oreo tres leches cake

this oreo tres leches cake is the ultimate cookies and cream dessert – a light, airy vanilla cake studded with oreo crumbs, soaked in a sweet three-milk mixture, and topped with fluffy whipped cream and crushed oreos. creamy, dreamy, and absolutely irresistible!

why you will love this oreo tres leches cake recipe

• upgrading classic tres leches cake! – this cookies and cream tres leches recipe combines two beloved flavours into one incredible dessert. the classic tres leches cake gets an upgrade with crushed oreos throughout the cake and on top, creating that signature cookies and cream flavor everyone loves.

• lighter than you’d expect – while this vanilla oreo tres leches cake is certainly indulgent, tres leches cake is actually lighter than most frosted cakes because it uses a sponge cake base with no butter or oil. this easy oreo tres leches cake is airy and moist from the milk mixture and whipped cream topping rather than heavy with frosting, making it surprisingly light despite being incredibly creamy and rich.

• the perfect make-ahead dessert – this homemade oreo tres leches cake actually gets better as it sits! the cake needs time to absorb the three-milk mixture, so you can (and should) make it ahead. it’s the perfect dessert for party planning since you can make it a day or two in advance!

learn how to make oreo tres leches cake from scratch

making this oreo tres leches cake recipe from scratch is easier than you think! we’re going to start off by whipping together egg yolks and sugar until the mixture becomes a pale yellow colour. then, we’ll add vanilla extract and milk and we’ll whisk this in until combined. then add a mixture of flour, baking powder and salt and gently whisk this in until combined. in another large bowl, we’ll whip together egg whites, some white vinegar and some more sugar until they reach stiff peaks. gently fold a quarter of the whipped egg whites into the egg yolk mixture until combined, then add this mixture to the rest of the egg whites and fold it in until combined. add the crushed oreos to the oreo tres leches cake batter and gently fold them into the batter. pour the mixture into a greased baking pan. bake the sponge cake, then remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

while the sponge cake cools, we’re going to make the three milks mixture for our oreo tres leches sheet cake. in a big jug or bowl, mix together evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and milk. whisk all of this together until smooth.

once the cake is cool, poke some holes all over the cake. slowly pour the three milk mixture over the cake, a little bit at a time. cover the cake and place it in the fridge overnight, so that it’s able to absorb all of the three milk mixture.

make the whipped cream topping fresh the next day by beating cold heavy cream with icing sugar or powdered sugar and some vanilla extract. whip all of this together until the cream looks soft and thick, then spread it out over your oreo cookies and cream tres leches cake. finish decorating your oreo tres leches sheet cake with extra crushed oreo cookies, and we’re done!

oreo tres leches cake ingredients

the ingredients for oreo tres leches cake are listed below:

• eggs – use large, room temperature eggs. we’re going to be separating the yolks and whites and whipping them separately with sugar.

• sugar – this oreo tres leches recipe uses granulated sugar in the cake batter.

• vanilla extract – to make our oreo tres leches cake, i like to add a small amount of vanilla extract to the cake batter as well as to the whipped cream topping for a subtle vanilla flavour. this is optional.

• milk – we’re going to need milk to add to our cake mixture, as well as for the three milks mixture.

• flour – in this recipe for oreo tres leches cake, we’re going to need some plain flour or all purpose flour for the cake mixture.

• baking powder – a small amount of baking powder in the cake mixture will help increase the rise of the cake.

• salt – just a small amount of salt in the cake batter BALANCES OUT THE SWEETNESS of this oreo tres leches cake.

• vinegar – i like to add some vinegar to the egg whites when whipping them, as this helps stabilise them.

• oreos – i’m going to be adding crushed oreos in the batter and also decorating the top with crushed oreos when making this oreo tres leches cake.

• evaporated milk – one of the three milks that the oreo tres leches cake is going to be soaked in to ensure that it’s moist and fluffy.

• sweetened condensed milk – i make this oreo tres leches cake with condensed milk as part of the three milk mixture.

• HEAVY CREAM or double cream- we’re just going to whip cold heavy cream with icing sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture is soft and fluffy before adding it to the top of our oreo tres leches cake.

• icing sugar or powdered sugar – this will be whipped with the cream to add sweetness.

tools:

• large bowls – you’ll need three large bowls – for the egg whites, the yolks and for whipping the cream.

• small bowl – for mixing the dry ingredients together.

• hand mixer or stand mixer – you will need this to whip the egg yolks, the egg whites and the cream. you can also use a whisk if you like, but this will take a lot longer.

• silicone spoon or spatula – this will make it easier to fold the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture.

• fork – to poke holes into the cake so that it absorbs the milk mixture easily.

• jug or ladle – using something like a jug or a ladle will make it easy for you to pour the three milk mixture over the oreo tres leches cake in small amounts at a time.

