This Oreo Tres Leches Cake is not your ordinary dessert. It takes the light and airy tres leches we all know and love and infuses it with the rich chocolate and creamy sweetness of Oreos. Imagine every bite bursting with the delightful soak of the tres leches and the delightful crunch of Oreo cookies. It's a symphony of textures and flavors that will leave you wanting more.

I tested this recipe several times and the result is a delicious oreo cake that combines traditional tres leches cake with cookies and cream flavors.

What is tres leches cake?

Tres leches cake is a classic Latin American dessert made from a light sponge cake that's soaked in a mixture of three kinds of milk—hence the name tres leches, which means "three milks" in Spanish.

The three milks are typically:

Sweetened condensed milk
Evaporated milk
Whole milk (or sometimes heavy cream)

The sponge cake is baked, then poked all over with holes so the milk mixture can soak into every bite. Despite absorbing so much liquid, the cake remains light and airy rather than soggy because of its sponge-like texture. Tres leches cake is usually finished with a layer of whipped cream or meringue.

The result is a rich, ultra-moist, creamy cake that's served chilled and is especially popular for birthdays, holidays, and celebrations throughout Latin America. While its exact origin is debated, tres leches cake has become one of the most beloved desserts in countries like Mexico, Nicaragua, Cuba, and many others, with each region adding its own unique twist.

Try these other tres leches variations

Ingredients needed for this cookies and cream tres leches

For full list of ingredients and quantities, scroll down to the recipe card.

Oreo cookies: Crushed Oreos are layered throughout the cake, adding rich chocolate flavor and a delicious cookies-and-cream twist.
All-purpose flour: Forms the base of the homemade cake, creating a soft, tender crumb that's perfect for soaking up the tres leches mixture.
Three milks: A combination of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk makes the cake incredibly moist and creamy.
Whipped topping: A light, fluffy layer of whipped topping balances the richness of the soaked cake.
Eggs: Help create a light, airy cake with the perfect texture for absorbing the tres leches mixture.

How to make this tres leches oreo cake

To make the cake

Turn the oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour a 13-by-9 inch pan and set aside.
Place flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium-size bowl and whisk together to mix.
With an electric mixer, beat the eggs one by one on a medium speed, for about 1 minute and slowly add the sugar until all sugar is incorporated. The egg mix will be very fluffy.
Slowly pour the melted butter and vanilla into the mixer.
Add the flour mixture and crushed oreos in batches and gently fold with a spatula until well combined. DO NOT OVER MIX.

Transfer batter to your prepared pan using a rubber spatula to help you spread the evenly. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until cake looks light golden or a wooden toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the cake.
Remove the cake and transfer to a wired rack to cool completely. Poke the top of the cake using a toothpick, skewer or fork all over.

To make the three milks mixture

Whisk condensed milk, evaporated milk and cream together with the vanilla and rum in a medium bowl and whisk until well combined.
Once the cake has cooled, pour the milk mixture over the cake, cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerated for atleast 4 hours.

To make the frosting

Place heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla into a bowl and mix on medium speed until soft peaks form. This will take about 2 minutes.
Spread the whipped cream over the cake. Refrigerate to chill until ready to serve. It's better to leave in the fridge overnight to soak all the three kinds of milk. Sprinkle additional oreo cookie crumbles over the top of the frosting right before serving.

Variations for this oreo tres leches recipe

Oreo tres leches cake offers a delicious twist on the classic dessert. Here are some variations you can try to take your Oreo tres leche cake to the next level.

Variations

Use Golden Oreos: Swap classic Oreos for Golden Oreos for a vanilla cookies-and-cream twist.
Add chocolate: Mix mini chocolate chips or drizzle a rich chocolate ganache into the batter or drizzle the finished cake with chocolate ganache for an extra decadent dessert.
Try different Oreo flavors: Experiment with Mint, Birthday Cake, Peanut Butter, or Java Chip Oreos to create a fun variation.
Top with fresh berries: Garnish with sliced strawberries, raspberries, or cherries for a fresh contrast to the rich cake.

Substitutions

Oreo cookies: Any chocolate sandwich cookie will work if you don't have Oreos on hand.
All-purpose flour: A 1:1 gluten-free flour blend can be substituted for a gluten-free version.
Whole milk: Use 2% milk if needed, though whole milk provides the richest flavor and texture.
Whipped topping: Substitute homemade whipped cream made with heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract for an extra fresh finish.
Sweetened condensed milk: While it's essential to the classic tres leches flavor, a sweetened condensed coconut milk can be used for a dairy-free alternative.
Evaporated milk: Half-and-half or additional whole milk can be used in a pinch, though evaporated milk gives the cake its signature richness.

Storage for this Oreo cake

Tres leches cake, known for its light and airy texture soaked in three kinds of milk, requires specific storage to maintain its delightful flavor and consistency. Here's a breakdown of how to store tres leches cake:

Refrigerate: Because Oreo Tres Leches contains a milk soak and whipped topping, it should always be stored covered in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 4 days.
Cover tightly: Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or transfer slices to an airtight container to prevent the cake from drying out or absorbing odors from the refrigerator.
Serve chilled: Tres leches cake is best enjoyed cold, straight from the refrigerator, as the flavors continue to meld and the texture becomes even creamier.
Make ahead: This dessert is perfect for making a day in advance. In fact, allowing it to chill overnight gives the cake plenty of time to absorb the three-milk mixture, resulting in an even more flavorful and moist cake.
Freezing: You can freeze the cake before adding the whipped topping for up to 2 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator before topping with whipped cream and crushed Oreos. While you can freeze the fully assembled cake, the whipped topping may lose some of its light texture after thawing.

Check out these other dessert recipes

Comments

Frida says

February 12, 2026 at 10:31 pm

excellent recipe!! made this once and i’ll do it again:D

Kordell says

March 11, 2026 at 4:23 pm

Made this and it turned out perfect minus one small thing which was the rum. It was so overpowering I don’t think I’ll be finishing it myself. I will be making it again just without the tablespoon of rum 🙂

What is tres leches cake?

Try these other tres leches variations

Ingredients needed for this cookies and cream tres leches