Turn Off the Stove
The No-Bake Oreo Dessert That's Legendary in My Family
This unfussy frozen treat will never get old.
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61 Comments
DonaB
September 13, 2023
I stumbled upon your recipe and read your lovely story. I live in Sacramento so it was fun to read about about your visits to Vic's ice cream (we live near Gunther's ice cream) and Amador. Thank you for sharing your recipe. I'll have to try it.
Dianne M.
October 23, 2021
This is my go to recipe for when we have guests. My sister-in-law grabs midnight bites and isn't ashamed of it! I love this recipe!!
Claire
March 8, 2021
I had bookmarked the recipe and commented that “I never make this but...” I did make it long after that, I think it would have turned out well has I not made several errors. Not sure I’ll try it again, but I still think it’s a guest concept and done right, well worth the. effort.
RachelinNY
March 7, 2021
So amazing....the fudge sauce is everything to a super simple decadent dessert. It’s March of 2021...and this is bookmarked and saved. I’m sure it will be one I make all summer long this year. The fudge sauce, I want to just make that and bottle it up in the fridge(which I will next time I make it). Thanks for sharing this one!
SarahWarn
April 26, 2019
My grandma made this desert growing up. I think it's all the butter in the oreo crust that makes it.
It was most traditional on fourth of july - we'd walk to the park near her house for the fireworks and walk back to have our Oreo dessert while watching all the cars that had to drive in for the show make their way home. Then traffic and plates cleared, we'd go home too. Another Illinois memory.
It was most traditional on fourth of july - we'd walk to the park near her house for the fireworks and walk back to have our Oreo dessert while watching all the cars that had to drive in for the show make their way home. Then traffic and plates cleared, we'd go home too. Another Illinois memory.
Jennifer J.
August 23, 2018
I've had this recipe in the back of my mind for weeks and made it with my daughter tonight. We used regular oreos, salted butter, the specified amounts of everything in a Pyrex dish-and we struggled mightily to get it out of the pan. Looking at the recipe again, I'm wondering if it is because we were too impatient and didn't let it sit out a few minutes first. Or maybe our crushed Oreo texture was wrong- is yours quite pulverized? Don't get me wrong, we ate it and it was delicious, but I would love to crack the crust code before serving it at a gathering.
EmilyC
August 29, 2018
Hi Jennifer: I was with my mom when I got your note, and she said that the last time she made this (about a month ago), she had the very same problem with the crust sticking!! She was surprised because she’s made it a gazillion times over the years without this issue. We wonder if there have been small changes to the Oreo recipe to cause this difference? In any case, you could line your pan with foil the next time, or generously butter it (which is what I’ll do). I updated the recipe to reflect this change! Thanks for your note, and glad you liked it!!
Jennifer J.
August 30, 2018
That is so interesting. We did find that we had better luck the second night when we let it sit out for a few minutes first- as you advised in the first place ;-)
Anne-Marie
August 6, 2018
Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories! There is nothing like a particular food, or aroma, to bring back the very best times in our lives. Your recipe looks amazing, and will be added to my "did this" list before summer is over.
Margaret D.
August 2, 2018
I 'tweeked' it a bit using 'reduced fat' Oreos, cut back on the sugar in the fudge topping, and replaced the sweet bakers chocolate with semi-sweet and it was perfectly delicious!
Steven W.
July 24, 2018
Sweet story, shared food bonds are lifelong. I have to tell you though I will never make or try this because I have a very strong aversion to Oreos and everything Oreo cookie related. Just me I suppose, because I understand how popular these chalky discs filled with plastic can be. I would definitely try it with just about any other cookie, perhaps.
EmilyC
August 6, 2018
Hi Steven: thanks so much for reading! Re: the Oreos, a few people have commented that they're using Newman's and Trader Joe's versions of Oreos. Maybe they would appeal more? FYI, I've crushed up waffle cones before and used them instead (delicious).
KATHERINE B.
October 31, 2021
This is very late to the party for Steven, but before the days of GF Oreos, I made this recipe as a GF ice cream cake for a celiac friend. I used GF oatmeal cookies, SLICED RIPE BANANAS, caramel ice cream and your incomparable fudge sauce. It tastes like a variant of Bananas Foster. I used your tip for salted butter, but the fudge sauce is the true secret ingredient. Many thanks.
lillianstrange
July 22, 2018
Your story brought me to tears. The bond that you and Trisha share that is based on a recipe is so touching. The fact that she'd named her child after you, that both her children were included in your wedding, and that Emilie is now close to your own children and continues the tradition of making the Oreo dessert with them, is a testament to how food has the ability to bring people together and provide lasting memories. The recipe looks incredible too.
chefpatty
July 22, 2018
We have a coffee sundae pie recipe that is so similar to this recipe. The topping is the same. Ours is made in a pie plate with coffee ice cream. And at Christmas we use peppermint pattie ice cream. Yummy.
