Today's recipe is the Best homemade Tres Leches Cake. I first tried this luxurious melt-in-the-mouth cake in California. I had heard great reviews of this cake from a colleague about how I must try it and what I was missing out on. Most people who have had this cake fall in love with it, and I was no exception.
After that, this naturally became a standard cake for my kid's birthdays or any special occasions, but it was always from the supermarket. Back in those busy days, I never attempted baking from scratch, except for the occasional baking using store-bought mixes.
Why you will love this cake?
- This cake tastes heavenly; it's a luxurious melt-in-the-mouth cake, and the porous cake absorbs all the milk and fruit juices very well.
- Great for birthday parties, celebrations, and occasions. Your guests will simply love it.
- Make it in advance and refrigerate it so it tastes even better and holds well in shape.
Facts about the Origin of Tres Leches Cake
Now, for some history and information about the cake. The term "Tres Leches" translates to three and milk, which is for the three kinds of milk used in this cake namely condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whipping cream.
There are some conflicts about the origin of this cake. While some say it originated in Latin America, some parts of Mexico and Costa Rica claim it to be theirs. Well wherever it originated from, it sure is an awesome cake.
This cake is very light and porous, soaked with sweet milk, and can be topped with fruits of your choice like strawberries, pineapple, or blueberries and lots of whipped cream frosting.
How to make the Tres Leches cake?
I narrowed down a couple of recipes online to try this delicious cake. The traditional recipe calls for baking in a rectangular tray so that all the juices and liquids can be absorbed.
However, the two-tiered cake can have a layer of sliced strawberries and whipped cream frosting in between, which makes it even more delicious and looks prettier. It can get into a messy affair while frosting, and I could not click any pictures during the making, but have pretty much covered it all in the recipe details.
It turned out well and got excellent reviews and compliments for it. I would highly recommend this heavenly and delicious cake to impress your loved ones and guests. If you love milk-based desserts, I would recommend you try the rasmalai made with the soft rasmalai recipe and Kerala Paal Payasam, which is a kind of rice pudding.
If you are looking for simple vanilla cake recipes, do check out the fluffy vanilla sponge cake recipe and the easy olive oil cake recipe. For recipes with condensed milk, do check out the easy pineapple pudding recipe and microwave milk peda, which were very popular with my readers.
Tres Leches Cake
Ingredients
For the cake
- 1 ½ cup All purpose flour or Cake Flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 large eggs (whites and yolks separated) and at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup milk room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 10 -12 strawberries sliced for filling and decoration
- ¼ cup blueberries for decoration
Leches (Milks)
- ½ cup whipping cream or heavy cream
- 1 can evaporated milk 10 oz approximately
- ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
Whipped cream Frosting
- 2 cups whipping cream
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 3-4 drops food coloring your choice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
For the base cakes
- Pre heat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.
- In a bowl mix the cake flour, baking powder and salt with a whisk and set aside.
- Using an electric mixer , whisk the egg whites until they are frothy .
- Add sugar and keep whisking on high for about 4 minutes until it thickens.
- Add egg yolk one at a time, while the mixer is running at high speed for about 5 minutes and until they are mixed well.
- Next add half of the dry ingredients or flour mixture and blend well.
- Add milk and vanilla extract and blend again.
- Add the remaining flour mixture and blend well for about 3 minutes.
- In two greased 9 inch pan, distribute the batter evenly, tap the pan so air bubbles are released and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes in the pan for about 20 minutes and then on the cooling rack until completely cool
Whipped cream Frosting
- Refrigerate the whisk and 2 bowls a large and a small in the freezer for at least 15 minutes or about 1 hour
- Place some ice cubes in the bigger bowl and the smaller bowl on top of it.
- Add the whipping cream to the small bowl and beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes.
- Add couple of drops of food color of your choice if you like .
- Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat on high for about 5 minutes until you get soft peaks .Keep checking now and then to make sure you don't over beat
Leches (Three milks)
- In a bowl add the three milks namely condensed milk, whipping cream and evaporated milk and whisk to combine .You can also strain to make sure it is smooth
Frosting the cake
- Take one cake and prick holes with a fork all over.
- Pour half the milk contents evenly so that it is absorbed and let it sit on a cooling rack .
- After about 10 to 15 minutes cover it with whipping cream add sliced strawberries on top.
- Next take the other cake and prick holes with a fork all over.
- Place it on top of the other cake and evenly pour the rest of the three milks on it.
- Add whipped cream frosting over the second cake and even it out.
- Decorate with strawberries, bueberries or sprinkles.
- Refrigerate the cake for at least an hour before serving .
Nutrition
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Just made this Tres Leches Cake, and it’s unbelievably soft and rich! So simple to whip up, and it was a huge hit with everyone. You’ve got to give it a go!
I've made a one-layer tres leches cake before, but when I saw your layer cake, I knew I had to make it. It was both beautiful and delicious!!!
This cake looks amazing! Can't wait to give it a go!