• 9×13 inch baking pan – i like to bake this oreo tres leches cake in a 9×13 inch baking pan.

step by step instructions

for full measurements, keep scrolling down to the recipe below.

step one: preheat oven and grease a baking pan with butter or cooking spray for your oreo tres leches cake. i decided not to line the pan, but you can do this if you like.

step two: separate the eggs. add the egg yolks to a large bowl and add the egg whites to another large bowl.

step three: in the bowl with the egg yolks, add about half of the granulated sugar. use a hand mixer or whisk to whip the eggs and sugar together until the mixture becomes a pale yellow colour and increases in volume.

step four: add the vanilla extract to the bowl with the egg yolks, as well as some milk, and whisk this into the egg yolk mixture until combined.

step five: in a bowl, add flour, baking powder and salt, and mix these together.

step six: sift the dry ingredients mixture into the egg yolk mixture and gently whisk it in until just combined. set this aside.

step seven: add a small amount of white vinegar to the large bowl with the egg whites and use a clean hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the egg whites until they start to look bubbly and frothy.

step eight: add the rest of the granulated sugar to the egg whites in small amounts at at time, whipping in between. continue to whip the egg whites until they reach stiff peaks – they should hold their shape and not fall when you turn the bowl upside down.

step nine: add about a quarter of the whipped egg whites to the egg yolk mixture, and gently fold them into the mixture until combined.

step ten: then add this mixture to the rest of the egg whites and gently fold it in until combined. do not over mix at this stage. the batter should be quite thick and airy.

step eleven: add crushed oreo cookie crumbs to the cake batter and again, gently fold them into the batter until incorporated.

step twelve: add the oreo tres leches cake mixture into your prepared baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. a toothpick in the center of the cake should come out clean, or just with a few crumbs attached to it.

step thirteen: set the cake aside to cool while you make the milk mixture. in a large jug or bowl, add evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and milk. use a whisk or spoon to mix all of this together until smooth and combined.

step fourteen: once the cake is cool, use a fork to poke holes all over the cooled cake, and pour the three milk mixture over the cake in small amounts at a time. don’t worry if it starts to pool on top of the cake – the cake will absorb all of the milk after some time.

step fifteen: cover the cake, then leave this in the fridge overnight so that it can soak up all of the milk mixture.

step sixteen: the next day, once the oreo tres leches cake has soaked up all of the milk, start making the whipped cream topping. in a large bowl, add cold heavy cream, some vanilla extract and icing sugar or powdered sugar. whip all of this together using an electric mixer or whisk until the cream thickens up and looks soft and smooth.

step seventeen: top the oreo tres leches cake with whipped cream and spread it all over the cake in a thick layer (or pipe the cream on top).

step eighteen: decorate with more crushed oreo cookies on top.

step nineteen: slice up, and let’s eat!

tips and notes

• use room temperature eggs. leave your eggs out at least 30 minutes before you start making this oreo tres leches cake.

• when separating the eggs, make sure there is no yolk mixed in the bowl with the egg whites. even a small amount of egg yolk can prevent egg whites from whipping properly, so make sure to separate the eggs carefully.

• if using the same mixer or whisk for whipping the egg yolks and the egg whites, just make sure to clean any tools you’re using first. you’ll need to whip the egg whites with clean beaters or a clean whisk as even a small amount of egg yolk can prevent the egg whites from whipping properly.

• fold the whipped egg whites gently into the egg yolk mixture with a spoon or silicone spatula until just combined. you want to keep the batter airy and light, so try not to over mix at this stage.

• if you plan to remove the cake from the pan and transfer it to another dish, i would recommend lining your pan with baking paper or parchment paper so that removing the cake is easier.

• make sure you preheat the oven so that it’s already hot by the time you place your oreo tres leches cake in the oven. this will ensure that the cake bakes evenly and that it won’t take longer to bake.

• adjust baking time as needed. every oven is different, so i recommend keeping an eye on your oreo tres leches cake as you don’t want it to be underbaked or over baked. you’ll know it’s done when the cake is set and if you stick a toothpick in the center of the cake, it should come out clean or have a few crumbs attached to it. for me, this took about 25-30 minutes.

• once you remove your oreo tres leches cake from the oven, let it cool at room temperature before pouring your three milks mixture on top.

• use a kitchen scale to measure your ingredients. while i add both metric and cup measurements for this recipe, i always recommend using a kitchen scale to weigh out your ingredients for most accurate results.

• once the cake is cool, poke holes with a fork or a skewer all over the cake so that the three milk mixture can easily soak into the oreo tres leches cake.

• pour the milk mixture in stages using a jug or a ladle, allowing it to soak into the cake before you add more. this will prevent overflowing and ensures even distribution. don’t worry if it does overflow – it’ll just take some time for the cake to absorb the milk.

• make sure your pour the mixture around the edges of the cake as well as the center so that all of the cake has even coverage.

• cover the cake and let it chill in the fridge overnight so that it has enough time to fully absorb all of the milk mixture.

• store any leftover oreo tres leches cake, covered, in the fridge for up to three days.

frequently asked questions

1. what is oreo tres leches cake ?

   – oreo tres leches cake is a cookies and cream variation of the classic tres leches cake. the name ‘tres leches’ means three milks in spanish. an oreo tres leches cake is a vanilla sponge cake with oreo cookie crumbs soaked in three types of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk and whole milk. it’s then topped with whipped cream and extra crushed oreos.

