Tres leches cake is one of the most forgiving cake recipes — it stays moist even if it’s slightly overbaked. I don’t consider myself an expert baker, but this turned out to be the best cake I’ve made: tender, airy, and soaked with a delicious three-milk mixture.
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Tres Leches Cake
Prep:
30 minutes
30 minutes
Cook:
25 minutes
25 minutes
Rest Time:
1 hour 30 minutes
1 hour 30 minutes
Total:
2 hours 25 minutes
2 hours 25 minutes
As someone who isn’t a confident baker, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy and forgiving this recipe is. “Tres leches” means three milks — the condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk combine to create the cake’s signature moist texture.
Equipment
-
1 9 inch cake pan
-
1 hand mixer (or stand mixer)
Ingredients
Cake
- 5 large eggs, (separate yolks and whites)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1¼ cup flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1½ tbsp baking powder
- 1 box strawberries
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
Milk Mixture
- ¾ cup condensed milk
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- ½ cup whole milk
Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
-
Separate the yolks and whites from 5 eggs.
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Place the yolks in a bowl with ½ cup sugar. Beat with a hand mixer for about 5 minutes, until the mixture increases in volume by roughly 50% and becomes pale.
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Add vanilla extract and ½ cup whole milk to the yolk mixture and mix briefly until combined — this takes only about 30 seconds.
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In a separate clean bowl, whisk the egg whites with the remaining ¼ cup sugar using a hand mixer until stiff peaks form, about 5–10 minutes.
-
Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the yolk mixture using a spatula until evenly combined.
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Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into the batter in batches, folding gently after each addition until no dry flour remains.
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Line a 9-inch cake pan with parchment, pour in the batter, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes. Test with a toothpick to ensure it’s cooked through. Let the cake cool for about 30 minutes.
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When the cake has cooled, poke holes all over the surface with a fork to help the milk mixture absorb evenly.
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Whisk together the condensed milk, evaporated milk, and ½ cup whole milk. Pour this milk mixture slowly over the cake, allowing time for it to soak in. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour — longer yields a more saturated cake.
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To make the whipped topping, beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form.
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Before serving, spread the whipped cream atop the soaked cake, dust with ground cinnamon, and garnish with sliced strawberries.
Additional Info
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican