Best Tres Leches Cake Recipe
This Homemade Tres Leches Cake is moist and drenched in a three-milk mixture. Topped with fluffy whipped cream, it's the perfect dessert to share with your loved ones.
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 8 whole eggs
- 1 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ⅔ cup milk
For the Tres Leches (milk mixture to pour over the cake)
- ¾ can sweetened condensed milk (14 ounces)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cans evaporated milk
For the Whipped Topping
- 1 pint heavy cream for whipping
- ¼ can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounces
Instructions
How to Prepare the Cake Batter
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 14x11 baking pan.
- In a large mixing bowl add the flour, baking powder, and salt then mix together with a spoon.
- In two separate bowls, carefully separate the egg yolks and the egg whites. If some egg yolks slip into the egg whites, be sure to take them out. Use a spoon and take them out.
- Now, whisk together egg yolks with 1 cup sugar until well incorporated then mix in the milk and vanilla extract.
- Pour the egg yolk mixture over the flour mixture. Whisk until well combined.
- Using a hand mixer, beat the egg whites on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Halfway add 1 tablespoon of sugar and continue to beat egg whites on high until peaks are stiff.
- Pour the egg whites over the batter then fold using a rubber spatula (don’t whisk or stir) into the batter carefully until well combined.
- Pour the batter into a prepared baking pan and spread to even out the surface. Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
How to Prepare the Tres Leches
- In a pitcher add 3/4 can of the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy cream. Stir. Place in fridge.
- Let the cake cool, then gently poke holes on the surface of the cake using a fork.
- Slowly drizzle the milk mixture all around and over the entire cake. Best when soaked.
- Place the cake in the refrigerator to soak for about 30 minutes to 4 hours.
How to Prepare the Whipped Cream
- Prepare the whipped cream. Whisk on high speed the heavy cream and 1/4 can sweetened condensed milk (the remaining milk left).
- Keep whisking and high until stiff peaks forms. Place in the refrigerator until you are ready to enjoy the cake.
- Spread over the surface of the soaked cake using a spatula. Decorate with your favorite fresh fruit or nuts (I personally enjoy at plain). Cut and serve.
Video
Notes
Top Tips:
- The secret to a fabulous traditional tres leches cake is to let the cake soak up the syrupy milk mixture for about 30 minutes to 4 hours.
- . In this way, when you serve it, it will remain perfectly moist without becoming soggy. Yummy!
- Vary the toppings on this cake by using fresh strawberries, fresh berries, or any kind of fruit you like. This makes it the ideal dessert for any Mexican meal.
- Use a measuring cup to measure your dry ingredients.
- Use room temperature eggs and butter. This will give you better results.