Best Tres Leches Cake Recipes

TRES LECHES (MILK CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9x13 inch baking pan.
• Sift flour and baking powder together and set aside.
• Cream butter or margarine and the 1 cup sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs and the 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; beat well.
• Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture 2 tablespoons at a time; mix until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Pierce cake several times with a fork.
• Combine the whole milk, condensed milk, and evaporated milk together. Pour over the top of the cooled cake.
• Whip whipping cream, the remaining 1 cup of the sugar, and the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla together until thick. Spread over the top of cake. Be sure and keep cake refrigerated, enjoy!

TRES LECHES CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.
• Bake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan. Let stand 5 minutes. Poke top of hot cake every 1/2 inch with long-tined fork, wiping fork occasionally to reduce sticking.
• In large bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk, whole milk and whipping cream. Carefully pour evenly over top of cake. Cover; refrigerate about 1 hour or until mixture is absorbed into cake. Frost with frosting. Store covered in refrigerator.

TRES LECHES CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lightly oil and line the base and sides of a 20cm square cake tin.
• Put the egg whites in a large bowl with a pinch of salt. Beat with an electric hand whisk until foamy, about 3 mins. Keep mixing while you add 150g of the sugar, a spoonful at a time, until thick and glossy.
• In another bowl, mix the egg yolks, remaining sugar and vanilla (no need to clean the beaters first) for 2 mins, or until pale and foamy. Add the flour, baking powder and milk to the egg yolks, and use a spatula to fold everything together.
• Add a large spoonful of egg white to the cake mix, beat together to loosen the mixture, then gently fold through the remaining egg whites with a large metal spoon (being careful not to over-stir so you don't knock out too much air), until you have a smooth batter.
• Pour into the tin, smooth the top and bake for 40-45 mins until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Mix together the evaporated milk, condensed milk and 3 tbsp of the cream.
• Leave the cake to cool for 10 mins in the tin, then ease a knife around the sides. Poke holes over the surface with a skewer, then pour over half the milk mixture. After 5 mins or so, most of it should have soaked into the cake. Leave for another 5 mins, then transfer to a plate and pour over some of the remaining milk until it starts to leak a little. (Any leftover milk that won't soak into the cake can be served on the side.) Leave to cool.
• Whip the remaining cream and icing sugar together until holding soft peaks. Spread the cream over the cake and sprinkle with a little cinnamon. Can be made and chilled a day ahead. Serve in squares with any remaining soaking milk.

MEXICAN TRES LECHES CAKE (PASTEL DE 3 LECHES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until foamy. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Clean beaters.
• Beat egg yolks in a separate bowl until creamy. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue beating until pale yellow. Fold egg yolks into egg white mixture using a spatula. Sift in flour and carefully fold into the batter; mix in zest of 1 lime. Pour batter into the prepared springform pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes. Turn off oven but keep cake in the closed oven for an additional 20 minutes.
• Prepare the '3 milks' while cake is resting in the oven. Combine condensed milk, evaporated milk, 1 cup heavy cream, and amaretto liqueur in a blender; blend until well combined.
• Remove the cake from the springform pan and and place on a serving plate. Pierce the cake several times across the top with a fork. Pour the '3 milks' mixture over the cake. Refrigerate cake until cool and milk mixture has soaked in, about 1 hour.
• Beat 1 cup heavy cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Garnish the top of the cake with whipped cream, peach slices, and 1 teaspoon lime zest.

3 MILK CAKE OR TRES LECHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Beat 6 egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy; set yolks aside. Gradually beat in sugar until mixture holds soft peaks. Beat in flour gradually, then beat in milk, reserved egg yolks, melted butter, 4 teaspoons vanilla extract, and baking powder, beating in each ingredient thoroughly before adding the next. Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until cake is browned and crusty on top, no more than 30 minutes. Let cake cool in pan for about 10 minutes before gently removing cake to finish cooling.
• Whisk sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and half-and-half in a bowl. Pour half the 3-milk mixture into a pan deeper and longer than the cake. Lay the cake into the milk mixture. Use a fork to score deep lines into the top of the cake and pour remaining 3-milk mixture over cake, allowing the mixture to soak in.
• Beat cream cheese with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a bowl with electric mixer until soft and fluffy; gradually beat in cream until frosting is thick and spreadable. Spread over the cake.

