### Instructions
1. **Preheat & Prep:** Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
2. **Oreo Base:** Spread about two-thirds of the crushed Oreo cookies evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
3. **Cream Cheese Layer:** In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Drop spoonfuls of this mixture over the crushed Oreos.
4. **Cake & Pudding Layer:** In a separate large bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, instant chocolate pudding mix, and milk. Stir until just combined. It will be thick. Pour this batter evenly over the cream cheese layer.
5. **Butter & Remaining Oreos:** Drizzle the melted butter over the top of the cake batter. Sprinkle the remaining crushed Oreos over everything.
6. **Bake:** Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter). The top will be set and slightly jiggly.
7. **Cool & Serve:** Let the cake cool completely before serving. This allows the layers to set properly. Once cooled, you can refrigerate it for an hour or two for an even firmer texture.
8. **Enjoy:** Serve plain or with your favorite toppings like whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate syrup, or more crushed Oreos!
### Short Tips
* **Soften Cream Cheese Easily:** If your cream cheese isn’t soft, unwrap it and microwave it for 10-15 seconds on low power.
* **Crushing Oreos in a Snap:** Place cookies in a Ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin, or use a food processor for a finer crumb.
* **Don’t Overmix:** When combining the cake mix, pudding, and milk, stir until just combined to keep the cake tender.
* **Cool Completely:** Patience is key! Cooling the cake fully allows the layers to meld and prevents it from being too gooey when served.
* **Get Creative with Toppings:** Besides whipped cream, consider a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dusting of cocoa powder, or even a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips.
* **Make it Ahead:** This cake is excellent made a day in advance! The flavors deepen, and it’s perfect for potlucks or parties. Store covered in the refrigerator.
