Filth Cake is a enjoyable and traditional Midwestern dessert that is beloved by children and adults alike. With the right ratio of creamy filling to chocolate cookie crumbs, it is the right whimsical, no-bake dessert for any special day – particularly summer time BBQs, holidays, and birthdays!
There are various 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 Filth Cake.
Filth Cake is a traditional Midwestern dessert recipe that my Mother made for practically each birthday, BBQ, and special day after I was rising up. I can not inform you the way excited my brothers and I grew to become anytime she introduced out a large bowl of Filth Cake from the fridge adorned with gummy worms on prime.
Lately, my children ask for Filth Cake for his or her birthdays. Discuss 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 children and adults alike.
When to Serve Filth Cake
We get pleasure from Filth Cake at summer time BBQs and birthdays, however this straightforward dessert, additionally known as “Filth and Worms”, could 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/seashore cake, adorning with mini drink umbrellas (kicking myself for not doing this for my buddy’s latest shifting away to Florida celebration!)
What’s in Filth Cake?
The creamy pudding layer of Filth 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 on the spot vanilla pudding: ensure you’re shopping for on the spot pudding and never “cook dinner & serve” pudding.
- Milk: any variety you’ve 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 take advantage of Gluten Free Oreos.
The way to Serve Filth Cake
My Mother all the time served Filth Cake layered in a big glass bowl, whereas these pictures present an 8.25″ trifle bowl. High the dessert with gummy worms and even pretend or edible flowers for a real backyard feel and look.
Anytime I make Filth Cake for folk outdoors 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 option to feed a crowd.
The way to Make Forward and Retailer
Filth Cake is basically an Ice Field Cake which suggests it’s finest made not less than 4-6 hours forward of once you plan on serving it.
- Make-ahead: totally assemble the Filth Cake then cowl the highest with plastic wrap for not less than 4 hours and as much as 1 day forward of time to offer 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 Filth Cake sits.
Can I Make this Dairy Free?
Sure! My daughter has egg and dairy allergic reactions so I’ve made this recipe vegan many instances. Right here’s how:
- Milk alternative: mix the Jell-O pudding combine with 2 cups almond milk then whisk for two minutes (the pudding might be very thick). Add an extra 1/2 cup almond milk then whisk to mix. Word: you’ll have much less filling then in the event 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 alternative.
- 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!
Attempt Gluten Free Angel Meals Cake
The way to Make Filth 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 clean 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 whilst you work on the Oreo cookie crumb layer.
Step 2: Make the crushed cookie layer.
The years have executed a quantity on the ounces and cookies included in a bundle of traditional Oreo cookies.
Once I was rising up, Oreos have been offered in 20oz packages. Lately they’re offered in 18oz “household dimension” packages, whereas gluten free Oreos are offered 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 nice 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 nice crumbs, as my Mother did within the 80s and 90s. 😉
Step 3: Layer the Filth 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 a good layer with the again of a spoon. Subsequent add ~heaping 1 cup Oreo cookie crumbs then unfold into a good 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 middle, to offer the looks of a thicker “dust” layer.
Repeat the layers two extra instances, 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 in the event you’re making Filth Cake for Halloween, are all the time so enjoyable. Peeps are lovely for Easter!
Flowers – both contemporary and edible, or fake – are a enjoyable contact too.
Regardless of how or once you devour it, I hope you’re keen on each chew of this enjoyable and nostalgic Midwestern Filth Cake recipe! Get pleasure from!
Extra Craveable Dessert Recipes
- 2, 3.4 oz bins Jell-O model Prompt Vanilla Pudding
- 3-1/2 cups chilly milk, any variety (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, pretend or edible flowers, further Oreos reduce in half, optionally available, 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 velocity till clean and creamy, 30 seconds. Add the powdered sugar, combine on low till simply mixed, then flip the velocity 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 velocity till all the things is nicely mixed. Use a spatula to offer 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:
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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 a good layer with a spoon. Add 1/3 of the cookie crumbs (~heaping 1 cup) then unfold into a good layer with a spoon. Tip: to make the cookie layer look a bit taller than it’s, use the spoon to construct up the perimeters of the crumbs, leaving the middle a bit extra shallow. Repeat the pudding and cookie crumb layers two extra instances. Alternatively you may alternate layers in particular person glasses or cups. I like utilizing 9oz plastic cups.
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Cowl the Filth Cake then chill for not less than 4 hours, ideally in a single day, then prime with gummy worms and/or pretend or edible flowers earlier than scooping into bowls and serving. Leftover Filth 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 offered 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 offered in 12oz packages, so you’ll have rather less cookie crumbs if utilizing only one bundle. Just like the Cool Whip, you should purchase a second bundle of GF Oreos then add 7 further cookies from it to equal 15oz complete 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.
Pictures by Ashley McLaughlin