Worm Dirt Cake

Life has been chaotic lately, running for appointments, taking Alex for softball practice, Nicole for cheerleading, work, maybe taking care of your parents or an ailing Grandparent and in all of the confusion, you forgot to order the birthday cake. You have to pull something together in a hurry. Well, if you have children the "Worm Dirt Cake" will be the hit of the party.  Enjoy!!

WORM DIRT CAKE  

1 to 1 1/4 lb. pkg. Oreo cookies

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

3 cups milk

1 (12 oz.) tub Cool Whip (can use chocolate)

2 (3 1/2 oz.) pkg. instant vanilla or chocolate pudding

1/2 tsp. vanilla

4 gummy worms and/or other critters

This popular "novelty" cake is a hit at children's parties, especially around Halloween. You'll receive many appreciative compliments from your guests such as "Ewww, that's gross!" It really resembles a pudding more than it does a conventional cake. If you serve it as an everyday family dessert, rather than as a fun decorative element, it's possible that your family may not understand it!

Crush Oreos. Put 1/3 of the crushed Oreos into a new, clean flowerpot. Set aside.

Mix butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together. Set aside.

Combine milk and pudding mix. Fold Cool Whip into the pudding.

Fold together pudding mixture and butter-cream cheese mixture.

Layer this mixture (about 1/3 of it) onto the crumbled cookies in the pot. Next, add another layer of the pudding mixture, then another layer of cookie crumbs, continuing until all ingredients are used. As you're layering the ingredients, decoratively place several gummy worms and critters in the "soil" so they will be seen emerging. If you have a toy (clean) garden trowel, a plastic daisy, or some edible flowers, these can be used creatively to embellish the presentation.

Chill in refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours before serving.