Pumpkin Patch Cake with Oreos & Candy Pumpkins Recipe
A festive Pumpkin Patch Cake featuring a moist chocolate cake base with creamy chocolate pudding filling, topped with crushed Oreos for soil, green buttercream vines, and adorable candy pumpkins, perfect for a fall celebration or Halloween party.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cake and Pudding
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (any size), plus ingredients from the back of the box (water, oil, eggs)
- 1 3.4 oz box chocolate instant pudding mix
- 2 cups milk
Topping and Garnish
- 25 Oreo cookies
- 8-10 mellowcreme pumpkin candies
Frosting
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- Green gel food color
Instructions
- Bake the Cake: Prepare the chocolate cake mix according to package directions including water, oil, and eggs. Pour the batter into a 9×13-inch pan and bake as instructed. Allow the cake to cool completely before proceeding.
- Poke Holes in Cake: Use a straw to poke holes evenly all over the cooled cake to allow the pudding to soak in.
- Prepare Pudding and Fill Holes: In a medium bowl, whisk the chocolate instant pudding mix with 2 cups of milk until combined. Immediately pour the pudding over the cake so it seeps into the holes before setting.
- Crush Oreos: Using a food processor or by hand, crush the 25 Oreo cookies into fine crumbs to create a soil-like texture.
- Sprinkle Oreo Crumbs: Evenly sprinkle the crushed Oreos over the pudding layer to resemble soil for the pumpkin patch.
- Chill Cake: Refrigerate the cake for 1 hour to allow the pudding to set and layers to meld.
- Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat the unsalted butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Gradually add vanilla extract, green gel food coloring, and milk until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.
- Decorate with Vines: Transfer the green frosting to a piping bag, snip the tip, and pipe pumpkin vine designs across the top of the cake.
- Add Candy Pumpkins: Place 8-10 mellowcreme pumpkin candies on top of the frosted vines for a charming pumpkin patch look.
- Serve and Enjoy: Slice and serve the festive Pumpkin Patch Cake at your gathering.
Notes
- Use any size of boxed chocolate cake mix; adjust baking time accordingly.
- For a richer pudding layer, use whole milk or mix milk with cream.
- If green gel food coloring is unavailable, use green liquid food coloring but add sparingly to avoid thinning the frosting.
- Crushed Oreos create the texture of soil; for a less sweet option, substitute with crushed chocolate graham crackers.
- The cake can be refrigerated for up to 2 days to allow flavors to meld further.
- Use a straw to poke holes gently to avoid tearing the cake.
