No Bake Heavenly Oreo Dessert
No Bake Oreo Layer Dessert features an Oreo crust, a cream cheese layer, a chocolate pudding layer, and is topped with Cool Whip and more crushed Oreos.
Six years ago, I was looking for an Oreo-themed dessert to celebrate my pap’s 87th birthday. He always had a serious thing for Oreos; for as long as I can remember, there was a cookie jar on my grandparents’ kitchen counter filled to the brim with Oreo cookies. So naturally, I try to whip up a new and different Oreo dessert for his birthday. In previous years, I’ve made a cookies and cream cake and cookies and cream ice cream cake (I also made black forest cake one year because he loves chocolate-covered cherries, as well!).
It so happened that one year I needed the dessert to be relatively quick and low maintenance, and I found this no-bake layered dessert with an Oreo crumb crust and layers of cream cheese and chocolate pudding to be utterly perfect.
What You Need to Make This Easy Oreo Dessert
The ingredient list for this dessert is super simple, which I love! This is what we use:
- Oreos – I use the Double Stuf Oreos because, really, they are sooooo good!
- Butter – We’ll melt it down and combine it with the Oreos for the crust and topping garnish.
- Cream Cheese – For the no-bake cream cheese layer that totally makes this dessert!
- Powdered Sugar – To add to the cream cheese for necessary sweetness.
- Cool Whip – We use this in two places: (1) In the cream cheese layer, to lighten things up; and (2) as the very top layer of the dessert.
- Chocolate Pudding – A large box of instant chocolate pudding.
- Milk – To mix with the instant pudding.
That’s all that we need, and it’s likely you have maybe half of these in your pantry or refrigerator already!
Build the Layers
This is a traditional “lush”-style dessert, a term that just popped onto my radar a handful of years ago. Have you heard of them? This is how they’re built:
- Cookie or cracker crumb crust – In this case, we’re using an Oreo crust.
- Two filling layers – These can either be both pudding or one pudding and one cream cheese layer; we’re doing the latter here – a cream cheese layer and then a chocolate pudding layer.
- Cool Whip topping – A final whipped topping layer. You can use homemade whipped cream for this layer, but know that it will not hold up as well or as long as Cool Whip (something to consider if you want to save leftovers or it’s going to be served outside on a warm day).
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The dessert was an enormous hit with the whole family, especially my grandfather. Quick and easy no-bake desserts like this are an absolute staple for me during the summer months. Sometimes you just can’t bear to turn on an oven or spend hours making a mess of the kitchen; times like those call for desserts like this!
My pap passed away earlier this year and tomorrow would have been his 93rd birthday; I can’t think of a better way to remember him than by eating a huge piece of this dessert.
More No-Bake Summer Desserts
Keep that oven off and enjoy these cool, refreshing desserts that can be made in advance and stashed in the fridge until you’re ready to serve them.
- No-Bake Banana Split Dessert
- No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake
- No-Bake Cherry & Walnut Cheesecake
- Peanut Butter Cup Icebox Cake
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Lover’s Icebox Cake
Two years ago: Blueberry Crumb Bars
Three years ago: Cherry Coke Float Cupcakes
Six years ago: Strawberry Pimm’s Cup Cocktail
Seven years ago: S’mores Ice Cream
Watch How to Make It:
No Bake Oreo Layer Dessert
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 15.35 ounce (435.17 g) Double Stuff Oreo Cookies
- ½ cup (113.5 g) unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
For the Cream Cheese Layer:
- 8 ounces (226.8 g) cream cheese
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 8 ounce (226.8 g) tub Cool Whip
For the Pudding Layer:
- 5.1 ounce (144.58 g) box instant chocolate pudding
- 3 cups (854 ml) milk
For the Topping:
- 8 ounce (226.8 g) tub Cool Whip
Instructions
- Make the Crust: Place the Oreo cookies in a large ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin or mallet. The pieces should be in small crumbs, but still a little chunky, not completely fine crumbs. Set aside ½ cup of the crumbs for the topping, then transfer the remaining crumbs to a 9×13-inch pan and use a fork to mash them up a bit. Pour the melted butter over top and use the fork to combine, making sure that all of the crumbs are moistened. Press into an even layer on the bottom of the pan. Refrigerate while the cream cheese layer is prepared.
- Make the Cream Cheese Layer: In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low and gradually add the powdered sugar until it is all incorporated. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 30 seconds. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the Cool Whip. Spread in an even layer over the crust. Refrigerate while the pudding layer is prepared.
- Make the Pudding Layer: In a large bowl, whisk together the pudding mix and milk for 2 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow it to set. Use an offset spatula to spread the pudding in an even layer over the cream cheese mixture.
- Spread the remaining 8-ounce tub of Cool Whip on top and sprinkle with the reserved Oreo crumbs. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight) before serving.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
This recipe was originally published in June 2013, updated in June 2017 with new photos, and refreshed in June 2019 with more photos, a video and extra recipe notes.
