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As if Tres Leches cake wasn’t already good enough on it’s own, today I am adding one of my favorite desserts flavors to add a delicious twist to this incredible dessert; Cookies & Cream Tres Leches Cake!
What is Tres Leches Cake?
Tres Leches, which translates to three milks, is a delicious vanilla cake with a mixture of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and half & half poured over the baked cake. It results in a ridiculously moist, wet cake.
If you haven’t had Tres Leches before, I often describe it to the taste of cake and ice cream. Like when you get toward the bottom of the dish and it’s just cake crumbs and melted ice cream left. To me, Tres Leches tastes like that but incorporated into one dessert. This concept led me to think, hmm, what if I used one of my favorite ice cream flavors and fused it into Tres Leches. That’s how I came up with the idea to do a Cookies & Cream Tres Leches. And guess what? It’s super-duper INCREDIBLE!
Can I use a cake mix instead of scratch-made cake?
One of the most important things I’ve learned about Tres Leches cakes in my baking experience is that there IS a difference in the type of cake you prepare. Years ago, I used a boxed cake because I wanted the convenience of an easy shortcut. But my cake turned to complete goopy mush because the cake wasn’t dry enough to handle all the liquid (three milks) poured over the cake once it was baked.
Unfortunately, I do not recommend using a boxed cake mix for this recipe. But I can guarantee you will find this cake is worth the effort!
Can I use store-bought cookies?
Heck YES! In fact, I recommend it. This cake is already a bit of a labor of love, so there is no sense in also making homemade cookies for this recipe. I used Oreos, Oreo Thins and mini soft-batch Chocolate Chip Cookies from my grocery store bakery.
Quick Tip:
I highly recommend you watch my TikTok video (below) before you start this recipe so you can get a visual on how I layer the cookies in the batter.
@badbatchbaking Oreos + Chocolate Chip Cookies + Cake. 🔥 FIRE! #fyp #foryou #tresleches #oreo #foryoupage #cakechallnge #bigboi #chocolate #AfterMyCoffee
How to Make Cookies & Cream Tres Leches Cake
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Preheat the oven to 350 °F and butter a 9×13 casserole pan. Set up three mixing bowls.
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In a large bowl, sift together 1 cup flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 salt. Separate egg whites and yolks into the other two bowls.
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Beat egg yolks with 3/4 cup sugar with an electric mixer on high speed, until yolks are a pale yellow (2 minutes). Stir in 1/3 cup milk and 1 tsp vanilla.
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Beat egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form (1 minute). With the mixer on, pour in remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat on high speed until egg whites are stiff but not dry (1 minute)
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Pour egg yolk mixture over the flour mixture and combine gently with a spatula. Add the Oreo crumbs and continue to delicately combine until incorporated.
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Gently fold in egg white mixture with the spatula until just combined. Pour the batter into prepared pan, top with about ~24 oreos, spread evenly apart. Push them down into the batter a bit and use an offset spatula to smooth the risen batter over the top of the Oreos to cover them completely.
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Add a second layer of cookies to top off the cake, this time using chocolate chip cookies. Set them atop the batter. Bake at 350˚F for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
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Once the cake is cool, pierce the surface all over with a fork or skewer. In a large measuring cup or bowl, combine the three milks and vanilla extract. Slowly drizzle the milk mixture over the cake.
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Prepare the whipped cream. Spread half the mixture over the cake using a spatula, then top with a layer of Oreo Thins (or regular Oreos) spread evenly. Top with remaining whipped cream and repeat this step using chocolate chip cookies.
Looking for more dessert recipes?
Entenmann’s Devil’s Food Cake Donuts Copycat Recipe
Brownie Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Best Hostess Cupcake Copycat Recipe
Four Layer Peanut Butter Brownie Bars
Tagalong Girl Scout Girl Cookies Recipe
I look forward to your questions and feedback below. Please be sure to tag me @BadBatchBaking using hashtag #badbatchbaking if you made this recipe and I will feature you on my story! Seeing your photos make my day ๐
Cookies & Cream Tres Leches Cake
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 5 eggs, large
- 1 cup sugar divided into 3/4 and 1/4 cups
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup Oreo crumbs (about 12 oreos in a food processor, leaving the cream filling intact)
- 20-24 Oreo cookies
- 20-24 Chocolate Chips Cookies
Three Milks
- 12 oz evaporated milk
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup half & half (or 1/4 cup of whole milk + 1/4 cup whipping cream)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Topping
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Oreo Thins or sub with regular Oreos
- Chocolate chip cookies
Instructions
How to Make Tres Leches Cake Base:
- Preheat the oven to 350 ยฐF and butter a 9x13 casserole pan. Set up three mixing bowls.
- In a large bowl, sift together 1 cup flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/4 salt. Separate egg whites and yolks into the other two bowls.
- Beat egg yolks with 3/4 cup sugar with an electric mixer on high speed, until yolks are a pale yellow (2 minutes). Stir in 1/3 cup milk and 1 tsp vanilla.
- Beat egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form (1 minute). With the mixer on, pour in remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat on high speed until egg whites are stiff but not dry (1 minute)
- Pour egg yolk mixture over the flour mixture and combine gently with a spatula. Add the Oreo crumbs and continue to delicately combine until incorporated.
- Gently fold in egg white mixture with the spatula until just combined. Pour the batter into prepared pan, top with about ~24 oreos, spread evenly apart. Push them down into the batter a bit and use an offset spatula to smooth the risen batter over the top of the Oreos to cover them completely.
- Add a second layer of cookies to top off the cake, this time using chocolate chip cookies. Set them atop the batter. Bake at 350หF for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Three Milks Syrup
- Once the cake is cool, pierce the surface all over with a fork or skewer. In a large measuring cup or bowl, combine the three milks and vanilla extract. Slowly drizzle the milk mixture over the cake.
Whipped Cream
- Pour 2 cups cold heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract and 2 Tbsp sugar into a large (preferably chilled) mixing bowl and beat on high speed 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until stiff peaks form, being sure not to over-churn.
- Spread half the mixture over the cake using a spatula, then top with a layer of Oreo Thins (or regular Oreos) spread evenly. Top with remaining whipped cream and repeat this step using chocolate chip cookies.
Hi my name is Jason. I am a big dessert fan. Wow I can tell from the picture that it is really yummy.
Thank you so much Jason!