Dirt cupcakes covered with crushed oreos and topped with a gummy worm on a bamboo platter on a wooden surface (with logo overlay)

Dirt Cupcakes

Dirt cupcakes made from chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, and crushed oreos were perfect for my son’s construction truck themed birthday.

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For my youngest son’s second birthday party we did a construction truck themed party. And a construction party needs some Dirt Cupcakes!

At that time, he was obsessed with construction trucks. I have to say, I never knew the intricacies of each truck until having two boys! We were driving to preschool one day when I said, “Look, a front loader out Ryan’s window!”. I was quickly corrected. “No, mommy, that’s a backhoe loader.”

Now that I have been properly educated, it was time to get to work on a birthday party for my little one. We made a bunch of decorations for it, and I was trying to decide what to do for his cake.

I started searching ideas and kept finding dirt cups. But those are usually made with pudding and I didn’t want that mess with a bunch of two- and four-year-olds. So I decided to try to make them into cupcakes, and they came out delicious!

Dirt Cupcakes

Usually, I would make my homemade chocolate cake recipe, but for the party, I was running out of time. I needed something a little quicker, so went with a boxed cake mix. But next time, I will plan better and make my own cake batter.

The kids all got a kick out of these cupcakes and the small cake I made just for Ryan. They thought it was really funny to have worms on their cake! We had a lot of toy trucks around the house. The small ones were perfect to put on the cake.

Dirt Cupcakes

Dirt Cupcakes Step by Step

Ingredients

  • 1 box chocolate cake mix (and ingredients to make the cake)
  • 8 oz chocolate frosting
  • 25 Oreos (or other chocolate cookies)
  • 1 bag gummy worms

Preparation

If you are using a box cake, bake it as directed for cupcakes. I used our small 6″ cake pan to make Ryan his own cake, then used the rest to make cupcakes.

Six chocolate cupcakes in a metal cupcake pan on a wooden surface

Once the cakes have cooled completely, frost them with chocolate frosting.

Six chocolate cupcakes covered with chocolate frosting on a bamboo platter on a wooden surface

Use a rolling pin or meat tenderizer (my favorite for this) to crush the cookies. We used Oreos since I had some on hand, but you can use any chocolate cookie. Sprinkle the cupcakes with the crushed cookies to resemble the loose dirt.

Six chocolate cupcakes covered with chocolate frosting and crushed oreos on a bamboo platter on a wooden surface

Top each cupcake with a gummy worm. I used some of the extra crushed cookies to put around the tray, too, for added dirt effect.

Dirt cupcakes covered with crushed oreos and topped with a gummy worm on a bamboo platter on a wooden surface (vertical)

Recipe

Originally Published On: March 27, 2017

Last Updated On: July 25, 2023

Dirt cupcakes covered with crushed oreos and topped with a gummy worm on a bamboo platter on a wooden surface

Dirt Cupcakes

Dirt cupcakes made from chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, and crushed oreos were perfect for my son’s construction truck themed birthday.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Keyword:
cake
|
candy
|
chocolate
|
cupcake
Servings: 24 cupcakes
5 from 5 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 box chocolate cake mix (and ingredients to make the cake)
  • 8 oz chocolate frosting
  • 25 Oreos (or other chocolate cookies)
  • 1 bag gummy worms

Instructions

  • Bake cake/cupcakes as instructed
  • Once completely cool, frost with the chocolate frosting
  • Crush the oreos or cookies into a crumble
  • Sprinkle the cupcakes with cookies
  • Top with a gummy worm on each
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Nutrition Facts
Dirt Cupcakes
Amount Per Serving (1 cupcake)
Calories 173 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Sodium 223mg9%
Potassium 105mg3%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 17g19%
Protein 2g4%
Calcium 31mg3%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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33 thoughts on “Dirt Cupcakes”

  1. Pingback: Construction Truck Birthday Party

  2. I absolutely love these! My cousin did a “Bob the Builder” (construction/dirt-themed) birthday sheet cake for one of her boys when he was little, and I remember thinking how fun and cute it was. But I really like the portion control and relative lack-of-mess of cupcakes for a birthday party, so these are just genius (and I agree, the worms are def the perfect finishing touch – kids LOVE Gummi anything!).

    1. My son loved Bob the Builder at this time, but he said he didn’t want a “Bob party” but wanted construction trucks still. So, it’s what we went with! This is the same kid who had a “banana party” and is already talking about having a “red party” this year!

  3. That is so cute and I bet, it’s a big hit with kids everywhere. It look delicious even with the fake worms. 🙂

  4. A construction party is an awesome theme! My nephew is turning 7 soon and he would love these. The cupcakes would be a hit with the kids.

  5. 5 stars
    Your son is so adorable Stephanie. My son would have loved this when he was little. Oh how I miss it so much. The Dirt cupcakes with chocolate frosting and crushed Oreos look so darn delicious.

  6. Oh my gosh these look absolutely amazing. I love the presentation idea too – very cool and ideal for kids and parents too 🙂 xxx

  7. One of the reasons I love reading your posts is because you always share such great recipes to make with my son. These cupcakes are definitely a winner!

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