2. is oreo tres leches cake good ?

   – yes! i personally think this is the best oreo tres leches cake i’ve ever had (if i do say so myself). classic tres leches cake is delicious anyway, but making tres leches cake with oreo cookies takes it to the next level. the combination of vanilla sponge cake, creamy milk mixture, soft whipped cream and cookies and cream flavor is incredibly indulgent but still light and airy!

3. what makes this the best oreo tres leches cake recipe ?

   – one thing i love about this oreo tres leches cake recipe is the extra thick layer of cream on top – it works so well with the soft and moist tres leches cake and the airiness of it helps to prevent this tres leches cake from ever feeling too heavy or sweet.

4. what are the 3 milks in tres leches cake ?

   – the three milks are evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream or whole milk. these combine to create the signature soaking liquid for the cake. some people ask about 4 leches cake vs tres leches – four milk versions usually add dulce de leche on top for the fourth milk!

5. do i have to use vanilla extract to make this oreo tres leches cake ?

   – the vanilla in this oreo tres leches cake recipe is optional. i like the subtle vanilla flavour it gives to the cake and the whipped cream, but if you would prefer not to use it or don’t have it, that’s also completely fine.

6. do i have to use vinegar to make this oreo tres leches cake ?

   – i only use a small amount of vinegar to help stabilise the egg whites – this will just help make whipping the egg whites quicker and easier, but it’s absolutely not necessary if you’d rather skip it.

7. how long should i let the oreo tres leches cake soak?

   – you should let the cake soak in the milk mixture for at least 4 hours, but i would highly recommend leaving it in the fridge overnight for the best flavour and texture.

8. is this oreo tres leches cake moist ? is it normal for tres leches cake to be very wet ?

   – yes, tres leches cake is generally meant to be very moist and soft, not necessarily soggy, but much wetter than a typical cake.

9. my cake won’t soak up the milk mixture. what do i do ?

   – make sure you’ve poked enough holes into the cake using a fork, a wooden skewer or a chopstick, and make sure that you pour the milk mixture into the sides as well as on the top. try to pour the mixture in small amounts at a time, letting it soak into the cake before adding more. if the milk mixture overflows, just cover the cake and let it chill in the fridge – it will soak up the milk overnight.

10. why did my oreo tres leches cake turn out dry ?

    – if you cake is dry or dense, it could be due to over mixing when folding in the egg whites or due to over baking. make sure to gently fold the egg whites in so as to keep the batter light and airy, and keep an eye on your cake once it’s in the oven to ensure that it doesn’t over bake. when you add the milk mixture to your oreo tres leches cake, make sure you allow it enough time to absorb the milk to ensure that it’s soft and moist throughout.

11. does tres leches go bad ?

    – yes, like any dairy-based dessert. it should be fine as long as you keep your oreo tres leches cake covered and in the fridge – it should keep well for up to 3 days.

12. does tres leches cake need to be refrigerated ?

    – yes! always keep this oreo tres leches cake refrigerated. it must be chilled both to absorb the milk properly and for food safety since it contains dairy.

13. can i make this oreo tres leches cake ahead of time ?

    – absolutely! this simple oreo tres leches cake recipe actually recommends you to chill the milk-soaked cake in the fridge overnight so you can definitely do this in advance and then make the whipped cream the next day before serving.

14. can i make this oreo tres leches recipe with cake mix ?

    – yes, you can absolute make this oreo tres leches with box cake mix instead of making this oreo tres leches from scratch if you want to keep this oreo tres leches cake recipe easy and quick. just fold crushed oreo cookies through your vanilla cake mix, and follow the rest of the recipe as stated.

15. is tres leches unhealthy ?

    – this oreo tres leches cake is quite rich and high in calories due to the milk mixture, which has sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk in it. it’s best enjoyed as an occasional treat rather than an everyday thing!

16. is this oreo tres leches easy to make ? how can i make this oreo tres leches recipe easy and quick ?

    – this recipe is already quite easy to follow, but if you want to make it even easier, you can make this oreo tres leches with box cake mix. just prepare cake mix according to package instructions, add crushed oreos, bake, and soak with the milk mixture, top with whipped cream and crushed oreos and you’re done!

17. how do i make a red velvet oreo tres leches cake ?

    – a red velvet and oreo tres leches cake would be such a great combo! you can use this red velvet tres leches cake recipe as a base, fold some crushed oreo cookies through the batter and top with extra crushed oreos.

18. can i make a tres leches with oreo and other flavours combined ?

    – absolutely! some great combinations that would work well together include strawberry oreo tres leches cake with fresh strawberries and strawberry milk, or ube oreo tres leches cake or even a golden oreo tres leches cake if you want something a bit more classic and simple.

19. can i make an oreo tres leches mini cake instead of a big one ?

    – you can make a smaller oreo tres leches cake by halving the recipe and baking the cake in a smaller pan. be sure to adjust baking times to reflect this.

recipe