Dust Cake is a enjoyable and traditional Midwestern dessert that is beloved by children and adults alike. With the proper ratio of creamy filling to chocolate cookie crumbs, it is the proper whimsical, no-bake dessert for any big day – particularly summer time BBQs, holidays, and birthdays!
There are a lot of recipes right here on IGE that I’ve been consuming since I used to be a child, however none have my coronary heart fairly like Dust Cake.
Dust Cake is a traditional Midwestern dessert recipe that my Mother made for practically each birthday, BBQ, and big day after I was rising up. I can’t inform you the way excited my brothers and I grew to become anytime she introduced out an enormous bowl of Dust Cake from the fridge adorned with gummy worms on high.
Today, my children ask for Dust Cake for his or her birthdays. Speak about coming full circle!
With alternating layers of whippy vanilla-cream filling, and crushed chocolate cookies, this no-fuss, no-bake dessert is a complete crowd pleaser, and big hit with children and adults alike.
When to Serve Dust Cake
We take pleasure in Dust Cake at summer time BBQs and birthdays, however this simple dessert, additionally known as “Dust and Worms”, could be made for quite a lot of occasions and events like:
- Easter
- Earth Day
- 4th of July
- Memorial Day
- Labor Day
- Halloween
You too can swap the chocolate cookies for vanilla sandwich cookie crumbs and switch it right into a sand/seashore cake, adorning with mini drink umbrellas (kicking myself for not doing this for my good friend’s current shifting away to Florida social gathering!)
What’s in Dust Cake?
The creamy pudding layer of Dust Cake is made up of some on a regular basis elements, whereas the “grime” layer is simply pulverized Oreos. Right here’s precisely what you’ll want:
- Jell-O on the spot vanilla pudding: be certain you’re shopping for on the spot pudding and never “prepare dinner & serve” pudding.
- Milk: any type you have got within the fridge (I usually use skim milk) — not plant-based milk. Extra on that under.
- Cool whip: provides creaminess to the vanilla pudding layer.
- Powdered sugar: provides sweetness to the cream layer.
- Softened butter: provides richness — don’t skip it!
- Softened cream cheese: provides extra richness, and balances out the sweetness of the dessert.
- Oreos: are pulverized to make up the “grime layer”. I exploit Gluten Free Oreos.
The way to Serve Dust Cake
My Mother at all times served Dust Cake layered in a big glass bowl, whereas these images present an 8.25″ trifle bowl. Prime the dessert with gummy worms and even faux or edible flowers for a real backyard feel and appear.
Anytime I make Dust Cake for people exterior my instant household, I layer the elements in disposable plastic cups then high every with a gummy worm or two, which I discover to be the quickest and best solution to feed a crowd.
The way to Make Forward and Retailer
Dust Cake is actually an Ice Field Cake which implies it’s finest made no less than 4-6 hours forward of whenever you plan on serving it.
- Make-ahead: totally assemble the Dust Cake then cowl the highest with plastic wrap for no less than 4 hours and as much as 1 day forward of time to present the cookie crumbs time to melt, and the layers time to meld.
- The way to retailer: retailer any leftovers lined within the fridge for as much as 5 days. The cookie crumb will soften because it the Dust Cake sits.
Can I Make this Dairy Free?
Sure! My daughter has egg and dairy allergy symptoms so I’ve made this recipe vegan many occasions. Right here’s how:
- Milk substitute: mix the Jell-O pudding combine with 2 cups almond milk then whisk for two minutes (the pudding will probably be very thick). Add an extra 1/2 cup almond milk then whisk to mix. Notice: you should have much less filling then for those who have been utilizing cow’s milk so plan your layers accordingly. Alternatively, you could possibly use a pudding combine formulated to work with plant-based milk OR make do-it-yourself vegan vanilla pudding.
- Cool whip substitute: use SoDelicious Cocowhip, a coconut-based whipped topping, or the non-dairy whipped topping of your alternative.
- Butter substitute: use vegan butter. We like Nation Crock vegan butter sticks.
- Cream cheese substitute: use plant-based cream cheese. We like Violife vegan cream cheese
- Oreos: regardless of having a “cream” filling, traditional Oreos – each common and gluten free – are already vegan!
Attempt Gluten Free Angel Meals Cake
The way to Make Dust Cake
Step 1: Make the creamy vanilla pudding layer.
Begin by including on the spot vanilla pudding combine and chilly milk to a big bowl. Whisk for five minutes, or till the pudding is soft-set, then add Cool Whip and fold to mix.
Within the bowl of an electrical stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or one other giant glass mixing bowl if utilizing a hand-held mixer, add cream cheese and butter which were softened to room temperature then beat till creamy.
Add powdered sugar then beat once more till easy and creamy.
Add the pudding combination to the bowl with the cream cheese combination then beat to mix. That is paying homage to cheesecake — so good!
Stash the bowl within the fridge when you work on the Oreo cookie crumb layer.
Step 2: Make the crushed cookie layer.
