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Tres Leches Cake Recipe

Tres Leches Cake Recipe


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4.8 from 35 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Creamy Mexican tres leches cake brings a delightful symphony of milky richness to dessert tables. Sweet layers soaked in three milks create a luscious experience that melts in your mouth and transports you to culinary bliss.


Ingredients

Scale

Cake Ingredients:

  • 5 large eggs, separated
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) whole milk
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Milk Soak Ingredients:

  • ½ cup (120 ml) evaporated milk
  • ½ cup (120 ml) sweetened condensed milk
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream

Topping and Garnish Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream, chilled
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Fresh fruit (strawberries, berries, or mango slices)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish by greasing, flouring, or lining with parchment paper.
  2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl, creating a dry ingredient base.
  3. Whip egg yolks with sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture transforms into a pale, airy consistency, approximately 2 minutes.
  4. Incorporate milk and vanilla extract into the egg yolk mixture, blending until smooth and uniform.
  5. Delicately integrate the flour mixture into the egg yolk blend, ensuring minimal disruption to the mixture’s texture.
  6. Thoroughly clean a separate mixing bowl and whip egg whites on high speed until soft peaks emerge.
  7. Gradually introduce remaining sugar while continuing to beat egg whites until they form sturdy, glossy peaks.
  8. Carefully fold the whipped egg whites into the cake batter in three gentle stages, maintaining the mixture’s delicate volume.
  9. Transfer the batter into the prepared baking dish, distributing evenly across the surface.
  10. Bake for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean.
  11. Remove from oven and allow the cake to cool completely within the baking dish.

Notes

  • Use room temperature eggs for a fluffier cake texture and easier separation of whites and yolks.
  • Ensure no egg yolk contaminates the egg whites when separating to achieve perfect meringue consistency.
  • Fold egg whites gently using a spatula with a cutting motion to maintain maximum air volume and prevent deflating the delicate batter.
  • For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or a gluten-free baking blend, keeping the same measurement proportions.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 186
  • Sugar: 23 g
  • Sodium: 1 mg
  • Fat: 0 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 48 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 0 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg