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4.58 from 7 votes

Tres Leches Cake

This tender Tres Leches cake is drenched in a three-milk mixture and is topped with fluffy whipped cream, cinnamon, or fresh fruit.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Chill Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 50 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: three milk cake, tres leches recipe, Tres Lechese Cake
Servings: 12 slices
Author: Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

Cake

  • 5 large eggs separated
  • 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • 1 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Milk Mixture

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk

Whipped Cream Topping

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream chilled
  • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • To a large bowl, add the egg yolks and sugar and beat with an electric mixer or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment for 3-4 minutes. Add the vanilla and milk and mix until combined.
  • Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Add the flour mixture to the egg yolk mixture and fold gently until all the flour has been absorbed.
  • Whip the egg whites with a hand mixer in a separate large bowl until stiff peaks form.
  • Fold ⅓ of the egg whites into the cake batter to loosen it, followed by the remaining ⅔ of the egg whites. Fold just until no white streaks of egg whites remain.
  • Add the batter to the prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake or the center springs back when you gently press your fingers on it. Let the cake cool completely.

Milk mixture

  • Add the milk, sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk to a bowl or large measuring cup. Whisk until combined.
  • Once the cake cools completely, poke holes all over it with a fork.
  • Slowly pour the milk mixture evenly over the cake, letting it soak into all the holes.

Whipped cream topping

  • Add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to a large bowl and whip with a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until you reach medium-stiff peaks.
  • Spread the whipped cream evenly over the top of the soaking cake and cover. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Serve with fresh fruit and a dusting of ground cinnamon.

Video

Notes

Originally Posted February 4, 2019
Updated September 7, 2024

Nutrition

Calories: 485kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 271mg | Potassium: 339mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 888IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 274mg | Iron: 1mg

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