Name: Cookies and Cream Cake
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 16 servings
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1-1/2 cups sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1-1/4 cups whole milk; 8 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped; FROSTING:; 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese; 2 cups confectioners' sugar; 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 6 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped; GANACHE:; 16 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped; 1/2 cup butter, cubed; 1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream; 8 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped

This decadent cookies and cream cake has three layers of fluffy Oreo cake, a tangy cream cheese filling and a crown of luscious chocolate ganache.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened

1-1/2 cups sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1-1/4 cups whole milk

8 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped

FROSTING:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese

2 cups confectioners' sugar

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

6 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped

GANACHE:

16 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup butter, cubed

1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

8 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped

Instructions

1 Make the cake batter

2 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Then, grease and line three 8-inch round baking pans. Set aside. In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar for five to seven minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat well. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk until evenly mixed. Fold in the chopped Oreo cookies. Editor's Tip: The batter will be pretty thin. This is how it's supposed to be!

3 Bake the cookies and cream cake layers

4 Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

5 Make the frosting

6 In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese using an electric mixer at a medium speed until smooth, three to four minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low and then gradually add the confectioners' sugar, heavy cream and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and fluffy, then fold in the chopped Oreo cookies. Chill until ready to use.

7 Make the ganache

8 In a heavy saucepan, melt together the butter and chocolate until smooth. Gradually add the cream and stir to combine. Heat the mixture until slightly warm. Chill the mixture until it has thickened to a spreadable consistency, about 30 minutes.

9 Assemble the layer cake with the frosting

10 To assemble, place one layer of cake on a serving plate. Top with half the frosting and then spread it into an even layer. Spread the remaining frosting on a second cake layer and then stack to make a three-layer cake.

11 Top with the ganache and cookies

12 Spread the cooled ganache over the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies. Editor's Tip: If your ganache isn't staying put, it's likely still too warm. Return the ganache to the fridge for another 10 minutes and then try spreading it again.