Tres Leches Cake Recipe

Mak Erot

3 min read

·

Mar 30, 2025

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Tres Leches Cake: A Heavenly Delight

The Tres Leches Cake, meaning "three milks" cake, is a delightful dessert that's incredibly moist and flavorful. Its spongy texture and creamy sweetness make it a favorite across Latin America and beyond. This recipe will guide you through creating this culinary masterpiece, ensuring a perfect result every time. Let's get baking!

Ingredients You'll Need:

This recipe yields a 9x13 inch cake. Adjust quantities accordingly for different sizes.

For the Cake:

• 6 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 ½ cups (190g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt

For the Three Milks:

• 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream

For the Topping (Optional):

• Whipped cream
• Sliced strawberries
• Cherries

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Baking the Cake:

1. Preheat & Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan. This prevents sticking and ensures easy removal.

2. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the eggs until light and fluffy. Gradually add the sugar, beating until well combined and the mixture is pale yellow. Stir in the vanilla extract.

3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. Gentle Incorporation: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. Overmixing can lead to a tough cake.

5. Bake to Perfection: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Cool Completely: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. This is crucial to prevent the cake from becoming soggy before soaking.

Soaking the Cake:

1. Combine Milks: In a medium bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream until well combined.

2. Evenly Saturate: Once the cake is completely cool, evenly poke holes all over the top using a fork or toothpick. Slowly pour the milk mixture over the cake, ensuring it's evenly soaked. You might need to tilt the pan to ensure all areas are saturated. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour, allowing the cake to fully absorb the milky goodness.

Finishing Touches & Serving:

1. Chill (Optional): For an even richer flavor, refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.

2. Garnish & Enjoy: Top with your favorite garnish, such as whipped cream, sliced strawberries, or cherries. Slice and serve this heavenly dessert!

Tips for Tres Leches Cake Success:

• Room Temperature Eggs: Using room temperature eggs creates a lighter and fluffier cake.
• Don't Overmix: Overmixing the batter will develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough cake.
• Even Soaking: Ensure the milk mixture is evenly distributed across the cake for optimal moisture.
• Chill for Enhanced Flavor: Chilling enhances the overall flavor profile of the cake.

This Tres Leches Cake recipe is sure to impress your family and friends. Its simple yet elegant nature makes it perfect for any occasion. Happy baking!