’t want to overbake them, you want the middle to stay soft and fudgy. Let the cookies cool completely.
Step 5: Make the Chocolate Pudding Frosting. Add the heavy cream, powdered sugar, chocolate pudding mix (dry), cocoa powder, and vanilla extract into a large bowl. Beat with a hand mixer until smooth and thickened.
Step 6: Assemble the Cookies. Pipe the frosting onto the top of each cookie. Sprinkle more Oreo crumbs on top of the frosting, and top each with a gummy worm. Chill cookies, or enjoy immediately.
Tips and Tricks
- Measure Flour Properly – Weigh the flour, or spoon and measure it into the measuring cup and level off the top with the back of a knife to avoid cookies from being too dry, and not spreading when baking.
- Circular Cookies – If the cookies don’t come out of the oven evenly use the back of a couple of spoons to push the edges into the cookie right when they come out of the oven and are still soft.
Storage Instructions
The cookies should be stored in a single layer in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can eat them chilled, or let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes so they soften back up a bit.
These Dirt Cake Cookies are so fun for Halloween, or all year long. They’re rich, thick, soft chocolate cookies that chocolate lovers will love!
More Chocolate Desserts
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Hot Chocolate Cookies
- Double Chocolate Brownies
- Chocolate Cream Pie with Pudding
- Microwave Fudge
- Make Hot Chocolate Bombs
If you make these Dirt Cake Crumbl Cookies please leave a comment and 🌟 rating letting me know what you think! If you post the photo on Instagram, please tag me – I’d love to see what you’re making!
Oreo Dirt Cake Cookies
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 TBS vanilla extract
- 2.5 cups all purpose flour
- 2/3 cup Special Dark cocoa powder
- 1 TBS cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup Oreo crumbs (filling removed, then crumbled)
For the Chocolate Frosting:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup Special Dark cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup Instant Chocolate Pudding
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Topping:
- 1/4 cup Oreo crumbs
- 12 gummy worms
Equipment
Instructions
For the Chocolate Cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner.
- Add the butter and sugars to the bowl of a stand mixer, or a large bowl with a hand mixer, and cream them together until light and fluffy. 1 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until just combined. 2 large eggs, 1 TBS vanilla extract
- Add in the flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Mix until you have a nice, and soft cookie dough. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. 2.5 cups all purpose flour , 2/3 cup Special Dark cocoa powder, 1 TBS cornstarch , 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt
- Scoop about 1/4 cup of cookie dough and roll it into a round ball (mine were each 70grams). Roll each ball into a small bowl of Oreo crumbs. 1/4 cup Oreo crumbs
- Place 6 balls on each prepared baking sheet.
- Gently press the top of the balls to flatten them slightly.
- Bake the cookies for 9-13 minutes, or until the cookie tops start to crack and the centers look set.
- Remove the pan from the oven, and let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the pan.
- Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Chocolate Frosting:
- Add the frosting ingredients to a large bowl and beat them together with a hand mixer until fluffy and thickened. 2 cups heavy cream, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup Special Dark cocoa powder, 1/2 cup Instant Chocolate Pudding, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Transfer the frosting to a ziplock bag and snip the corner off. Pipe the frosting onto the top of each cookie.
For Topping:
- Sprinkle additional Oreo crumbs over the top of each cookie. 1/4 cup Oreo crumbs
- Top each cookie with a gummy worm. 12 gummy worms
- Enjoy the cookies immediately, or transfer them to the fridge to chill, until ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Measure Flour Properly – Weigh the flour, or spoon and measure it into the measuring cup and level off the top with the back of a knife to avoid cookies from being too dry, and not spreading when baking.
- Circular Cookies – If the cookies don’t come out of the oven evenly use the back of a couple of spoons to push the edges into the cookie right when they come out of the oven and are still soft.
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