Dirt Pudding Cheesecake Bars
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Indulge in the ultimate dessert mashup that is these Dirt Pudding cheesecake bars! Creamy chocolate cheesecake comes together with a crunchy Oreo crust to create magic. You won’t be able to resist these scrumptious treats! Perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or any kind of fun get-together!
Dirt Pudding
Picture this: velvety cheesecake meets dreamy and creamy chocolate pudding, all nestled on a crunchy Oreo crust. Are you drooling yet?!
You already know how much I love cheesecake… so I thought, why not combine it with dirt pudding to create a totally delicious dessert option!
This dirt pudding recipe is a great one for kids’ parties. The addition of gummy worms makes it so much fun.
They’ll get a kick out of the “dirt” too — it’s made out of crushed Oreos!
This is one of my favorite cheesecake bar recipes!
If you’re looking for more, I also love my strawberry cheesecake-flavored option for summer and this tasty peppermint version for the holidays.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Oreos – You need a LOT of cookies for this Oreo dirt pudding cheesecake bars recipe! I would pick up two packages to make sure you have enough.
- Cream Cheese – For the cheesecake filling, of course! Use your favorite brand. You can also use low-fat options if you’d like.
- Sour Cream – My secret to the creamiest filling ever. Sour cream adds a touch of extra tang and smoothness that I just adore.
- Powdered Sugar – Another one of my cheesecake bar secrets! I like to use powdered sugar instead of granulated for velvety smooth results.
- Chocolate Pudding – The proof is in the… chocolate pudding! Here’s where much of the chocolatey flavor of this dessert comes from.
- Gummy Worms – You need to add some worms to your Oreo dirt pudding!
Not only do they add even more sweetness and a touch of color, but they also give this dish a bit of whimsy! I used two 7-oz bags.
Dirt Pudding Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Chill the crust.
After you’ve made the homemade Oreo crust, you need to pop it in the freezer to chill for about 15 minutes.
This step helps everything set and ensures a firm base for the cheesecake layer. Just as a note, you’ll generally want to follow this rule when making any cheesecake bar recipe.
- Don’t want gummy worm overload?
You can easily leave them out of the batter. A simple chocolate cheesecake filling is perfectly fine for this dirt pudding recipe!
I do recommend adding them to the top, though. Your kids will absolutely love it!!
- Add the chocolate topping with care.
It’s best to add the chocolate topping to 1-2 cheesecake bars at a time. If you don’t, the chocolate will harden before you’re able to add the Oreos and worms on top.
Storing and Freezing Oreo Dirt Pudding Cheesecake Bars
You can store your dirt pudding cheesecake bars in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
If you want to freeze this recipe for later, make sure that the bars are completely set before slicing them into individual pieces.
Wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze in an airtight container.
Oreo dirt pudding cheesecake bars will keep for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving!
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- 9×9 Pan – The perfect dish for cheesecake bar recipes.
- Food processor or rolling pin for pulverizing Oreos for the crust.
- Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
Cheesecake Bar Recipes FAQ
You sure can and that’s exactly what I use! You could always go for homemade, but it will require some extra work and time.
The gummy worms are what make this dirt pudding recipe look like edible dirt, but that said, you can use something else if you’d like.
Some other fun options are gummy bears, chocolate chips, crushed nuts, or even extra crushed cookies.
Definitely! If you’re making these dirt pudding bars for a party and want to save some time on the day of, you can make this dessert up to 24 hours ahead of time.
Make sure to store it in the fridge!
Other Halloween Dessert Recipes
Dirt Pudding Cheesecake Bars
Equipment
- 9×9 pan
Ingredients
Crust Ingredients:
- 20 Oreos, crushed (about 2 cups)
- 5 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted
Cheesecake Layer Ingredients:
- 16 ounces of cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 3.9 ounce package of chocolate pudding
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 7 Oreos, crushed (about 1 cup)
- 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
- About 2 cups of gummy worms, I used 2 7 oz bags of gummy worms, divided
Topping Ingredients:
- 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- crushed Oreos, about 13 – I like to take the filling out of mine for the topping
- gummy worms
Instructions
- Line a 9×9” square baking dish with parchment paper.
- Make the crust by crushing Oreos in a food processor or zippered bag. Add the melted butter and mix with the crushed Oreos.
- Press the Oreo crust into the prepared pan and press down.
- Freeze the crust for at least 15 minutes while you make the cheesecake layer.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar together until smooth with a hand mixer.
- Add the chocolate pudding and beat well.
- Once smooth, add the sour cream and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Stir in the crushed Oreos and a handful of gummy worms (about 1/2 cup).
- Pour the cheesecake batter over the prepared crust.
- Drizzle the chocolate syrup over the batter and add another handful of gummy worms (optional).
- Fold the chocolate syrup and gummy worms into the batter while you press it into the pan.
- Smooth the top, cover, and refrigerate for 4-6 hours (cheesecake can also be frozen)
- Once the cheesecake bars are set, remove the cheesecake bars from the refrigerator and cut them into 9 bars (you could also cut them into 16 bars)..
- For the topping, remove the middle of the Oreo and crush just the cookies in a zippered bag.
- Melt chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments until smooth (stirring between).
- Spoon about 1 tablespoon of chocolate onto each cheesecake bar.
- Top with crushed Oreos and garnish with a gummy worm (work 1-2 at a time so the Oreos and gummy worm stick to the chocolate before it hardens..
- Once the chocolate has hardened, serve immediately or store in the refrigerator.
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published September 2023
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Hey Donna, please help. The 13.9 Oz package of chocolate pudding, what kind of chocolate pudding is that??? All I know about is jello instant or the cook kind and I’ve never seen a package of it that size??? What brand of pudding is this??? Is it a dry mix or already made up????
Hi Donna,
It is actually a 3.9 package of Jello instant chocolate pudding. There was a typo in the recipe card but it has been fixed. Sorry about that. Have a great day!
TSRI Team Member,
Holli
I made these to test our so I can make them for the grandkids on Halloween. Me and my husband almost ate the whole pan!! They were so good!!!
This recipe from The Slow Roasted Italian is an absolute winner! So easy to make and incredibly delicious. Donna and Chad really know how to create mouthwatering treats like these Dirt Pudding Cheesecake Bars.
Hi Isabella!!
We’re so glad you enjoyed!!
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn