Guest post by Kathy from Albany, NY

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My youngest daughter recently celebrated her 25th birthday.  As I was making her traditional birthday cake – the dirt cake – I began to think about the past 24 dirt cakes & how this tradition has become important in our family.  She was born in the summer, so birthdays were always celebrated by the pool.  On her 2nd birthday, in addition to a regular cake, we surprised her with the Flower Pot Dirt Cake.  The cake was an instant hit among the adults as well as the children. From that year on, the Dirt Cake has always been a part of her birthday celebration!  Although you can make this cake anytime, for our family  we look forward to this cake on her birthday.  Hopefully, I will be making Dirt Cake for my “little girl”  for many years to come, and maybe this tradition will be passed on to my grandchildren!!

Dirt Cake Recipe

• 1    20 oz package of Oreos
• 1    8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2  stick margarine
• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 2   4oz packages of French Vanilla Instant Pudding
  • You can substitute chocolate pudding if you like.
• 3 cups milk
• 1   12oz whipped topping
• 1  bag of gummy worms (optional)
• 8 inch plastic flower pot , plastic shovel & artificial flowers to decorate. A 13x9in pan works just as well.

Crush Oreos in food processor.  Use about half of the  mixture for the bottom of the flower pot or pan. Combine cream cheese, margarine & powdered sugar. In separate bowl, make the pudding & fold in the whipped topping. Fold together the cream cheese & the pudding mixture. Pour mixture into flour pot or pan & cover with the remaining crushed oreos. Add the gummy worms & flowers if you like. Refrigerate & Enjoy!