This dirt cake recipe lets the little kid in everybody come out. It sounds rustic, but it’s actually a sophisticated dessert. You start by making a standard chocolate mousse from bittersweet chocolate, coffee, butter, and sugar. with airy egg whites folded in. To assemble, you take 8 Weck jars and begin layering the chocolate mousse with crushed Oreos (that’s the “dirt”) and softly whipped cream. Top with a sprinkle of crushed Oreos and, if you’re making these for kids, some brightly colored gummy worms.

For more, check out our Chocolate Mousse Pie, Basic Chocolate Mousse, and Amaretto Chocolate Mousse.

  • Yield: 8 servings
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Total: 25 mins 
  • Active: 25 mins

Ingredients (9)

  • 3 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate
  • 1 tablespoon strong coffee
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 6 egg whites
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 12 ounces Oreos, crushed

Instructions

  1. To make the mousse, melt chocolate, butter, and coffee in a glass bowl over simmering water in a medium saucepan. Once the chocolate has completely melted. Turn off the heat, leaving the bowl on the saucepan, and add the sugar. Stir until combined. Remove from heat and set aside to cool to room temperature.
  2. Whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and whisk until you have a firm meringue.
  3. Fold one fourth of meringue into melted chocolate and combine well. Fold the remaining egg white in two batches into the chocolate until all egg is combined. Make sure to not over mix your mouse or it will deflate. Set in fridge until ready to use.
  4. Whip cream, sugar, and vanilla extract until you have a soft whipped cream, not stiff. Set in fridge until ready to use.
  5. In food processor, pulse Oreos until broken down completely.
  6. To assemble, use 6-ounce Weck jars or something similar. Start by spooning in the chocolate mousse, then add crushed cookies. Top with whipped cream, another layer of mousse and top with crushed cookies. To make this for kids, add gummy worms to the crushed cookies on top.