This gooey, rich, delicious Oreo Earthquake Cake is layered with Oreo cookies, chocolate cake, cream cheese, and more chocolate that is an explosion of flavor in every bite! It is an ooey-gooey dessert made even more chocolatey by adding some chocolate ice cream on top. Try my Pumpkin Earthquake Cake or original Earthquake Cake for another cake full of chocolate overload!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Just like an earthquake causes the earth to shift and cause cracks in the land, this Oreo Earthquake Cake has ingredients that may move around as it is being baked and you may see cracks and crevices in the top after it’s baked. But, it doesn’t change the fact that it is a decadent dessert that is a chocolate lover’s dream!
Chocolate Cake: Grab a box of chocolate cake mix to use in the cake. Mix up the cake batter according to the package instructions.
Oreo Cookies: You will need cookies for both the cake and the topping.
Cream Cheese: Be sure the cream cheese has been softened, or come to room temperature before mixing it with the other ingredients.
Ice Cream: I highly recommend serving the cake with a dollop (or two or three) of chocolate ice cream, particularly my homemade no-churn chocolate ice cream!
How to Make a Marble Swirl
It’s pretty easy to get that fancy marble swirl in a cake. Since this Oreo Earthquake Cake has the chocolate cake layer topped with a light-colored cream cheese layer, it’s perfect for marbling! After you have the chocolate cake batter in the pan and the cream cheese mixture prepared, it’s simple.
Add dollops of the cream cheese mixture on top of the chocolate cake batter. Use a butter knife or metal/wooden skewer to make loose vertical zig-zags from one end of the pan to the other. Clean off the knife and make the zig-zag pattern in the opposite direction. You don’t need to over-swirl. A few swirls in each direction will be just enough to get the flavors mixed together.
How to Store Earthquake Cake
Because of the cream cheese layer, I do recommend storing the cake in the refrigerator, covered. It should last 2-3 days.
More Oreo Treats
Oreo Earthquake Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box (15.25 ounces) chocolate cake mix, mixed according to package directions
- 24 Oreo cookies
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 ½ cups (312.5 g) confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
TOPPING
- 2 cups (364 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup Oreos, crumbled (about 10 cookies)
- chocolate ice cream, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° and spray a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Prepare the cake batter according to package directions.
- Layer the bottom of your pan with the Oreo cookies.
- Spread your cake batter over the top. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and salt.
- Beat with a mixer until combined. Dollop the mixture over the cake and use a knife or skewer to create a marble swirl.
- Sprinkle chocolate chips and crumbled Oreos on top and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until the center is set.
- Serve warm with ice cream, if desired.
Video
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Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
Can’t wait to try this recipe.
I made this cake today for my daughters birthday. She loved, the whole family loved.
To decorate your cake, you can keep aside some Oreo cookies and crush them a little and then decorate with it.
What about whipped cream instead of cream cheese?
How would you store this? In the fridge and then reheat in the oven or just on the counter?
I am making this tonight for a work potluck tomorrow.
I am trying this cake for the first time. This cake sounds very good.
This cake was delicious and heavy but so good. Then I tried it the next day when it was cold and it tasted even better 🙂
Do you seriously think you can bake whipped cream??
Did you seriously leave that comment before reading the recipe?
Oh Amanda, I didn’t leave that comment for you!!!! I should have put the person’s name in my comment that asked if you could substitute whipped cream for cream cheese. I could not believe anyone would ask that. Or, I could have kept my mouth shut. Lol. You are the ONLY baker that I follow any more. I have not tried any of your recipes that weren’t great!!! I am so sorry that I didn’t make that clear!! Getting ready to make your chocolate cake right now as a matter of fact, best cake I have ever tasted!!