OREO Tres Leches Cake Recipe

Directions

1. Step 1

   Preheat oven to 180°C.

2. Step 2

   Take a 13x9-inch cooking pan. Spray it with cooking spray.

3. Step 3

   Take 24 Oreo Cookies. Place them, in 4 rows of 6 cookies each, on the prepared pan.

4. Step 4

   Chop the remaining Oreo Cookies.

5. Step 5

   Prepare the cake batter as directed on the package.

6. Step 6

   Pour the batter over the cookie crust. Sprinkle half of the chopped cookies.

7. Step 7

   Bake the cake as directed on the package for a 13x9 inch cake. Let it cool completely.

8. Step 8

   Using a fork, poke holes in the cake after every ½ inch.

9. Step 9

   Combine the sweetened condensed milk and the regular milk. Mix until well-blended. Pour it over the cake slowly and in a manner that it forms an even layer. The milk should completely cover the cake.

10. Step 10

    Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until the milk layer is firm.

11. Step 11

    Apply the whipped cream frosting. Sprinkle the ground cinnamon. Top with remaining chopped Oreo Cookies.

Preparing the Cake Base

The first and most important step to making a tres leches cake is getting the cake base right. Since the sponge cake is the foundation of the dessert, ensure that it is airy to absorb a significant amount of liquid without turning mushy. Here’s how you can achieve the right texture:

Mixing the Batter Correctly

One of the most common mistakes in making tres leches is overmixing. If you overmix the batter, the air bubbles will burst, making the cake dense. To make the cake airier, separate the egg whites and yolks. Beat the yolks with sugar, and then fold in the dry ingredients. Whip the egg whites separately till peaks form and fold them into the batter.

Baking for a Light Texture

Grease a metal pan, transfer the batter, and bake at 165°C to 175°C. The moderate temperature settings give the cake time to rise without getting a dense crust on top. Since the goal is to get a cake slightly underdone, as compared to the one that you can eat as is. So, when the toothpick comes out with some moist crumbs, turn off the oven and let the cake cool. Then, poke holes across the cake with a fork, going about three-quarters of the way down. These holes will allow the milk to penetrate into the sponge cake.

Soaking the Tres Leches Mixture

Once you have the airy cake, the next step is to soak it. Follow these steps to avoid turning your dessert into a soggy mess:

Preparing the Milk Mixture

The three-milk combination to make Oreo tres leches cake requires evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and whole milk or heavy cream. The evaporated milk gives the dessert its body and a caramelized flavor without requiring much sugar. Sweetened condensed milk gives the liquid a major level of sweetness and a thick, syrup-like consistency. Whole milk or heavy cream is used to even out the consistency and let the sponge cake soak in the milk mixture. For the Oreo version, you can mix in crushed biscuits to the milk mixture for a subtle cookies-and-cream flavor.

Soaking Without Oversaturation

After the milk mixture is ready, the next step is to soak the sponge cake. Remember not to dump the milk mixture all at once. Slowly pour the milk in batches across the entire surface of the cake, waiting a couple of minutes between pours to let each settle and absorb. This will help prevent oversaturation and will keep the cake intact. Once you’ve poured all the milk, cover the cake and refrigerate for at least four hours.

Adding Oreo Layer and Topping

Now comes the best part, which differentiates a regular tres leches cake from an Oreo tres leches cake.

Oreo Crumble Layer

Take out the chilled cake soaked in the milk mixture. Crush whole Oreos or roughly chop and sprinkle them onto the cake. Then, add the whipped cream, and serve. If you’re not serving for some time, add the Oreos just before serving to keep their crunch to a maximum.

Cream Topping Structure

The whipped topping keeps the Oreo tres leches cake light and creamy, and also holds the texture of the dessert. So, while whipping the heavy cream, ensure that the peaks are slightly firm since this layer needs to support its own weight. To make the cream more stable, you can add a tablespoon of mascarpone or cream cheese.

Variations to Try

Chocolate or Cocoa Variation

If you want to intensify the chocolate flavor, you can add cocoa powder to the cake batter. You can also add melted chocolate to the milk mixture and sprinkle cocoa powder over the whipped cream after refrigeration.

Eggless Version

For an eggless adaptation, replace the eggs in the batter with a combination of plain yogurt and a small amount of baking powder. To make the batter airier, add an additional tablespoon of vegetable oil. Mix well and increase the resting time by an hour or two.

Serving and Storage

Looking at the fully prepared Oreo tres leches cake, the chilling period does require a lot of patience. However, since the sponge cake should fully absorb the milk mixture, you need to refrigerate the tres leches for at least four hours, otherwise you’ll get a feeling of eating flavorless moist cake. Also, always add the crumbled Oreo pieces just before serving to keep the crunchy layer intact.

For storage, keep the cake covered in the refrigerator, and it will stay good for about 3-4 days. The recipe is not freezer-friendly once fully assembled. So, if you want to prepare in advance, you can freeze the unsoaked cake and the milk mixture separately, and assemble them before you want to serve.