Tres leches cake
- Vegetarian
- Energy Kcal 454
- Carbohydrates g 61.3
- of which sugars g 46.1
- Protein g 11.1
- Fats g 18.3
- of which saturated fat g 9.94
- Fiber g 0.6
- Cholesterol mg 155
- Sodium mg 191
- Prep time: 20 min
- Cook time: 40 min
- Serving: 8
- Note + refrigeration time
PRESENTATION
Tres leches cake is a beloved dessert across Latin America. And I gotta say, it’s easy to see why. This delicious treat is soaked in a mix of three different milks: sweetened condensed milk, regular milk, and a touch of whipped cream. Seriously good. The base? It's like a sponge cake—perfect for soaking up that creamy, moist mixture until each bite is incredibly tender and packed with flavor. You know, you'll find different versions depending on the country. Some add a hint of cinnamon, while others pile on the whipped cream. But no matter the details, you get that classic, fresh taste and a melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s just, well, amazing. It’s a cake that feels both fancy and really homey at the same time.
When people look for a tres leches cake recipe, they want something fun and a little indulgent. Really. This isn’t just any cake; it's like a treat you’d enjoy at a party or after a great meal. And the whipped cream? Folks often top it with clouds of it, plus sometimes a few fresh berries for a pop of color. Pairing a slice with a good coffee just makes everything better—the creamy sweetness is perfect with a strong cup.
Thing is, the best part about learning how to make tres leches cake is that it’s quite forgiving. So even if you’re not a pro baker, you can end up with a soft, sweet cake that everyone wants more of. Across Latin America, families have their own takes on this dessert, with everyone claiming theirs is the best. Whether you’re trying a homemade tres leches cake for a special occasion or simply want a taste of something different, this dessert brings out those cozy, happy vibes. And look, it doesn’t last long once people start digging in. It's the perfect way to bring a little bit of Latin American charm to your table, leaving everyone smiling and satisfied. For real.
INGREDIENTS
- Ingredients for the sponge cake (for a 10-inch diameter cake pan)
- Eggs 5
- Type 00 flour 1.67 cups (200 g)
- Sugar ¾ cup (170 g)
- Baking powder 3 ½ tsp (16 g)
- Vanilla bean 1
- Fine salt 1 pinch
- For the soaking with the milk trio
- Whole milk 1 ¼ cup (300 ml)
- Condensed milk 1 ¼ cup (300 ml)
- Fresh liquid cream 1 ¼ cup (300 ml)
- For garnishing
- Fresh liquid cream 1.3 cups (300 ml)
- Powdered sugar ½ cup (70 g)
How to prepare Tres leches cake
To prepare the tres leches cake, preheat the oven to 350°F and start preparing the base: separate the egg whites from the yolks, slice open a vanilla pod and scrape out the seeds 1; then add them to the bowl with the yolks along with the sugar 2. Beat the ingredients with an electric mixer 3.
In a separate bowl, sift the flour 4, add the baking powder 5, and gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the egg and sugar mixture 6.
Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer, add a pinch of salt 7, and beat them to stiff peaks 8. Then, fold them into the egg mixture 9 using a spatula, moving from top to bottom to avoid deflating them.
Butter and flour a 10-inch diameter cake pan 10 and pour the mixture inside 11. Level it out and bake the cake in a preheated static oven at 350°F for about 40 minutes (or in a convection oven at 320°F for about 30 minutes). Once baked 12, remove it from the oven and let it cool to room temperature.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, pour the condensed milk, the fresh milk 13, and the fresh liquid cream 14. Whisk all the ingredients to combine them 15;
when the cake is cool, cut it into even slices 16: this way it will better absorb the soaking made up of the three milks, which you can distribute with a ladle 17. Once soaked, place the cake in the fridge covered with plastic wrap for at least 1 hour. Meanwhile, whip the cream with the powdered sugar 18,
transfer it to a piping bag with a star nozzle 19 and after the resting time of the cake, decorate it with dollops of cream 20. Serve the tres leches cake in slices! 21