Red Velvet Oreo Layer Cake

If you love desserts that taste amazing and make a statement, you’ll want to try this Red Velvet Oreo Layer Cake. It combines the soft richness of red velvet with the creamy crunch of Oreos—perfect for birthdays, get-togethers, or just treating yourself. Once you make it, it’s sure to become one of your go-to showstopper recipes.

What Makes It Special

The texture: moist red velvet cake layers that melt in your mouth.
The contrast: smooth, tangy cream cheese mixed with Oreo bits.
The finish: rich chocolate ganache dripped over the cake, decorated with whole Oreos and velvet crumbs.
Versatility: great for almost any occasion, yet not overly complex to bake.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here are all the components for one cake (8 servings).

For the cake layers:

All-purpose flour
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Baking soda
Salt
Buttermilk (or milk + lemon/vinegar as a substitute)
Butter (softened)
Sugar
Eggs
Vegetable oil
Vanilla extract
Red food coloring (gel gives the best hue)
White vinegar

For the Oreo cream cheese filling:

Cream cheese
Butter (softened)
Powdered sugar
Vanilla extract
Crushed Oreo cookies

For the chocolate ganache & decoration:

Dark or milk chocolate
Heavy cream
Butter
Whole Oreos
Red velvet cake crumbs

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prep the oven and pans. Preheat to ~175 °C (≈350 °F). Grease two 20 cm round cake pans; line the bottoms with parchment paper if you like.
Mix the dry ingredients. In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Make the cake batter. In another bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then oil, vanilla, and the red food coloring.
Combine wet and dry. Alternate adding dry mix and buttermilk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. Finally fold in the vinegar.
Bake the cakes. Divide batter evenly between your two cake pans. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Prepare the Oreo cream cheese filling. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, then gently fold in the crushed Oreos.
Assemble the layers. If you like, slice each cake layer in half so you have four thinner layers. Spread the Oreo-cream cheese mixture between each layer.
Make the ganache. Heat heavy cream until just under boiling. Pour over chopped chocolate (and butter if using), let sit briefly, then stir until glossy and smooth. Let it cool slightly before pouring over the cake so it drips nicely.
Decorate. On top, arrange whole Oreos, sprinkle some red velvet crumbs, and optionally add a few whipped cream dollops.

Tips & Tricks for Best Results

Use room-temperature ingredients—eggs, butter, cream cheese—for smoother batter and filling.
Allow cakes to cool fully or even chill slightly before adding fillings or ganache to prevent melting.
Use a serrated knife for neat, even layers.
For richer taste, pick dark chocolate for your ganache.

Variations You Can Try

Gluten-free option: swap the flour for a gluten-free blend.
Vegan version: use plant-based butter, flax eggs, and non-dairy milk/cream.
Mint Oreo twist: replace regular Oreos with mint-flavored ones.
Nutty texture: add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the cake or layers.

Serving & Storage Suggestions

Pair this cake with coffee, or serve alongside vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Fresh berries add a nice pop of freshness.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge; it will keep for 3-4 days. Let it come to room temperature before serving.
You can freeze the cake layers (wrapped properly) for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before assembling or serving.

Final Thoughts

This cake is about more than dessert—it’s about creating something beautiful, sharing joy, and enjoying every bite. The moist red velvet, crunchy Oreo filling, and rich chocolate ganache work together beautifully. Try it out for your next celebration, or simply when you want something special. Enjoy!