Olivia’s Dirt Pie: A Garden Treat Too Cute to Weed Out
We planted a garden…in a pie dish.
Some recipes stick because they’re delicious. Others because they’re simple. But this one’s special because of the tiny hands that first made it.
When my daughter Olivia was five, she started making this ice cream tart almost entirely on her own. It quickly earned the nickname “Olivia’s Dirt Pie” among our friends — thanks to the crushed Oreos that reminded her of soil. Over the years, it’s become a go-to dessert for playdates, birthdays, and sunny afternoon treats. She still loves making it, and honestly, I think she loves serving it even more.
If you’re looking for an easy, no-bake dessert that kids can help with — or take the lead on — this one’s a winner. The best part? You can swap flavors and toppings to make it your own.
Ingredients
1 tub (1.5 qt) mint chocolate chip ice cream
1 large package (513 g) oreo cookies
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
fresh mint leaves
fresh berries
assortment of gummy candy critters (worms, butterflies, frogs, etc.)
How to Make it.
Start by pulling the ice cream out of the freezer to let it soften while you prepare the crust. Meanwhile, split and scrape the cream filling from the Oreos (this is a great job for little helpers). Add the cookies to a food processor and pulse until they look like fine, fluffy dirt. Set aside about ½ cup of the crumbs for topping later.
Mix the rest of the cookie crumbs with the melted butter until evenly coated. Press this mixture firmly into the base of a 9×9 dish or pan to create the crust. Then gently spread the softened ice cream over the crust, smoothing it out with a spatula.
Once the ice cream is evenly spread, sprinkle the reserved cookie crumbs across the top to give it that classic “garden dirt” look. Clean off the edges of the dish for a neat finish, then pop it into the freezer for at least 2 hours — or until firm.
Right before serving, decorate your garden scene. We use fresh mint leaves as plants, berries for color, and gummy critters for fun. Let kids go wild with this part — there’s no wrong way to make it cute.
Tips & Variations
Swap the flavor: Not a fan of mint chocolate chip? Try cookies and cream, vanilla bean, or strawberry.
Change the crust: Golden Oreos or chocolate graham crackers make great alternatives if you want a different base.
Serving tip: If the tart is too firm to cut cleanly, let it sit on the counter for 5–10 minutes before slicing.
Make it in advance: This tart stores beautifully in the freezer. Just wait to decorate until right before serving.
Olivia’s Dirt Pie
Ingredients
- 1 tub (1.5 qt) mint chocolate chip ice cream
- 1 large package (513g) oreo cookies
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- fresh mint leaves
- fresh berries
- assortment of gummy candy critters (worms, butterflies, frogs, etc.)
Instructions
- Remove the ice cream from the freezer to soften while you prepare the crust.
- Remove and discard the cream filling from the oreos. Pulse the cookies in a food processor until the crumbs are fine and resemble dirt.
- Set aside ½ cup of the crumbs. Mix the remaining crumbs with the melted butter until well combined.
- Press the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×9-inch pan or dish to form the crust.
- Spread the softened ice cream over the crust in an even layer.
- Sprinkle the reserved cookie crumbs evenly over the top of the ice cream. Clean off the edges of the pan for a tidy finish.
- Freeze the tart for at least 2 hours, or until firm.
- Before serving, decorate with fresh mint, berries, and gummy critters. Slice and serve.
Notes
- Try other ice cream flavors like cookies and cream or strawberry for a fun twist.
- Golden oreos or graham crackers can be used in place of chocolate oreos for a different flavor.
- For easy slicing, let the tart sit at room temperature for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Looks amazing, delicious and fun for young and old, best of all easy to make.
Love your creativity.
Thanks Micha. It certainly has been a hit among young and old around here!