Dust Cake is a enjoyable and traditional Midwestern dessert that is beloved by youngsters 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 numerous 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 a large bowl of Dust Cake from the fridge embellished with gummy worms on prime.
Today, my youngsters 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 large hit with youngsters and adults alike.
When to Serve Dust Cake
We get pleasure from Dust Cake at summer time BBQs and birthdays, however this simple dessert, additionally known as “Dust and Worms”, will be made for a wide range of occasions and events like:
- Easter
- Earth Day
- 4th of July
- Memorial Day
- Labor Day
- Halloween
You may as well swap the chocolate cookies for vanilla sandwich cookie crumbs and switch it right into a sand/seaside cake, adorning with mini drink umbrellas (kicking myself for not doing this for my buddy’s latest shifting away to Florida get together!)
What’s in Dust Cake?
The creamy pudding layer of Dust Cake is made up of some on a regular basis elements, whereas the “dust” layer is simply pulverized Oreos. Right here’s precisely what you’ll want:
- Jell-O prompt vanilla pudding: make sure you’re shopping for prompt pudding and never “prepare dinner & serve” pudding.
- Milk: any sort you have got within the fridge (I usually use skim milk) — not plant-based milk. Extra on that beneath.
- 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 “dust layer”. I exploit Gluten Free Oreos.
How you can Serve Dust Cake
My Mother at all times served Dust Cake layered in a big glass bowl, whereas these photographs present an 8.25″ trifle bowl. Prime the dessert with gummy worms and even faux or edible flowers for a real backyard feel and look.
Anytime I make Dust Cake for people exterior my instant household, I layer the elements in disposable plastic cups then prime every with a gummy worm or two, which I discover to be the quickest and best solution to feed a crowd.
How you can Make Forward and Retailer
Dust Cake is basically an Ice Field Cake which suggests it’s greatest made no less than 12 hours forward of while you plan on serving it. The feel and taste will get higher because it sits!
- Make-ahead: absolutely assemble the Dust Cake then cowl the highest with plastic wrap for no less than 12 hours forward of time to present the cookie crumbs time to melt, and the layers time to meld.
- How you can retailer: retailer any leftovers coated within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Like I mentioned, the dessert simply will get higher and higher by the day.
Can I Make this Dairy Free?
Sure! My daughter has egg and dairy allergic reactions so I’ve made this recipe vegan many occasions. Right here’s how:
- Milk alternative: mix the Jell-O pudding combine with 2 cups almond milk then whisk for two minutes (the pudding will likely be very thick). Add an extra 1/2 cup almond milk then whisk to mix. Notice: you should have much less filling then should you have been utilizing cow’s milk so plan your layers accordingly. Alternatively, you might use a pudding combine formulated to work with plant-based milk OR make selfmade vegan vanilla pudding.
- Cool whip alternative: use SoDelicious Cocowhip, a coconut-based whipped topping, or the non-dairy whipped topping of your selection.
- Butter alternative: use vegan butter. We like Nation Crock vegan butter sticks.
- Cream cheese alternative: 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!
Strive Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes
How you can Make Dust Cake
Step 1: Make the creamy vanilla pudding layer.
Begin by including prompt 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.
To 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 have been softened to room temperature then beat till creamy.
Add powdered sugar then beat once more till clean and creamy.
Add the pudding combination to the bowl with the cream cheese combination then beat to mix. That is harking back to cheesecake — so good!
Stash the bowl within the fridge whilst you work on the Oreo cookie crumb layer.
Step 2: Make the crushed cookie layer.
The years have carried out 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 measurement” 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 – creme filling and all – then course of till they grow to be high quality crumbs.
Alternatively you may add the Oreos to a gallon-size Ziplock bag then smash them with a rolling pin or meat mallet to attain high quality crumbs, as my Mother did within the 80s and 90s. 😉
Step 3: Layer the Dust Cake.
In a 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 facet of the Trifle dish, leaving a small indent within the heart, to present the looks of a thicker “dust” layer.
Repeat the layers two extra occasions, ending with the “dust” layer.
Step 4: Enhance the highest.
Now the enjoyable half — adorning!
Gummy worms are a should, although creepy crawly gummies like spiders, or gummy eyeballs should you’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 while you devour it, I hope you’re keen on each chunk of this enjoyable and nostalgic Midwestern Dust Cake recipe! Get pleasure from!
Extra Craveable Dessert Recipes
- 2, 3.4 oz bins Jell-O model On the spot Vanilla Pudding
- 3-1/2 cups chilly milk, any sort (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 reduce in half, non-compulsory, for garnish
For the Creamy Vanilla Pudding Layer:
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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.
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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 clean 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 clean and creamy, one other 30 seconds. Scrape down the perimeters of the bowl.
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Add the pudding combination to the cream cheese combination then combine on medium-high pace till the whole lot is nicely mixed. Use a spatula to present the combination one other couple of huge 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:
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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 of taller than it’s, use the spoon to construct up the perimeters of the crumbs, leaving the middle a bit of extra shallow. Repeat the pudding and cookie crumb layers two extra occasions. Alternatively you may alternate layers in particular person glasses or cups. I like utilizing 9oz plastic cups.
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Cowl the Dust Cake then chill for no less than 12 hours then prime with gummy worms and/or faux or edible flowers earlier than scooping into bowls and serving. Leftover Dust Cake will maintain within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
- This recipe has been barely up to date from the unique to account for adjustments 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 through the use of 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. Much like the Cool Whip, you should buy 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 info disclaimer.
Photographs by Ashley McLaughlin