Tres leches cake, also known as three milk cake, is a dense and moist Spanish milk cake topped with whipped cream. Here’s an easy recipe to make the best tres leches cake from scratch at home.
TRES LECHES MEANING
Tres leches is a combination of three milk products- condensed milk, evaporated milk and heavy cream or whole milk.
This three milk concoction is used for soaking the cake base. You will be surprised how the cake soaks up that quantity of liquid. The cake base is like an Angel food cake, which is quite dry, and holds that sweet milk goodness to create a truly ambrosial treat!
I had this for the first time at a Mexican restaurant, I had heard so much about this, that I had to try it. I have to admit that it was the most amazing cake I have ever had! And this recipe is seriously the best tres leches cake recipe, you will definitely agree once you try it too 🙂
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STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE MEXICAN TRES LECHES CAKE | THREE MILK CAKE
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan liberally until coated. (I used a 9 inch springform pan).
2.In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Separate the yolks from the egg whites, set aside.
3.Beat egg yolks with 3/4th cup sugar on high speed, until the yolk sugar mixture is pale yellow. Stir in milk and vanilla. Pour the prepared egg yolk mixture over the flour mixture and stir very gently until well combined.
4.Beat the egg whites on high speed until it forms stiff peaks, with the mixer on, pour the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beat until the egg whites are stiff but not dry.
5.Fold egg white mixture into the batter very gently until just combined. Pour into prepared pan and spread to even out the surface.
6.Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the cake out on a wire rack and allow to cool.
7.Combine condensed milk, evaporated milk and heavy cream in a small pitcher. When cake is cool, pierce the surface with a fork several times. Slowly drizzle the milk mixture – try to get as much around the edges of the cake as you can, as the edges can get pretty dry.
8.Allow the cake to absorb the milk mixture for about 30 minutes. To ice the cake, whip 1 pint heavy cream with 3 tablespoons sugar until thick and spreadable. Spread over the surface of the cake. Decorate the cake with cherries/berries or chocolate shavings. Cut into desired size and serve.
HOW TO MAKE TRES LECHES CAKE | THREE MILK CAKE | MEXICAN MILK CAKE?
Tres Leches Cake | How To Make Tres Leches Cake
Ingredients
Measuring cup used, 1 cup = 250 ml, 1 tsp = 5 ml
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 & 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 5 whole eggs
- 1 cup sugar, divided
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
- 1 (14 oz ) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 cup Heavy Cream
For the Icing
- 1 pint Heavy Cream for whipping
- 3 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13-inch pan liberally until coated. (I used a 9-inch springform pan)
- In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Separate the yolks from the egg whites, set aside.
- Beat egg yolks with 3/4th cup sugar on high speed, until the yolk-sugar mixture is pale yellow. Stir in milk and vanilla. Pour the prepared egg yolk mixture over the flour mixture and stir very gently until well combined.
- Beat the egg whites on high speed until it forms stiff peaks, with the mixer on, pour the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beat until the egg whites are stiff but not dry.
- Fold egg white mixture into the batter very gently until just combined. Pour into prepared pan and spread to even out the surface.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the cake out on a wire rack and allow to cool.
- Combine condensed milk, evaporated milk and heavy cream in a small pitcher. When cake is cool, pierce the surface with a fork several times. Slowly drizzle the milk mixture – try to get as much around the edges of the cake as you can, as the edges can get pretty dry.
- Allow the cake to absorb the milk mixture for about 30 minutes. To ice the cake, whip 1 pint heavy cream with 3 tablespoons sugar until thick and spreadable. Spread over the surface of the cake. Decorate the cake with cherries/berries or chocolate shavings. Cut into desired size and serve.
Notes
I hope you enjoyed this easy tres leches cake recipe. I would love to hear from you if you try this recipe. You can write to me at aromaticessence77@gmail.com or send me a pic of your creation on the message tab of my facebook page Aromaticessence
You can also follow me on :
Facebook @ Aromaticessence
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Regards,
Freda
The cake is ?????
Thanks sweetheart ?
Can you please share recipie to make eggless cake/brownies ??
Dear! I haven’t really baked without eggs , as of now I’m trying to figure out the basic science of baking , I have no formal training , I’m experimenting with eggs right now, not so happy with the results as yet ! So havn’t shared 🙁 once I perfect the eggs ones, I will try to experiment with eggless versions ! But that may be a long time ! I hope I didn’t bore you with my long msg , but I have an eggless brownie recipe for you by Ritu , I have seen a couple of people try this on my food group , so probably you could too , https://loveserveddaily.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/eggless-brownies/
I’m sure it will be great 🙂
You’re so sweet Freda ? Thank you for the recipe again. And wish you all the best for a lovely baking journey. Then one day your cake shop would be a signature 🙂
Ahhh! Thanks so much my dear friend 🙂
???
I get a special cake on my bday ?
For sure dear :)when is it by the way ?
I love Tres Leches Cake! You have inspired me to make one! Beautiful!
Thank you!
I have been wanting to try this cake for the longest time. I know I would love it because of the cream. Yours looks so beautiful, and I love all of your pictures!
Thanks Shari! Glad you liked it 🙂 thanks for stopping by:)
This looks amazing!!
Thank you so much 🙂
My favorite cake in the whole world!! Here’s my version: http://fabulousfaresisters.com/2015/04/05/tres-leches-cake/
Thanks for sharing yours!! 🙂 🙂
Thanks a bunch Linda 🙂 heading over to your’s!
Wow Delishhh
Thanks so much Chitra!!
This looks so beautiful.. 🙂
Thanks a lot dear 🙂
Wow..!! Please save a piece for me…I’m coming over at your place to have it 😀
Hehe! Thanks dear 🙂 you are. Always welcome 🙂
Looks Delicious as always ??
Thanks so much dear 🙂
What a beautiful cake. My mouth is watering. And the pictures couldn’t have been better. Simply yum
Thank you so much Tanushree 🙂
This looks beautiful! I wish I had a piece right now!
Thanks Sadie 🙂 come over 😀
Beautiful Freda, what a great job you’ve done on the photos and the cake too. It looks so moist and tempting. Thanks for linking my blog to your recipe, I really appreciate it. Will you be making it anytime soon? Like I said before, I don’t trust myself with leftovers, so only make it when we have company or I’m bringing it to a large gathering. Great job!
Thanks so much for the appreciation Loretta:) I will definitely be making this for a special occasion, but not anytime soon ! As you say it’s extremely rich , but oh so good ! We finished this in 2 days, and gave some to a friend 🙂 thanks for sharing this once again 🙂
Freda this looks AMAZING. Thanks for sharing honey
That means a lot coming from you dearie 🙂 thanks so much ?
Awe too sweet, hugs XOXO
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Looks yumm and mushy indeed.. ??
Thanks so much 🙂
I have never tasted this cake but have heard a lot about it 🙂 Your’s looks sinful 🙂
Thanks so much! it is indeed sinful!
Oh Freda! Will you be my neighbor so we can share?? This is stunning!!
Aww! thanks Lana:) I will be glad to be your neighbor, I would have a chance to devour all the delicacies that you cook too 🙂
Wouldn’t this be fun?? 🙂
It sure would 😀
Great photo presentation!
Thanks so much Chris 🙂
Yummy!!! I am drooling Freda
Thanks so much Nandini 🙂
this cake looks so delish!
Thanks Vajeea 🙂
so beautiful!
Thanks Lynz 🙂
looks wonderful!
Wonderful cake Freda:) love the photographs as usual
Thanks Lina 🙂
Sinful ?
Thanks dear!!