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.
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time35 minutes mins
Total Time52 minutes mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: milk cake recipe, tres leche cake
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Lama
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
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.
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.
Calories: 562kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 191mg | Sodium: 279mg | Potassium: 459mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 1372IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 399mg | Iron: 2mg