Easy Chocolate Dirt Cake (Mud Bucket)

Easy Chocolate Dirt Cake (Mud Bucket) is heavenly layers of chocolate on chocolate. Chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, chocolate syrup and mini chocolate chips will satisfy the sweetest sweet tooth. A topping of Cool Whip and crushed Oreo Cookies adds the perfect finishing touch.

It’s almost impossible to believe that my oldest son is now 17 years old. It’s very surreal and so hard to process that in a few short years, he’ll be college-bound. He’s truly the most remarkable human. Aidan’s so smart and funny and he’s always just himself, which is such a special quality to have. He’s the best son that Anthony and I could have ever dreamed of. Aidan is the most involved and loving big brother. He means the world to this family and we’re so fortunate to have him. So I am wishing the very happiest of birthdays to my handsome son, Aidan. I can’t wait to watch what the years to come bring you.

This Easy Chocolate Dirt Cake (Mud Bucket) dessert recipe is Aidan’s absolute favorite. It’s affectionately known in my family simply the Mud Bucket. The Bloomfield family tradition is that you get to pick whatever you want for dinner and dessert on your birthday. You can read more about that here in my Chicken Cordon Bleu White Lasagna recipe. Without question, when it comes to picking whatever he would like for a birthday dessert, it’s this one. I’ve been making him this cake since he was old enough to talk and let me know he loves it. This is the ultimate easy dessert for all you chocolate lovers out there.

Mud Bucket is easily assembled and made with a chocolate box cake mix and an instant chocolate pudding mix. In addition to those, you’ll use chocolate syrup, mini chocolate chips, a tub of Cool Whip and crushed up Oreo cookies for the topping. Like I said, this is a chocolate lovers dream.

This is an excellent way to make an easy and budget-friendly dessert. The best part is that this dessert is a visual show stopper. The layers have varying chocolate colors and Cool Whip on the top layer. Any layered dessert presented in a trifle bowl or glass bowl is going to look fancy and look like something you spent the entire day in the kitchen assembling.

Easy Chocolate Dirt Cake (Mud Bucket) is the ultimate dessert and this satisfies all of your chocolate cravings. The texture is perfect. You have the creamy cool whip. The Oreo and mini chocolate chips add a bit of crunch. The cake comes out moist and adds structure to this dessert. And decadent chocolate pudding and chocolate syrup send this dessert completely over the top.

Can I make this dessert ahead of time?

Yes! I usually make this at least a few hours ahead of time, if not the night before. This dessert should chill until served. However, this isn’t a dessert that needs to set or anything in the refrigerator so you could make this and serve it immediately if necessary. Be sure to cover tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Serving Your Dirt Cake

Serving this tasty treat could not be any simpler. It’s essentially a trifle so just dig in with a large serving spoon. Be sure to push the spoon all the way to the bottom of the serving dish. You want to make sure that you get a little taste of each layer in every bite.

Another great addition to your presentation can be the use of gummy worms. This is great for a kid’s party or a themed party. Aidan loved this when he was little.

I have also prepared this dessert for a party in 5 ounce clear plastic cups. You’ll yield about 15 dessert cups. This is nice especially in the era of Covid because everything is packaged individually. Just simply add small amounts of the chocolate layers and Cool Whip. This is a great idea for kid’s school parties as well.

Can this recipe be turned into a no bake dessert?

Absolutely! I love the moisture and flavor that comes from using the chocolate box cake mix that this recipe calls for. But if you’re in a time crunch or don’t feel like heating up the entire house with the oven, then this idea is for you. Store bought pound cakes are an excellent substitution in this recipe. Your store should have plenty of these options with the packaged baked goods, at the bakery or in the freezer aisle.

How do I store leftover Easy Chocolate Dirt Cake (Mud Bucket)?

In the event that you have leftovers, they won’t stick around very long. However, tightly cover your serving bowl with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator. This dessert can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Substitutions and Add-Ins

I have considered and dreamed up dozens of ways to mix it up with this dessert. But truthfully, it’s really perfect as is. And I feel like it would break Aidan’s heart if I switched anything up on this classic favorite. I do think that there are tons of ways to change things up and swap things out or add things in to really customize this dessert for your needs. Take a look at some suggestions below.