EmilyC
July 22, 2018
This sounds great! My mom LOVES peppermint ice cream. She'd be all over this version!
Raine X.
June 14, 2019
I have been looking for a recipe for a specific coffee ice cream pie for years now! I can't remember the name of it. It may have been called Mississippi mud pie? It had an Oreo crust, topped with fudge, coffee ice cream and generous caramel and chocolate drizzle. The texture of the fudge sundae topping and oreo crust together with the coffee flavor was to die for!
Do you have a recipe you could share for your coffee sundae pie by any chance?
Do you have a recipe you could share for your coffee sundae pie by any chance?
Karen
July 22, 2018
Great memories! We made this (I grew up in Michigan) for Christmas, substituting peppermint ice cream - made by Hudsonville) for the vanilla. We also added a layer of Cool Whip on top - with crushed peppermints scattered on top of that.
EmilyC
July 22, 2018
This sounds so good, Karen! I'll bet it's really pretty, too, with the crushed peppermint on top. Thanks for your note.
KATHERINE B.
July 22, 2018
Less the fudge topping, this is my exact recipe for Hawaiian Mud Pie, subbing Kona Coffee Chip ice cream for the vanilla. Now my mud pie has a fudge topping! O Happy Day!
Claire C.
July 22, 2018
i may never make this fantastic dessert, but I know it's delicious. How do I know? Because I can feel the joy of your connecting with Trisha around sneaking seconds (and thirds), and the lifelong bonds you created. And your delight in sharing this recipe with us. Thank you.
Linda S.
July 22, 2018
Loved the passion for this dessert in your story. My family has a similar tradition of chocolate cookie stackups, made with whipped cream and chocolate wafer cookies. But my husband is an ice-cream man, so this is going on the menu for his upcoming birthday. Thanks for the inspiration!
EmilyC
July 22, 2018
Thank you Linda for your nice note, and I hope this is a big hit for your husband's birthday party!
Nancy M.
July 22, 2018
I couldn't get crumbs small enough with a rolling pin and a bag so I dumped it into the food processor for a few pulses to finish it. It was very good.
EmilyC
July 22, 2018
Great! Good idea on the food processor for even finer crumbs. I kind of like mine a little chunkier, which I guess is why I've taken the other route all of these years! ; ) Obviously can't mess up this crust though!
miznic
July 22, 2018
Dear EmilyC and Oreo Dessert:
THANK YOU so much, I finally, for the first time in the 20+ years I have been married to my hubby, FINALLY found a dessert that clutched his dessert-hating heart, and would not let go. <3 He not only wanted seconds, but thirds. That has never happened... ever.
THANK YOU so much, I finally, for the first time in the 20+ years I have been married to my hubby, FINALLY found a dessert that clutched his dessert-hating heart, and would not let go. <3 He not only wanted seconds, but thirds. That has never happened... ever.
EmilyC
July 22, 2018
Aw, this warms my heart so much! So glad *this* is the dessert that changed his mind! Thanks for letting me know! : )
Jenn
July 22, 2018
Emily,
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your short, yet super engaging, and entertaining story revolving around your families “infamous” Oreo Dessert! What makes this story so amazingly heartwarming for me, is we (my family) also have an “infamous” Oreo dessert as well! However, there’s no way it ever makes it back into the fridge to sneak back to have those slivers that don’t count, as it’s always gone as soon as it’s put out.
I found your story even more near and dear, as our Oreo dessert has an amazingly similar origin, my aunt is the one who first brought this dish into our family’s lives and forever changed the dessert table at all of our family functions for decades to come (and I will place bets to guarantee it will continue to do so for many generations to come)! The same as your aunt, we aren’t exactly sure if the original recipe was one from the “potluck” church cookbooks, that were ever so popular back in the day, or if it was a community type recipe book; whichever, it is, I have a feeling these two legendary Oreo-based desserts came from the same one or at the very least cross paths at some point along the way. Even all these years later, no family function/event would be complete without our ‘Dirt Pie’ & as our family has grown so much over the years continuing to add more Oreo dessert addicts to the family - it’s like the kid in all of us suddenly appears when that dessert makes its grand entry. We even have a “system” in place now to make sure everyone gets their portion of our families favorite dessert.
