Chocolate Tres Leches Cake (With Oreo Whipped Cream)
Chocolate Tres Leches Cake is an easy make-ahead dessert with rich chocolate cake, a creamy three-milk soak, fluffy whipped cream, and Oreo topping.
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If you’ve never made a chocolate tres leches cake before, don’t let the fancy name fool you. It’s actually one of the easiest desserts to make ahead, and the results are absolutely delicious.
This rich chocolate cake is soaked with a classic three-milk mixture until every bite is soft, moist, and almost melt-in-your-mouth tender. Then it’s topped with fluffy homemade whipped cream and a generous sprinkle of crushed Oreos for the perfect cookies-and-cream finish.
Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, bringing dessert to a family gathering, or just looking for something a little different than your usual chocolate cake, this recipe always gets rave reviews.
What You’ll Love About This Chocolate Tres Leches Cake Recipe:
Why Is It Called Tres Leches?
One of the things that makes this dessert so special is the tres leches, or “three milks,” mixture. Even though this version starts with a rich homemade chocolate cake rather than a boxed cake mix, it’s still a true tres leches cake because it’s soaked with a mixture of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk after baking.
As the cake chills, those three milks soak into every bite, creating the incredibly moist, tender texture that tres leches cake is famous for. The homemade chocolate cake simply adds a richer flavor that pairs perfectly with the creamy milk mixture and cookies-and-cream topping. It’s the best of both worlds- a classic Latin American-inspired dessert with a chocolate twist that Oreo lovers will absolutely love. SO TASTY!
Ingredients Needed
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How to Make Chocolate Tres Leches Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Whisk together the melted butter and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs and whisk until fully combined.
- Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cocoa powder. Stir just until no dry streaks remain.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
- Use a skewer to poke holes all over the warm cake.
- Whisk together the condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk. Slowly pour the mixture evenly over the cake, allowing it to soak in.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.
- Beat the heavy cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
- Spread the whipped cream over the chilled cake and sprinkle generously with crushed Oreos before serving.
Find the measurements and full recipe below!
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Tips & Tricks
- A barbecue skewer makes the perfect-sized holes without tearing up the cake.
- Pour the milk mixture slowly so every bite stays moist. Don’t rush pouring the milk mixture. Slowly pouring it over the cake allows every part of the cake to absorb the liquid evenly instead of letting it pool around the edges.
- Fresh whipped cream is worth it. Since the cake itself is pretty simple, homemade whipped cream adds a light, fluffy finish that store-bought whipped topping just can’t match.
- Chill longer if you have time. Overnight is even better.
- Crush the Oreos finely so every bite gets cookies-and-cream flavor.
- Keep leftovers refrigerated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does chocolate tres leches cake need to be refrigerated?
Yes. Because of the milk mixture and whipped cream topping, this cake should stay refrigerated until you’re ready to serve it.
Can I make chocolate tres leches cake ahead of time?
Absolutely. In fact, I think it tastes even better after chilling overnight because the milk has more time to soak into the cake.
Can I freeze tres leches cake?
The cake itself freezes surprisingly well before adding the whipped cream topping. Once decorated, it’s best enjoyed fresh from the refrigerator.
Can I use regular cocoa powder?
Yes. Dark cocoa powder creates a richer chocolate flavor, but regular unsweetened cocoa powder works perfectly if that’s what you already have.
What to Serve with Chocolate Tres Leches Cake
This dessert is perfect after just about any “feel good, comfort food” dinner. We especially love serving it after:
- Oven Baked “Fried” Chicken
- Taco Nights
- Easy Bolognese & Pasta
- Burgers on the grill
- Holiday Ham dinners
It’s also a wonderful dessert for birthdays, graduation parties, baby showers, and holiday gatherings because it serves a crowd and can be made ahead.
If you’re looking for a dessert that feels bakery-worthy but is surprisingly simple to make, this Chocolate Tres Leches Cake is it. The rich chocolate cake, creamy three-milk soak, fluffy whipped topping, and crunchy Oreo finish come together in a dessert that’s guaranteed to disappear quickly.
I especially love serving this for birthdays, summer cookouts, and holiday dinners because I can make it ahead of time and simply pull it out of the refrigerator when it’s time for dessert. One less thing to worry about when you’re hosting is always a win.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Leave a comment below and save it to Pinterest so you have it ready the next time you need an easy dessert everyone will be talking about.
Chocolate Tres Leches with Oreo Whipped Cream
Chocolate Tres Leches Cake is an easy make-ahead dessert with rich chocolate cake, a creamy three-milk soak, fluffy whipped cream, and Oreo topping.
Ingredients
Cake:
- ½ cup Salted Butter, Melted
- 1 cup White Granulated Sugar
- 5 Large Eggs
- 1 ¾ cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder
- ½ cup Dark Cocoa Powder
Tres Leches:
- 1 (14 Ounce) Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 (12 Ounce) Can Evaporated Milk
- 1 ¼ cups Whole Milk
Whipped Cream Topping:
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- ½ cup Powdered Sugar
- ½ cup Finely Crushed Oreos
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and coat a 9x13-inch baking dish in butter or nonstick spray.
- Combine the melted butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until homogeneous. Add the eggs and whisk again for about a minute, or until the eggs are thoroughly beaten and incorporated with the sugar mixture.
- Gently whisk in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cocoa powder. Make sure no dry pockets remain in your batter, and then pour it into your baking dish. Bake your cake for 25 minutes, or until it is no longer jiggly in the middle.
- Use a skewer to poke the surface of your cake, creating space for the tres leches mixture to soak in. Whisk together the condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk. Slowly pour the milk mixture over the cake, giving it time to soak in.
- Cover your cake with plastic wrap and let it chill in the fridge for an hour.
- After an hour, beat the cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks begin to form. Spread your whipped cream over the cake and then top it with the crushed Oreos.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure your milk mixture is whisked thoroughly. The condensed milk is going to sink to the bottom, but
You want it to be homogeneous when it is poured over your cake. - Pour your milk mixture over the cake slowly. You want to give it time to soak into the cake. If you pour it all on at once, it will pool around the edges, and the middle of your cake will not be as moist.
- Dark cocoa powder is going to give your cake an extra-rich and robust flavor; however, you can also use regular cocoa powder. Your cake might appear a little bit lighter and taste slightly less rich, but it will still be delicious.
- You can use unsalted butter if you add ½ teaspoon of salt to the cake batter along with the flour and other dry ingredients.
- I recommend covering your cake with plastic wrap while it chills in the fridge. This is going to help prevent your cake from absorbing any scents from the fridge, which can give the cake a funky flavor.
- Store your cake in the fridge covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 451Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 12gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 331mgCarbohydrates: 57gFiber: 3gSugar: 39gProtein: 8g
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Hi, I’m Brittany, and I believe life at home should feel easier, not heavier.
I’m the creator of Our Home Made Easy, a space for busy women who want dinner on the table, their homes running smoothly, and a little breathing room at the end of the day.
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