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Chocolate Dirt Cake

Chocolate Dirt Cake

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Rich chocolate buttermilk cake is topped with homemade whipped chocolate buttercream, crushed cookie crumbs and decorated with gummy worms to make this fun and delicious Chocolate Dirt Cake. Yields 12 to 16 servings.
Course Desserts & Sweet Treats
Cuisine American
Keyword baking, cake, chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, dirt cake
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Cooling time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 16 servings
Calories 421
Author Laurie McNamara

Ingredients

  • cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon fine salt sea salt or pink himalayan
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 cup brewed coffee cooled
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 recipe chocolate whipped buttercream
  • 24 oreo cookies
  • 45 gummy worms

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350° and lightly grease with nonstick baking spay with flour.
  • In a large mixing bowl, measure and add the unbleached all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and fine salt. Whisk to thoroughly combine.
  • In a separate bowl, measure and add in the granulated sugar, eggs and unsweetened applesauce. Whisk to combine before pouring in buttermilk, cold coffee and vanilla. Stir to combine.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the the dry and stir to combine. Switch to a rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake on the middle rack of your preheated oven for 20 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted and comes back with only a few crumbs attached. (see notes below)
  • Twist open the cookies and scrape and discard the icing. Add the cookies to a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs are formed.
  • Once the cake has cooled, make the frosting. (see recipe card below)
  • Once the cake has cooled, grab the frosting, cookie crumbs and gummy worms (or any other decorations).
  • Add the frosting to the top of the cake and use an offset spatula to spread it evenly. Sprinkle with crushed cookies and top with gummy worms or any other edible decorations.
  • Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator.

Notes

NOTE: My oven is a small, older wall mount and I believe it to run hotter than most standard and newer ovens. For me, this cake took 22 minutes to bake but a reader made this cake and it took 35 minutes - which is more accurate for 9x13 cakes. With that said, because all ovens are different, check the cake as it bakes.
Dirt Cake Variations:
  • Halloween - Use candy pumpkins, bones and cookies for tombstones.
  • Christmas or Winter Theme - Add a dusting of powdered sugar and decorate with Christmas chocolates, sprinkles and mini candy canes.
  • Easter - Use green tinted shredded coconut for grass. Add orange tinted white chocolate covered strawberries, peeps and/or use jelly beans and Cadbury mini eggs.
Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on SimplyScratch.com should only be used as a general guideline.

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece | Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 382mg | Potassium: 187mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 56g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 4mg