Decadent Red Velvet Oreo Cake

Velvety cocoa cake meets chocolate cookie crunch and dreamy cream cheese Oreo frosting for a crowd-pleaser that covers all the dessert cravings. Fans of chocolate and cookies both get to dig in, and it always gets smiles at any kind of party or get-together.

The first time I made this, it was for my niece's graduation bash and everyone kept coming back for seconds. Tossing Oreos right into the batter was the thing people wouldn't stop talking about. Now, I make it every time there's a celebration in the family.

Irresistible Ingredients

• More crushed Oreos: toss them into the frosting for a real cookie punch use big crunchy pieces for more texture
• Salted butter: makes frosting rich and helps it hold shape be sure it's totally soft
• Powdered sugar: thickens up the frosting and keeps it sweet sift it to get rid of lumps
• Full fat cream cheese: creamy base for frosting it needs to be soft for a lump free mix
• Crushed Oreos: mix into the cake batter for chocolatey pops scrape cream from the cookies before adding so the crumb stays fluffy
• Red gel food coloring: packs a punch of bright color without making things runny
• Vanilla extract: adds warmth and depth real vanilla gives the best flavor
• White vinegar: reacts with baking soda so the cake is airy that's what gives red velvet its texture
• Large eggs: hold everything together room temp eggs blend better
• Oil: keeps each bite soft and moist use a mild one like canola
• Sour cream: makes the cake richer and extra soft let it warm up before using
• Buttermilk: adds tang and moisture use full fat and let it sit out to lose its chill
• Salt: lifts all the flavors and tones down the sweetness
• Baking soda: helps the cake puff as it bakes and darkens those edges
• Baking powder: gives an extra lift for fluffiness
• Cocoa powder: gives a mellow chocolate background use Dutch process for smoother taste
• Granulated sugar: sweetens and helps the crumb stay moist superfine sugar gives a super delicate texture
• All purpose flour: makes the cake sturdy yet soft sift for best results

Simple How-To Steps

Assemble and Decorate:

Put the first cake round on a plate and spread on about three quarters of a cup of that frosting. Set the second cake layer up top, flat side up, and frost with a thin coat just to trap crumbs. Cool for twenty minutes, then finish with a thick, dreamy final coat. Pile on extra frosting or cookies for a fun finish if you want.

Make the Oreo Frosting:

Beat your soft cream cheese and butter with a stand or hand mixer until super creamy. Add powdered sugar slowly, blending between each scoop and scraping the bowl now and then. Once it's smooth, gently stir in crushed Oreos so you get that cookies and cream vibe.

Cool and Frost the Layers:

Let both cakes sit in their pans for about ten minutes then slide them onto a rack so they can completely cool off. Don’t frost them until they’re totally cool, otherwise the icing just melts everywhere.

Bake the Cakes:

Spoon batter into two lined eight-inch pans. Smooth out the top and knock the pans against your counter to knock out any air bubbles. Bake at three-fifty for twenty-seven to thirty-two minutes. If a skewer comes out clean from the center, you’re good.

Combine Batter and Add Oreos:

Slowly mix the wet stuff into the big bowl with the dry stuff until you get a thick smooth batter – try to keep it lump free. Fold in the Oreos last, mixing just enough that you can still see those nice cookie pieces throughout the batter.

Blend the Wet Ingredients:

In a medium bowl, stir together buttermilk, sour cream, oil, eggs, vinegar, vanilla, and red coloring. Let the buttermilk and vinegar start doing their thing with the baking soda so your crumb stays light and airy.

Mix the Dry Ingredients:

In a big mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, salt, cocoa, baking powder, and baking soda until it all looks even. That way you won’t get weird bites of cocoa or baking soda later.

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Beating the cream cheese until it's super silky is honestly my favorite bit. One holiday, my cousin and I tried to outdo each other decorating the cake with crazy piping tips. It kind of turned into a tradition.

How to Store

Pop leftover cake in the fridge with a cover and it'll be fine for four days. For longer, wrap slices up and freeze for up to two months. Always let slices thaw on the counter while still wrapped so they stay soft and don’t dry out.

Swap Outs

No buttermilk? Mix regular milk with a splash of white vinegar. If you're out of sour cream, plain Greek yogurt works too. Want it even more chocolatey? Try dark cocoa but just know the color will get deeper.

Ways to Serve

This treat is showy enough by itself or you can pair it with a scoop of classic vanilla ice cream. Drizzle on some chocolate syrup or toss some mini Oreos or sprinkles on for birthdays. You can even use the batter for cupcakes if you want snack-sized bites.

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Where Red Velvet Oreo Cake Came From

Classic red velvet has been around since the early 1900s down South, famous for its cocoa flavor and tangy, bold red crumb. Mixing in Oreos is a fun new spin that gives a nostalgic cookie twist and tasty crunch to a beloved old-school cake.

FAQs About the Recipe

→ How can I get my cake to look super red?

Try using gel food coloring for a bolder shade. Blend it straight into your wet mix first so you don't miss any spots.

→ Can I try this with a different cookie?

Go for it! Chocolate sandwich cookies are the best swap, but any cookie you like will give you a new vibe and taste.

→ What's the best way to keep this cake fresh?

Stick it in the fridge in something airtight because of the cream cheese in the icing. Just let it warm up on the counter before you serve for the softest texture.

→ Why is this cake so soft and moist?

Thanks to a mix of buttermilk, oil, and a scoop of sour cream, you’ll always get cake that’s rich and tender, with just the right kind of fluffiness.

→ Can I get things ready ahead of time?

Sure thing! Bake your layers and whip up the frosting the day before if you want. Put it all together and frost right before you want to wow everyone.

→ Is this good for parties?

Oh yeah! The bright colors, creamy frosting, and Oreo toppings definitely make it a show-off for birthdays and celebrations.