• Chocolate box cake: Chocolate is my favorite flavor, always. Literally, always. But there are tons of ways to get creative here with the base of this dessert. Pick your favorite boxed cake mix. Vanilla, yellow, gingerbread, strawberry, red velvet, carrot, rainbow or butter pecan would be amazing.
• Chocolate pudding: I love the creaminess and moisture that chocolate pudding adds to this dessert. But again, pick your favorite. Just to name a few, pistachio, vanilla, banana cream, butterscotch, cheesecake, lemon, white chocolate and coconut cream would all be delicious.
• Chocolate syrup: Instead of chocolate syrup, you could give caramel, strawberry or butterscotch a whirl.
• Mini chocolate chips: You could use traditional sized chocolate chips instead. There’s a wide variety of candy chips available that could really add a different element to your Easy Chocolate Dirt Cake. You could try butterscotch, white chocolate, funfetti, dark chocolate, peppermint, Andes mint, caramel, peanut butter or cinnamon chips. You could maybe even try some shredded coconut.
• Crushed Oreo cookies: You could top this dessert with so many different options. Sprinkles, crushed graham crackers, chopped candy bars or crushed nuts (peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, almonds, cashews) would be a delicious topping. Or you could include a drizzle of chocolate or caramel syrup over the top of the Cool Whip.
• Cool whip: I’ve done this with other desserts and I think it would work great with this recipe. Instead of topping the dessert with Cool Whip and topping that with the crushed Oreo cookies, you could use your electric mixer to mix the two together and the result is incredible. If you wanted to shake up your Cool Whip game in other ways, you could whip it with Reese’s Peanut Butter Sauce, Nutella, Fluff or Hershey’s Syrup and it will take your Cool whip to the next level. You could also do a Cool Whip and cream cheese blend that would be phenomenal.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare and bake the chocolate cake mix according to package directions. Allow to cool completely.

Make chocolate instant pudding according to package directions. It needs about 20 minutes to firm and set in the fridge.

Break apart the cooled cake and layer the bottom of a clear bowl or trifle dish with it. Once all of the cake is in the bowl, pack it down.

Spoon the chocolate pudding on top of the chocolate cake. Spread over the cake in an even layer.

Squeeze chocolate syrup over the chocolate pudding. Spread in an even layer. Add mini chocolate chips evenly over the chocolate syrup.

Add Cool Whip over the mini chocolate chips and spread to cover completely. NOTE: It is easiest to spread the Cool Whip if you add it all to the center of the bowl and then spread it outward.

Add crushed Oreo Cookies to cover the Cool Whip.

Hungry for more dessert recipes?

• Nana’s “Better Than Sex” Pineapple Cake is a moist yellow boxed cake smothered in a cool whip and cream cheese frosting and topped with succulent pineapple and maraschino cherries.
• Reese’s Cake with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting will transform a box cake into something spectacular. The whipped topping and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups take this cake to the next level. This is the easiest way to enjoy a peanut butter and chocolate cake any night.
• Reese’s Ice Cream Sandwich Cake is an extremely easy to make and no bake dessert. You will taste delicious layers of ice cream sandwich, vanilla bean ice cream, Hershey’s chocolate syrup, Reese’s peanut butter topping, cool whip and Reese’s cups.
• Wicked Easy Butterscotch Heath Toffee Fudge turns only 6 ingredients into creamy, melt-in-your-mouth decadent fudge. This no bake dessert comes together in about 10 minutes. Butterscotch fudge topped with Heath English Toffee Bits comes out perfect every time.
• Strawberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is a no-fuss way to turn a strawberry boxed cake mix into something unique and wonderful. The moist cake will be topped with a frosting whipped together from cream cheese and Cool Whip. Fresh strawberries and red sugar sprinkles put the finishing touches on a simple, yet beautiful cake.

How did your Easy Chocolate Dirt Cake (Mud Bucket) turn out? Did you change up the recipe? Let me know in the comments below. As always, thank you and I appreciate you supporting the Spice and Sugar Mama food blog!