SHORTCUT TRES LECHES CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 13x9-in. baking pan., In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, milk, softened butter and vanilla; beat on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium 2 minutes. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes. , In a 4-cup measuring cup, whisk topping ingredients until blended. Using a skewer, generously poke holes in top of warm cake. Pour milk mixture slowly over cake, filling holes. Cool 30 minutes longer. Refrigerate, covered, at least 4 hours or overnight., In a bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form. Spread over cake.

MEXICAN - TRADITIONAL TRES LECHES CAKE

Steps:

• Beat egg whites until peaks form. Add sugar gradually. Add yolks; beat 3 minutes. Combine flour and baking powder; add to egg mixture alternately with milk.
• Pour into well greased 9 X 13-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 to 40 minutes. Pour sauce ingredients into blender; blend.
• Punch holes in cake with toothpick while yet warm; pour sauce over cake. Allow cake to cool in refrigerator before frosting.
• To make frosting: mix all ingredients in the top of double boiler. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes while beating constantly.
• Frost cake. Keep refrigerated.

PASTEL DE TRES LECHES THREE MILK CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil a jellyroll baking pan and line it with waxed paper oiled on both sides. Separate the yolks and whites in 2 bowls. Sift the flour and baking powder together.
• Beat the yolks until light and lemon colored, about 20 minutes. The consistency should be very thick, and when you lift the beaters, the mixture should fall in one solid mass, known as the "ribbon stage". Add 1/2 cup of the sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time. Add the vanilla and beat 3 minutes more.
• Whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar slowly until it makes a meringue. Add the whites to the yolks one-third at a time and fold in with a rubber spatula. Add the flour all at once and fold in.
• Spread the batter in the pan and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until the cake comes away from the sides of the pan. Let it rest for 5 minutes, then remove it from the pan and place on a clean tea towel that has been dusted with confectioners' sugar. Remove the waxed paper by rubbing the top of the paper with a dry cloth all over the surface and peeling off. Cover the cake with another tea towel and roll up the cake lengthwise in the towels, like a jellyroll, while still warm.
• For the filling: Whip the cream and vanilla until soft peaks form. Add the confectioners' sugar. Add the fruit to the whipped cream and fold in.
• For the soaking liquid: Mix the milks with a whisk. Add the liquor.
• For the frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat the butter until soft and fluffy, about 10 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix for 2 minutes. Slowly add the confectioners' sugar until it is well incorporated. Add the milk.
• To assemble the cake: Unroll the cake and remove the tea towel from the top layer. Spread the whipped cream mixture on the cake and, using the bottom as leverage, roll it up lengthwise. Transfer the cake to a serving tray seam side down. Make holes in the cake with a skewer and drizzle the soaking liquid, slowly, letting it absorb bit by bit. Cover the cake with the frosting.

TRES LECHES CAKE WITH DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and dust with flour.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until foamy. Add 1/4 cup sugar gradually, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form and sugar is completely dissolved.
• Beat egg yolks in a separate bowl until creamy. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue beating until pale yellow and creamy. Fold into egg whites.
• Mix flour and baking powder in a bowl. Fold in egg mixture; add lime zest. Pour mixture into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden, about 30 minutes. Turn off oven and keep the cake in the oven for another 15 minutes.
• Mix condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy cream in a bowl until well combined.
• Poke cake several times across the top with a fork. Pour three-milks mixture over cake. Refrigerate for 1 hour to allow milk mixture to soak in. Spread dulce de leche on top.

