Chocotorta
Chocotorta
Argentina's most popular no-bake cake — layers of chocolate cookies soaked in coffee and sandwiched with a rich dulce de leche and cream cheese filling. Every Argentine has made this at least once, and it requires zero baking skills.
Chocotorta (Chocotorta)
Argentina's most popular no-bake cake — layers of chocolate cookies soaked in coffee and sandwiched with a rich dulce de leche and cream cheese filling. Every Argentine has made this at least once, and it requires zero baking skills.
- 3 packages Chocolinas cookies (or any plain chocolate cookies, about 500g total)
- 400g (14 oz) dulce de leche
- 300g (10.5 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (240ml) strong coffee or espresso, cooled
- Cocoa powder or chocolate shavings for topping
Wine Pairing
Coffee, or a late-harvest Malbec
- •Homemade at every Argentine birthday party and gathering
- •Some bakeries sell individual portions
- •Rapanui chocolate shops offer premium versions
- 1
Brew a cup of strong coffee or espresso and let it cool to room temperature.
- 2
In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese and dulce de leche together until completely smooth and well combined. This is your filling.
- 3
Briefly dip each chocolate cookie into the coffee — just a quick dunk, about 1-2 seconds per side. Don't soak them or they'll fall apart.
- 4
Arrange a layer of coffee-dipped cookies in the bottom of a rectangular dish or springform pan, breaking cookies to fill gaps.
- 5
Spread a generous layer of the dulce de leche and cream cheese filling over the cookies.
- 6
Repeat layers — dipped cookies, then filling — until you have 3-4 layers, ending with a filling layer on top.
- 7
Smooth the top layer and dust generously with cocoa powder or top with chocolate shavings.
- 8
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. The cookies need time to soften and meld with the filling.
- ✦
The coffee dip is quick — one Mississippi per side. Over-soaked cookies make a mushy cake.
- ✦
If you can't find Chocolinas, any plain chocolate cookie or chocolate graham cracker works. Oreos without the filling are a popular substitute outside Argentina.
- ✦
Make it the night before — chocotorta always tastes better the next day when everything has melded together.
Chocotorta was invented in the 1982 by a creative team at an Argentine ad agency as a recipe to promote Chocolinas brand cookies. The recipe appeared on the back of the Chocolinas box and spread like wildfire through Argentine households. It became so iconic that Chocolinas cookies are now sold primarily for making chocotorta. It's the default birthday cake for anyone who can't (or won't) bake.
Refrigerate for up to 5 days. The cake actually improves after a day as the cookies fully soften. Can be frozen for up to 1 month — thaw in the fridge overnight.