Hi Michelle, We have been making a recipe very similar to this in our family for years that was passed down to us by a dear aunt, which we call “SIN”, because it tastes so good, it just must be sinful :) :) However, the crust in our recipe calls for flour/butter/finely chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans), but then you have to bake it, so then it obviously wouldn’t be a “no-bake” recipe. Also, the recipe that we use calls for the kind of Jell-O chocolate pudding that you have to cook. But it’s a delicious recipe, and one that always goes over with rave reviews. By the way, if you are looking for another “LUSH” recipe, have you ever tried making a Lemon Lush? It’s very refreshing, especially during the summer months of the year. I haven’t made one in awhile, but I remember using French’s Lemon Pudding, which needs to be cooked. You might also want to try making a Pistachio Lush, which is also very refreshing at this time of the year. Thanks for all of the great recipes, Michelle!
I have made several times and it always goes over well. The kids, and adults, go crazy over it. It’s cool and not so heavy so it’s perfect for summer. Feeds a lot of people too! It’s a keeper recipe.
Looks so good!!
Rebecca
xx
http://www.peppermintdolly.com
I’m craving for this dessert!
I thought I knew all kind of oreo cakes. But this was new to me :) And also incredibly delicious (on the second try) :)
Thanks a lot for the recipe!
Oh man, it’s like a Robert Redford but with Oreos. Guess that’ll be my summer dessert this year!
This oreo dessert is SO good! It is a go to summer recipe for me. It is so simple but tastes amazing. Thank you for sharing!
Hi there, hope you’re well, and all the family. I love the use or Oreos but wondered if I should use whipping cream as a substitute for Cool Whip or even a dessert custard. Perhaps adding a little sugar. I may just add a burnt caramel pudding layer. If I feel really daring, I might pop a couple of fresh raspberries and mint leaves on the top from the garden!!
You could substitute fresh whipped cream if you want a substitute for the Cool Whip.
I made this tonight for a family gathering tomorrow. To put a spring twist on it, I used vanilla Oreos and lemon pudding. Hopefully, it turns out delicious!
Can i substitute the instant chocolate pudding with your recipe for homemade pudding? Will the consistency differ?
Hi Sara, Unfortunately I don’t have a chocolate instant pudding recipe.
Hello. I wanted to make this for Easter tomorrow. Would making it tonight and having it sit in the fridge make it taste bad? (Like soggy oreos n such?)
Hi Dawn, Making it a day ahead of time would be just fine!
Can this Oreo dessert recipe be frozen to be eaten at a later date?
Hi Julie, I’ve never tried to freeze this, but I don’t think there’s anything in here that would be an issue when thawing.
Can I substitute homemade whipped cream for cool whip?
Sure! It will break down faster than Cool Whip, so you’ll want to serve it and eat any leftovers within a day or so.
Can this recipe be doubled and put in large roasting pans to feed a crowd?
Hi Amanda, Yes, I see no reason that you couldn’t!
This recipe is a huge hit! I made it for Thanksgiving, now I just finished making two for Christmas parties. Delicious!
I made this tonight, however I made the pudding from scratch. I thought I had chocolate pudding but I did not. I never realized how easy it was to make homemade pudding. I will be making it like that from now on. This was simple to make and OMG the individual layers taste amazing. Can’t wait til tomorrow to try as a whole.
Delicious Oreo recipe! Love it!
Hi
Just made it, it was DIVINE, kids we t thru’ it like a speeding car !!
Just some modifications I made — since I found the cheese/sugar mixture too sweet I put in sour cream & it turned,out super !
I don’t have time to make this before I need to take it somewhere. Can I make everything the night before, chill it until the following day, and assemble before I leave? Thank you. Love your recipes!
Hi Alison, I would recommend totally assembling the dessert the night before and refrigerating it.
This was amazing enough that even though I made TWO 9 x 13 pans of it, I still didn’t get to try it! Making another pan now….I might have to hide it until I get a chance to taste some!
Question. I want to make this for a Halloween party, is it ok to add food coloring to the whip cream/cream cheese mix, and then just the whip cream. Also is it ok to use the holiday oreos, in this case it would be the Halloween ones.
Hi Jen, I think using food coloring would work just fine, and the holiday Oreos would work too!
Sweet, thx! Ps, me and the fam made the regular kind and it was delicious! <3
Me and the family are making this for a family cook out. Hope it taste good! :)
We just had this at a potluck at work…it was gone pretty fast! “Delicious” doesn’t even begin to describe the taste!
Looks yummy!!! can u tell what can I use instead of instant chocolate pudding.
Thanks
The chocolate pudding is a main ingredient, so there’s not much you can substitute, unless you’d like to use a different flavor or a homemade pudding.
This is absolutely awesome!!
I don’t have a beater/ mixer can i use a blender to beat the cream cheese?
Thanks
This is awesome and a great way to celebrate a great Oreo dessert
I made this for a friend’s event and it really delivered. I am no baker so this was great and so easy to assemble. Everyone loved it.
It calls for a 5.1 oz box of choc. instant pudding, but the only size I could find was a 5.9 oz. How do I adjust for this?
Hi Sandy, You can use that without making any adjustments, it will work just fine.
What size Pan??
Hi Rachel, It’s in step #1 – a 9×13 pan.