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Birthday

Chocotorta

by:
May  7, 2018
3.7
15 Ratings
Photo by Ty Mecham
  • Prep time 20 minutes
  • Cook time 4 hours
  • Serves 8-12
Author Notes

Chocotorta is as ubiquitous at Argentine kids' birthdays as tears and temper tantrums are. The cake is a delightful mix of cream, chocolate, coffee and the most classic of all Argentine flavors, dulce de leche. It's all layered and chilled so it's intensely easy and very no bake. What cookies you decide to use doesn't matter too much as long as they're chocolate and get a good dipping in coffee before being layered along the bottom of the dish. —Valerio Farris

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Ingredients
  • 15 ounces dulce de leche
  • 2 8 oz boxes of cream cheese, left out to soften
  • 2 cups brewed coffee or espresso
  • 2-3 packs of chocolate cookies, however many it takes to line your dish of choice
Directions
  1. In a bowl, mix the dulce de leche and soft cream cheese until they’re completely combined. It should be a light caramel color. Keep tasting until you achieve the ratio of your dreams.
  2. Brew your coffee and pour it in a shallow dish. Submerge each cookie one by one in the coffee then line them across a different baking dish until the bottom is fully covered. Feel free to break one or two in half to find the perfect geometrical set up.
  3. Once one cookie layer is complete, spoon over a healthy glop of the cream cheese dulce de leche mixture and spread it evenly across. Top that with another layer of coffee soaked cookies.
  4. Continue layering until you reach the top of your dish, saving enough space to make sure the top layer is the cream cheese dulce de leche mixture. Top with an optional dusting of cocoa powder.
  5. Set in the fridge for upwards of four hours, or until ready to serve.
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This Recipe is Featured In:

Far From Home, the Dulce de Leche Cake I Didn't Know I Was Looking For

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Recipe by: Valerio Farris

Valerio is a freelance food writer, editor, researcher and cook. He grew up in his parent's Italian restaurants covered in pizza flour and drinking a Shirley Temple a day. Since, he's worked as a cheesemonger in New York City and a paella instructor in Barcelona. He now lives in Berlin, Germany where he's most likely to be found eating shawarma.

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20 Reviews

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Michelle A. March 8, 2021
This is an easy and delicious recipe! The cookies I bought were really thin, next time I will double layer them. I used Nestle's La Lechera dulce de leche, which not all stores carry but it is usually by the condensed milk. I watered the coffee with milk as my kids wouldn't like too strong of a coffee flavor. Will make again.
Kate V. August 2, 2018
This was a hit with everyone, even my 13 year old who recently discovered iced coffee. I might double layer my biscuits in the future with one layer hard- I’d like the serving to be firmer, more like the photo. Thank you for an interesting dessert!
Marcie June 1, 2018
Can this be un-molded for a nicer presentation?
Luciana May 31, 2018
oh damn!
s-chapstick May 20, 2018
Could you please tell me what size pan your using.
Thank you, Susie
Tammy C. May 20, 2018
Bite me! This looks so good and I cannot wait to make it! Thanks for sharing.
June May 20, 2018
Two things:
Who can resist recipe instructions to "achieve the ratio of your dreams"?
Dulce de leech can be made with condensed milk. There are instructions to prepare all over the web.
Meg M. May 20, 2018
Where can I find dulce de Leche, or how do I make it?
Marcy May 20, 2018
I’m in KS, our local grocery stores have it in their idea of the international isle; tortillas, chipotles in adobo, seasame oil, ramen, etc. It’s in a can much like sweetened condensed milk. It’s wonderful and will change your life;)
LULULAND May 20, 2018
Sounds like you use dulce de leche for other deserts or other, what else could I make with it? thanks
FS May 20, 2018
Nestle and Eagle Brand make their own versions, Nestle
s is imported from Chile, EB is American made. Available in the same place where condensed milk and other shelf stable dairy is sold. Sometimes special limited editions like Hazelnut and Chocolate are available, too!
FS May 20, 2018
We use dulce de leche for cheese cake, fruit salad (great on strawberries) and coffee instead of sugar. Lots of other uses, such as eating with a spoon straight from the jar. :)
Susan D. July 29, 2018
As FS said, Nestle sells La Lechera brand Dulce de Leche (ready to use) in a 13.4 oz. can, so you'd need part of a 2nd can. No worries though! This stuff is heavenly, so you can enjoy the extra with a spoon! I found this at Walmart, next to the sweetened condensed milk.
Lynne D. May 16, 2018
What size of cake pan is used?
Misty W. May 15, 2018
This sounds wonderful! What type of chocolate cookies do you suggest using?
Valerio F. May 16, 2018
You've got so many options. Some people love to use the cookie part of an oreo (with the creme scraped off). I've made the cake with a chocolate Belvita or Goya chocolate Marias. Look for something like a chocolate tea biscuit in your grocery store!
Susan D. July 29, 2018
Hi Valerio!
A few questions please...
Safe to assume the cookies should be firm to stand up to the coffee bath?
Have you tried using Mascarpone (Italian Cream Cheese)?
As a professional proofreader & editor whose first love is cooking/baking, I've truly enjoyed reading your work! Thank you!
Susan
Stacy I. May 11, 2018
This is definitely going on the summer dessert list. I may be forced to spike the coffee soak with some whiskey or rum.
Bob Q. May 20, 2018
I strongly suggest Tia Maria or Kalua...or for a twis T Gran Mariner or Contreau.
frizzanz May 11, 2018
That looks and sounds simply orgasmic! This is my dessert for mothers day now!