Thank you so much for sharing not only another heaven sent Oreo dessert recipe, which I’m positive is just as amazing as it sounds although I haven’t tried your exact version as of yet (trust me, it’s already on the list to make this week); but also revealing this cherished family memory that continues to live on through multiple generations in your family as well!
Cheers & Happy Sunday from one crazed oreo dessert lovin’ family member to another, who also agrees the ‘slivers never count’ and late night snacks are some of the best memories one can have! 💗😍
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your short, yet super engaging, and entertaining story revolving around your families “infamous” Oreo Dessert! What makes this story so amazingly heartwarming for me, is we (my family) also have an “infamous” Oreo dessert as well! However, there’s no way it ever makes it back into the fridge to sneak back to have those slivers that don’t count, as it’s always gone as soon as it’s put out.
I found your story even more near and dear, as our Oreo dessert has an amazingly similar origin, my aunt is the one who first brought this dish into our family’s lives and forever changed the dessert table at all of our family functions for decades to come (and I will place bets to guarantee it will continue to do so for many generations to come)! The same as your aunt, we aren’t exactly sure if the original recipe was one from the “potluck” church cookbooks, that were ever so popular back in the day, or if it was a community type recipe book; whichever, it is, I have a feeling these two legendary Oreo-based desserts came from the same one or at the very least cross paths at some point along the way. Even all these years later, no family function/event would be complete without our ‘Dirt Pie’ & as our family has grown so much over the years continuing to add more Oreo dessert addicts to the family - it’s like the kid in all of us suddenly appears when that dessert makes its grand entry. We even have a “system” in place now to make sure everyone gets their portion of our families favorite dessert.
Thank you so much for sharing not only another heaven sent Oreo dessert recipe, which I’m positive is just as amazing as it sounds although I haven’t tried your exact version as of yet (trust me, it’s already on the list to make this week); but also revealing this cherished family memory that continues to live on through multiple generations in your family as well!
Cheers & Happy Sunday from one crazed oreo dessert lovin’ family member to another, who also agrees the ‘slivers never count’ and late night snacks are some of the best memories one can have! 💗😍
EmilyC
July 22, 2018
Jenn: thanks so much for your sweet note! I loved hearing how your family has a similar Oreo dessert! It’s an all-powerful thing, isn’t it?!
nicole K.
July 15, 2018
emily c, thank you for the secret tips. i would have definitely subbed in butter and chocolate i already had on hand and would have been disappointed. the salted butter and bakers chocolate makes the fudge taste like the elusive hot fudge of my youth. this is a definite winner and keeper
Kimberly W.
July 14, 2018
This is a family staple for my Minnesota clan but we add Cool Whip as another layer on top.
EmilyC
July 15, 2018
Thanks for your note Kimberly! Does your version use the same fudge recipe? I’d love to know if yours is exactly the same aside from the cool whip!
wharpua
July 13, 2018
What size pan should be used for this?
EmilyC
July 13, 2018
A 9x13-inch pan with 2-inch sides. I always use a Pyrex! If you click on the recipe, you’ll see the full instructions! Enjoy! : )
wharpua
July 15, 2018
Thanks! This page had so much info on it I didn't realize that there was a Recipe page beyond this one. Made this last night for my wife's birthday today, she, my 5yo daughter, and I all loved it, but my 2yo son did not. He'll learn soon enough. Thanks for sharing this recipe, I can't wait to make it with the kids, I know they're going to love crushing the Oreos.
EmilyC
July 15, 2018
Wonderful, and yes, your 2-year old will likely come around! : ) My kids love crushing the Oreos, and eating extras while they help! Thanks for trying it and circling back!
Tasha
July 9, 2018
would love to try this...any substitute for sweet chocolate? not sure i can get it in canada.
EmilyC
July 9, 2018
Hi Tasha: you might be able to order German's sweet chocolate from Amazon (Canada), if you can't find it in your grocery stores. Otherwise, a milk chocolate that's around 48% cacao is your best bet. Hope this helps!
Tasha
July 9, 2018
thank you!!! looks like selection is limited on amazon but i will try your subs suggestion!
Nancy M.
July 22, 2018
I googled this because I couldn't find sweet chocolate. It's semi sweet chocolate plus 1/2 Tbsp sugar per ounce.
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