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A delectable slice of Tres Leches cake with a pristine white topping.

Best way to grow Tres Leches Cake in 3 Steps

This recipe guides you through baking a delicious Tres Leches Cake, soaked in three kinds of milk and topped with whipped cream, perfect for any celebration. The process is broken down into three easy steps for a homemade dessert.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cake
  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 0.5 cup milk
Tres Leches Mixture
  • 12 ounces evaporated milk
  • 14 ounces condensed milk
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking pan
  • large bowl
  • whisk

Method
 

Bake the Cake
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
  3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
  4. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely in the pan.
Prepare and Soak the Cake
  1. While the cake is cooling, prepare the tres leches mixture. In a bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream.
  2. Once the cake is completely cool, use a fork or skewer to poke holes all over the top of the cake. Slowly and evenly pour the tres leches mixture over the cake, allowing it to soak in.
Decorate and Serve
  1. Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the milks to fully absorb.
  2. Just before serving, top the cake with whipped cream and garnish with fresh fruit or a sprinkle of cinnamon, then slice and serve cold.

Notes

For an extra touch, you can add a tablespoon of rum or brandy to the tres leches mixture for a more adult version of this classic dessert.