{Oreo Cream Cheese Chocolate Cake} and MORE!

WOW...our sweet grandgirl is already over a week old! Of course she was a week early so maybe to her she is "right on time" right about now huh? 

She had her first little private outing to visit with Papa and Nana on her week old birthday. I think she was ready to see us...I mean it had only been one day since I had seen her! LOL!

 Bright eyed for sure!

My oldest grandgirl turned 12 this past Saturday too! It was like yesterday to me that she was just a little newborn baby....Time surely needs to slow down.

My grandbabies are just too sweet. All 5 of them!

Speaking of sweet I want to share a recipe with you for a cake I made. If you like chocolate, cream cheese and Oreo's then you are sure to love this!

I actually baked four 8 inch round cakes. I used 3 of the layers and then I had one layer left that I used for another gathering. So for this recipe I doubled it for 4 layers. If you are making a double layer cake then follow this recipe. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cake:
2 cups sugar

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup cocoa (light or dark)

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

1 cup boiling water

1. In a large bowl stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
2. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Mix on medium speed 2 minutes.
3. Add boiling water and mix until it’s smooth.
4. Divide batter into 2 well greased pans and bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.**I use Wilton Cake Release** I NEVER BAKE A CAKE without this! I have my oldest grandgirl hooked on this stuff too since she loves to bake.

5. Cool 5-7 minutes in the pans, than remove from pans to wire racks upside down (this flattens the top of your cakes a little better) Let your cakes cool. **I usually bake my cakes ahead of time (if I have the time) and freeze but if I do not have the time and I'm in a hurry I put my cakes in refrigerator freezer for at least 15 minutes. To me...they just are easier to put icing on them and makes cutting tops of cake off easier too if needed to level cakes.

 Oreo Cheesecake Filling:

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

8 oz. Cream Cheese-softened

3/4 cup powdered sugar

12 Oreo Cookies- coarsely crushed

I used a food processor to crush Oreo cookies. Set aside.

I love how this looks so fluffy!

In another mixing bowl beat cream cheese and sugar until it’s smooth. Then combine cream cheese and whipped cream and stir in crushed Oreo cookies

Go ahead...stick your finger in it!!!

 Okay, now start assembling your cake. Remember, I made 4 layers (  I doubled the recipe and used only 3 for the cake)  that I am showing you.

Layer one of cake:

Use your YUMMY filling you just made and ice the top of cake.

Next layer goes on and icing again.

 

  

And again...

If I am carrying my cake somewhere I do cut the tops of cake to even it out. (No waste though...the tops get eaten) LOL! I also use small dowel rods to support the 3 layers. I have used straws too.

Ice your last layer on top and sides. 

Now lets make the Ganache: 

You can use different kinds of chocolate but for this cake I used semi sweet chocolate chips. 

8 oz. semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Melt your chocolate chips in the microwave in a glass bowl. I melt mine on high power for 45 seconds at the time until melted. I melt for 45 seconds, stir with a wooden spoon and repeat the process until fully melted. I then add my heavy whipping cream a little at the time and I used a whisk.  Cool for a few minutes. I just love how Ganache has that shiny look to it. (If it seems too runny to you then sit in frig. for a few minutes until it thickens).

Then pour, spoon or swirl your ganache over the top of cake and let it run down the sides or however you want to do it. 

 I added a little shaved white chocolate on the top. (only because I had some in the frig)

 I put a few Oreo's on the side of the cake.

 And WALA!

 What did I do with the leftover cookies?

 Nothing goes to waste at my house!  And I did use the 4th layer.

 Free download from http://thehambyhome.com/2014/04/21/free-chalkboard-printable-taste-and-see-that-the-lord-is-good/

 Hugs and blessings, Cindy