The years have achieved a quantity on the ounces and cookies included in a package deal of traditional Oreo cookies.
After I was rising up, Oreos have been bought in 20oz packages. Today they’re bought in 18oz “household dimension” packages, whereas gluten free Oreos are bought in 12oz packages.
Make it make sense, Oreo!
At any charge, any quantity between 12 and 20 ounces of Oreo cookies will work with this dessert. Merely add the cookies to a meals processor then course of till they change into effective crumbs.
Alternatively you possibly can add the Oreos to a gallon-size Ziplock bag then smash them with a rolling pin or meat mallet to realize effective crumbs, as my Mother did within the 80s and 90s. 😉
Step 3: Layer the Dust Cake.
In an 8.25″ trifle bowl (or giant glass bowl, or individual-sized cups) layer the creamy vanilla pudding combination with the Oreo cookie crumbs, beginning with the pudding combination.
If utilizing a trifle bowl, scoop a ~heaping 2-1/2 cups vanilla pudding combination into the underside then unfold into an excellent layer with the again of a spoon. Subsequent add ~heaping 1 cup Oreo cookie crumbs then unfold into an excellent layer.
Recipe Tip
Use the again of a spoon to push the cookie crumbs up the aspect of the Trifle dish, leaving a small indent within the middle, to present the looks of a thicker “grime” layer.
Repeat the layers two extra occasions, ending with the “grime” layer.
Step 4: Beautify the highest.
Now the enjoyable half — adorning!
Gummy worms are a should, although creepy crawly gummies like spiders, or gummy eyeballs for those who’re making Dust Cake for Halloween, are at all times so enjoyable. Peeps are cute for Easter!
Flowers – both recent and edible, or fake – are a enjoyable contact too.
Regardless of how or whenever you devour it, I hope you’re keen on each chew of this enjoyable and nostalgic Midwestern Dust Cake recipe! Take pleasure in!
Extra Craveable Dessert Recipes
- 2, 3.4 oz bins Jell-O model Prompt Vanilla Pudding
- 3-1/2 cups chilly milk, any type (not plant-based milk)
- 8 oz Cool Whip
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 15 oz Oreos, see notes
- gummy worms, faux or edible flowers, extra Oreos lower in half, elective, for garnish
For the Creamy Vanilla Pudding Layer:
-
To a big mixing bowl add the moment pudding combine and milk then whisk for five minutes, or till the pudding is soft-set. Add the Cool Whip then fold with a spatula to mix and put aside.
-
To the bowl of an electrical stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or one other giant mixing bowl if utilizing a hand-held mixer, add the softened cream cheese and butter then beat on medium-high pace till easy and creamy, 30 seconds. Add the powdered sugar, combine on low till simply mixed, then flip the pace up and beat till the combination is easy and creamy, one other 30 seconds. Scrape down the edges of the bowl.
-
Add the pudding combination to the cream cheese combination then combine on medium-high pace till every little thing is effectively mixed. Use a spatula to present the combination one other couple of massive stirs to make sure nothing has caught to the underside of the bowl then refrigerate till prepared to make use of.
For the Oreo Cookie Layer:
Meeting:
-
Spoon 1/3 of the pudding combination (~heaping 2-1/2 cups) into the underside of a 8.25” trifle bowl (or a big glass bowl) then unfold into an excellent layer with a spoon. Add 1/3 of the cookie crumbs (~heaping 1 cup) then unfold into an excellent layer with a spoon. Tip: to make the cookie layer look a bit taller than it’s, use the spoon to construct up the edges of the crumbs, leaving the middle a bit extra shallow. Repeat the pudding and cookie crumb layers two extra occasions. Alternatively you possibly can alternate layers in particular person glasses or cups. I like utilizing 9oz plastic cups.
-
Cowl the Dust Cake then chill for no less than 4 hours, ideally in a single day, then high with gummy worms and/or faux or edible flowers earlier than scooping into bowls and serving. Leftover Dust Cake will hold within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
- This recipe has been barely up to date from the unique to account for modifications in product packaging. The unique recipe known as for 12oz Cool Whip, which is now bought in 8oz tubs. You should purchase a second tub and add half of it, although I don’t assume the recipe is negatively impacted by utilizing solely 8oz vs 12oz of Cool Whip.
- Gluten Free Oreos are bought in 12oz packages, so you should have rather less cookie crumbs if utilizing only one package deal. Just like the Cool Whip, you should purchase a second package deal of GF Oreos then add 7 extra cookies from it to equal 15oz whole Oreos.
Energy: 625kcal, Carbohydrates: 89g, Protein: 9g, Fats: 27g, Saturated Fats: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g, Monounsaturated Fats: 9g, Trans Fats: 0.3g, Ldl cholesterol: 52mg, Sodium: 559mg, Potassium: 378mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 66g, Vitamin A: 827IU, Calcium: 214mg, Iron: 7mg
Dietary values are estimates solely. Please learn our full diet data disclaimer.
Photographs by Ashley McLaughlin