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Slice of homemade Tres Leches cake with whipped topping and cinnamon.

Tres Leches Cake Recipe

Moist, creamy, and rich in tradition; this family-loved Tres Leches Cake features a soft sponge soaked in three kinds of milk and topped with airy whipped cream.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Latin American, Mexican
Keyword: Best Tres Leches cake recipe, birthday dessert, Mexican dessert, three milk cake, Tres Leches Cake, Tres Leches cake ingredients, Tres Leches cake recipe easy
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 350kcal
Cost: 10$

Equipment

  • 1 9×13 baking dish Glass or ceramic preferred
  • 1 Hand mixer or whisk For beating egg whites and whipped cream
  • 2–3 Mixing bowls Separate for yolks, whites, and whipped topping
  • 1 Rubber spatula To gently fold egg whites into batter
  • 1 Measuring cup With spout, for pouring milk mixture
  • 1 Fork To poke holes for milk absorption
  • 1 Plastic wrap To cover cake while chilling

Ingredients

  • 1 cup All-purpose flour Sifted
  • teaspoon Baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • 5 Large Separated room temperature
  • 1 cup Granulated sugar Divided
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract Pure
  • cup Whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon Cream of tartar Optional stabilizes whites

Three-Milk Mixture

  • 14 oz Sweetened condensed milk 1 can
  • 12 oz Evaporated milk 1 can
  • ½ cup Heavy cream or whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract Pure

Whipped Topping

  • 2 cups Heavy whipping cream Chilled
  • 3–4 tbsp Powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract Pure
  • Ground cinnamon (Optional) for dusting
  • Fresh berries or maraschino cherries Optional garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
  • Whip egg whites until frothy, add sugar, and beat to stiff peaks.
  • Beat yolks with sugar until pale; stir in vanilla.
  • Sift dry ingredients and mix with yolk mixture, alternating with milk.
  • Gently fold in egg whites. Pour into pan and bake 25–30 mins. Cool completely.
  • Whisk together sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, cream, and vanilla.
  • Poke holes in cake and slowly pour milk mixture over. Refrigerate overnight.
  • Whip cream, sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
  • Spread whipped topping over soaked cake and dust with cinnamon.
  • Add berries or cherries. Serve chilled.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 160mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 600IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 150mg | Iron: 1mg