This Easter Dump Cake couldn't be easier to make! It's almost like a work of art with edible Easter grass, vibrant bunny Peeps, and more. It's a mash-up of a poke cake and a dirt cake to create a scrumptious treat everyone will go crazy for. You might even need to bring two pans to keep up with the demand!
Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Dessert
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 30 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 12
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Rich, chocolatey, and ultra-sweet with creamy pudding, crunchy cookie "dirt," and festive candy toppings in every bite.
- 🍚 Best Served With: Served chilled on its own or with a dollop of whipped cream to balance the decadent chocolate layers.
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, this dessert is perfect for making a day ahead and storing in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Summarize and Save This Content On
I love the simplicity of this Easter cake with cake mix. It takes store-bought ingredients like chocolate pudding and Oreos to elevate a simple boxed cake into a stunning treat that will wow anyone you share it with. I've made it a handful of times, and it's always a hit. Plus, it only takes a few minutes to put together once the cake is baked and cooled.
Similar cake and pudding desserts to this one include chocolate mint poke cake and chocolate peanut butter poke cake.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's perfect for a crowd: The 9x13 pan is ideal for serving at least 12 people, making it an awesome choice for a get-together, potluck, or any event you're attending or hosting.
- Kids can help make it: This is a fun one to make and decorate, so get your kids or grandkids to help you; they'll have a blast!
- It's make-ahead friendly: If you want to save time, you can make the chocolate cake up to 24 hours in advance and then finish assembling it before serving.
Ingredients
Everything that I use for this Easter dump cake is listed below, down to the decorations! It takes a simple boxed cake mix and turns it into a showstopper!
- Chocolate cake: Use any brand of chocolate cake mix that you like, and prepare and bake it according to the package directions.
- Chocolate pudding: You may use prepared chocolate pudding or make it from a mix. If you choose to make it, I like to make it while the cake bakes and chill it in the fridge until the cake has cooled.
- Oreos: I use regular Oreos in this recipe to get the right consistency for the crumbs. A food processor is best, but if you don't have one, a large Ziploc bag and rolling pin will work just fine. It makes the perfect garden soil.
- Decorations: The shredded coconut is colored green to resemble grass, and then topped with bunny peeps and egg-shaped chocolates. You can add gummy worms as well if you like!
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Try golden Oreos: Swap original Oreo cookies for golden Oreos to make the dirt look more like sand.
- Use another pudding flavor: Try another pudding, like cookies and cream or cheesecake, to add more flavors to this easy Easter dessert.
- Swap cake for Devil's food: If you want a richer and more chocolatey cake, make a Devil's food cake instead of standard chocolate.
How to Make Easter Dump Cake
Before you get started on this Easter dump cake recipe, preheat your oven to the temperature provided on the box of cake mix. Then, grease it well with nonstick cooking spray to make serving a breeze.
Step 1: Prepare and bake the cake. Start by preparing and baking the chocolate cake according to the package directions.
Step 2: Cool and add holes. Next, once it's baked, allow it to cool for about 30 minutes before you add holes with the handle of a wooden spoon.
Step 3: Add the pudding. Pour the pudding over the top of the cake and spread it evenly so it seeps down into the holes.
Step 4: Top with Oreo crumbs. Sprinkle the Oreo cookie crumbs over the pudding layer.
Step 5: Color the coconut. Combine the shredded coconut with green food coloring in a small Ziploc bag. Gently squish it until all the flakes are green.
Step 6: Decorate and serve. Sprinkle the green coconut flakes over the Oreo crumbs, and place the Peeps and eggs around the top of the cake. Enjoy a slice of Easter dump cake with a pretty spring-colored pink mojito.
Expert Tips
- Add extra Oreos for crunch: It's normal for the cookies to become soft as they sit on the cake. If you want a crunchier texture, reserve some of the crumbs and add them right before serving.
- Slice with a sharp knife: To get clean slices, use a sharp knife. I also recommend wiping it between cuts.
- Keep it in the refrigerator: This isn't a dessert that should be stored at room temperature. It must be kept in the refrigerator.
- Freezer storage: If you'd like to freeze the Easter dump cake, you may cover it without the peeps and keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. The peeps become very hard when frozen.
A similar mini version of this easy Easter dump cake is these Easter dirt cups.
If you enjoy "dirt" recipes, try making these pumpkin dirt cups for the kids next Halloween.
Serving Suggestions
- Some more cute Easter desserts you can serve alongside this dump cake are lemon fudge and Cadbury egg cookie bars.
- This cake would work well with brunch, too. Enjoy some savory dishes like Mexican breakfast casserole and copycat Starbucks egg bites,
- Lean into the Easter theme and make a cup of hot chocolate with one of these Easter hot cocoa bombs to enjoy with a slice of Easter dump cake.
Recipe FAQs
Refrigerate it for up to 5 days! Tightly cover it with plastic wrap or divide it into portions and store in airtight containers.
Ensure that your cake has cooled before you add the pudding. The heat can cause the pudding to melt and become runny.
Don't add more pudding than the recipe calls for. Extra pudding can overwhelm the cake with moisture, destroying its structure and making it soggy.
More Delicious Easter Recipes
Looking for more fun Easter recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Easter Dump Cake
Ingredients
- 15 ounces chocolate cake mix 1 box, (and all ingredients listed on the box to make it)
- 2 ½ cups prepared chocolate pudding
- 18 oreo cookies
- 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
- 6 drops green food coloring
- ½ cup easter egg chocolates
- 8-10 bunny peeps assorted colors
- 12 gummy worms optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven and prepare a 9x13 casserole dish according to the cake package instructions.
- Prepare the cake. In a large bowl, prepare the cake mix as instructed on the package. Pour it into the prepared casserole dish and bake. Once baked, set it aside to cool in the casserole dish for about 30 minutes.
- Add the pudding. Using a spoon handle or other round stick-like object, poke holes in the cake about 1 inch apart. Spread your pudding over the cake, making sure to push the pudding down into the holes as you spread it. If you want to make sure each hole gets filled, you can use a piping bag to squirt the pudding directly into the holes before spreading the rest over the cake.
- Make the dirt. Place your Oreos in a food processor and blend on low until they are a coarse crumble texture. Spread this crumble evenly over the top of the pudding.
- Make the grass. In a sandwich bag or small bowl, combine the coconut flakes with the green food coloring. Squish it around in the bag until all flakes are green. Sprinkle the green coconut flakes evenly over the Oreo crumble. It won't completely hide the Oreo crumble, that's ok.
- Decorate the cake. Place the peep bunnies and candy eggs around the top of the cake.
Notes
- Allow your cake to cool for a minimum of 30 minutes after it comes out of the oven to prevent the pudding from melting and becoming runny.
- Use a sharp knife to slice and serve the Easter dump cake. I like to also wipe it clean between slices to make sure they're all even and pretty.
- Only add the amount of pudding the recipe calls for to prevent the cake from becoming wet and soggy at the bottom.
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