Halloween Graveyard Dirt Cake

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Halloween graveyard dirt cake is a Halloween poke dirt cake made with cake mix, cookies, and chocolate ghosts. This easy-to-make Halloween cake is perfect for any Halloween birthday, party, or gathering.

Chocolate dirt cake is a spin on the traditional dirt cup dessert with chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos, and gummy worms. Instead of a pudding cup, it’s a chocolate dirt cake recipe.

Graveyard Dirt Cake

When it comes to Halloween cake or Halloween desserts I am all about simple and easy. For this recipe, you’ll use any chocolate boxed cake mix, instant chocolate pudding, and crushed Oreos. Then you’ll need melted chocolate, Oreos, Milano Cookies, candy eyes, and an edible marker. All of the items needed should be available at your local Walmart or grocery store, but I’ll make sure to share links to everything in the ingredients list.

Halloween Cake Decorating

Are you making a Halloween graveyard cake? Here are some easy graveyard cake decorations that any baker can make.

How to make Chocolate Ghosts

Line a flat baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Melt the white chocolate in the microwave in 20-second increments until smooth.

Drop spoonfuls of the melted chocolate onto the parchment-lined tray.

Use the back of the spoon and drag from the center of the dollop of chocolate down to create the ghost shape. If desired, use a toothpick to drag the chocolate out on the sides to create arms.

Set the tray in the refrigerator to allow the ghosts to set while you prepare the rest of the cake.

Once the ghosts have hardened use the edible marker to draw their eyes and mouth.

How to Make Zombie Oreos

Gently remove one of the cookies from the mint Oreos revealing the green filling.

Gently press two candy eyeballs into the green filling on each cookie to create the zombies. I prefer to use different size eyeballs to give the zombies a more creepy look.

How to Make Cookie Headstones

For the cookie headstones, we’re using Milano cookies. You can use any flavor, but I went with basic milk chocolate.

Use the edible marker to write on the cookies.

How to Make Graveyard Dirt Cake

To make your graveyard dirt cake you’re going to need:

For the Cake

1 (15.25 ounce) box devil’s food cake mix (any chocolate cake mix will work)
3 cups whole milk (divided)
4 large eggs
⅓ cup canola oil
1 (3.9 ounce) packet chocolate instant pudding mix (dry)
1 (16 ounce) tub chocolate frosting
15 Oreo cookies, finely crushed

For the Decorations

½ cup white chocolate
Black edible marker
6-8 Milano cookies
3-6 mint Oreo cookies
6-12 candy eyeballs (varying sizes)

How to Make Halloween Graveyard Poke Cake

Preheat the oven to 350 degree F. Grease a 9×13” cake pan and set aside.

Combine cake mix, 1 cup of whole milk, eggs, and oil in a large bowl and beat with a stand or hand mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour cake batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set the cake aside to cool in the pan.

While the cake is baking, prepare the chocolate ghosts. Line a flat baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave in 20-second increments until smooth. Drop spoonfuls of the melted chocolate onto the parchment-lined tray. Use the back of the spoon and drag from the center of the dollop of chocolate down to create the ghost shape. If desired, use a toothpick to drag the chocolate out on the sides to create arms. Set the tray in the refrigerator to allow the ghosts to set while you prepare the rest of the cake.

Once the cake has cooled, combine the remaining 2 cups of milk with the instant pudding mix. Beat with a stand or hand mixer for two minutes. Allow the pudding to sit for 5 minutes to thicken.

While the pudding is resting, use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the cake, ensuring you press all the way to the bottom of the pan. Pour the pudding over the top of the cake and spread it into an even layer with a rubber spatula or spoon. Place the cake in the refrigerator while the frosting is prepared.

Add the tub of frosting to a mixing bowl and beat with a stand or hand mixer on high until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Spread the whipped frosting over the pudding layer of the cake. Sprinkle the crushed Oreos over the frosting to create the ‘dirt’ layer.

Use the edible marker to draw eyes and mouths on the chocolate ghosts and headstone messages on the Milano cookies. Gently remove one of the cookies from the mint Oreos revealing the green filling. Gently press two candy eyeballs into the green filling on each cookie to create the zombies. I prefer to use different size eyeballs to give the zombies a more creepy look.

Press the ghosts, headstones, and zombies into the cake to create the graveyard scene. Slice the cake into 15 pieces and enjoy!

Graveyard Cake FAQ’s

• You can use any chocolate-flavored cake mix in this recipe.
• Make sure you use instant pudding and not the cook and serve kind.
• The easiest way to crush the Oreos is in a food processor. There is no need to remove the cream filling, you can crush the entire cookie.
• You can use mint Oreos for the ‘dirt’ layer if you prefer not to buy two separate packets of Oreos for the ‘dirt’ and zombies. I wouldn’t recommend using white Oreos for the zombies as it doesn’t have the same effect.
• If you cannot find edible markers, you can use black writing gel instead. The edible markers will give a cleaner look, however.
• If you are having trouble pressing the milano cookies or Oreo zombies into the cake, use a knife to create a small cut in the cake where you would like them placed.
• You can use a toothpick to help the ghosts stand up straight.
• The graveyard can be decorated anyway you like. If you do not want to make your own ghosts you can use a ghost candy such as peeps. Other fun decorations include candy pumpkins, chocolate bones, Halloween M&Ms and sprinkles.