Do you remember eating chocolate “dirt” pudding cups with crushed cookies and worms at every Halloween party as a kid? My birthday falls just before Halloween, and this is something I requested at every costume party from the time I was 6 until I turned 10.

Now I’m delighted to introduce my own kids (and our neighbors) to this classic treat. Here’s how you can make your own party-sized graveyard cake this Halloween.

Why you’ll love it

What is a graveyard cake?

Graveyard cake is a spooky Halloween dessert that’s decorated to look like a graveyard. Here we use chocolate pudding as the base, topped with crushed Oreo cookies (the “dirt”), Milano cookies (the “gravestones”), and assorted candy like gummy worms and pumpkin candy corn to achieve the graveyard look. It’s like an upgraded dirt pudding for Halloween!

A tip for better instant pudding

Key ingredients for graveyard cake

Halloween Graveyard Cake

Serves 24

2 (5-ounce) boxes instant chocolate pudding

6 cups cold whole milk

1 (10-ounce) package chocolate sandwich cookies

1 (7-ounce) package Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies

Gummy worms and pumpkin candy corn (optional)

1. Combine the pudding mix with the milk and whisk to combine. Pour into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2. While the pudding sets, place the chocolate sandwich cookies in a large zip-top bag and crush using a rolling pin.

3. Top the pudding with the crushed cookies and place a Milano cookie every two inches, staggering their placement, to look like a graveyard. Add gummy worms and pumpkin candy corn, if using. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to two hours.

(Rachel Perlmutter is a senior culinary producer for TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)

©2026 Apartment Therapy. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.