TRES LECHES CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray and flour a 10-inch cake pan with 2-inch high sides and then line with parchment paper. Grease the parchment paper.
• Mix the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites until frothy. With the mixer running, gradually add the sugar and beat to stiff peaks. Beat in the yolks, 1 at a time, blending well after each addition. Add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the whole milk in 2 additions.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool the cake slightly, about 10 minutes, then invert onto a platter with 1-inch high sides.
• Pierce the top of the cake all over with a thick skewer. Mix the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, 1 cup heavy cream and orange liqueur in a medium bowl. Pour the mixture over the cake while warm. Cover and refrigerate until cold, about 3 hours or overnight.
• Combine the remaining 1 cup heavy cream and powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Spread the whipped cream onto top of the cake and sprinkle with the ground cinnamon.

CHOCOLATE TRES LECHES CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare a 9x13-inch pan with butter and flour.
• Beat cake mix, chocolate milk, canola oil, eggs, and espresso powder together in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer on a low speed until dry ingredients are moistened. Increase speed to medium and continue beating another 2 minutes; pour into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Remove cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan until it is no longer hot to the touch. While the cake is still warm, poke lots of holes all over the cake with a small skewer or a fork.
• Whisk sweetened condensed milk, half-and-half, evaporated milk, and 3 tablespoons cocoa powder together in a bowl until cocoa is mostly incorporated into the liquid; slowly pour the milk mixture evenly over the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely as the liquid soaks into it.
• Sift confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder together in a bowl.
• Beat heavy whipping cream in a stand mixer on medium speed for about 1 minute. While continuing to mix, add sugar-and-cocoa mixture to the cream in 2 batches, allowing the first to incorporate before adding the second. Increase mixer speed to medium-high; beat until soft peaks form and the cream is thickened and spreadable. Spread chocolate whipped cream on the cake to serve.

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE-TRES LECHES CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat Cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.
• Bake 30 to 34 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove cake from oven to cooling rack. Immediately poke holes using fork over top of cake. If necessary, wipe fork tines occasionally with paper towel to reduce sticking.
• In medium bowl, stir together Filling ingredients until blended. Evenly pour over cake, working back and forth to fill holes. Tap pan on counter several times to help filling mixture flow down holes. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled (when cutting pieces to serve, you may notice some of the liquid on the bottom of the pan).
• In chilled medium bowl, beat Topping ingredients with electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Frost top of chilled cake with whipped cream. Sprinkle chocolate curls on top. Cut into 5 rows by 3 rows. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

TRES LECHES CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat eggs and 3/4 cup sugar on high until pale and thick, about 4 minutes. Add vanilla and beat to combine. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat to combine. With a rubber spatula, fold in melted butter until incorporated. Transfer batter to dish and bake until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes, rotating dish halfway through.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together milks. Poke warm cake all over with a wooden skewer or toothpick, then pour milk mixture over top and let cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.
• Whip cream and 1/4 cup sugar to medium peaks. To serve, spread whipped cream evenly over cooled cake. Top with fruit if desired.

TRES LECHES CAKE WITH BERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a small bowl and set aside. Place the eggs, 1 cup of granulated sugar and the vanilla extract in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed for 10 minutes (really!) until light yellow and fluffy. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add half the flour mixture, then the milk and finally the remaining flour mixture. Mix with a rubber spatula to be sure the batter is well mixed. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top and bake for 25 minutes, until the cake springs back when touched lightly in the middle and a cake tester comes out clean. Set aside to cool in the pan for 30 minutes.
• In a 4-cup liquid measuring cup, whisk together the heavy cream, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, almond extract and vanilla seeds. Using a bamboo skewer, poke holes all over the cooled cake and slowly pour the cream mixture over the cake, allowing it to be absorbed completely before continuing to pour on more of the mixture. Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.
• To serve, toss the strawberries with the 5 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Dust the cake with confectioners' sugar, cut in squares and place on dessert plates. Surround the cake with the strawberries, put a dollop of whipped cream on top and serve.

EASY TRES LECHES CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat over to 350º.
• Grease or "pam" 9x12 baking pan.
• Beat eggs in a large bowl.
• Add water and cake mix and beat 3 minutes.
• Pour batter into pan.
• Bake for 30 minutes, or until cake has lost its jiggly center and springs back when touched.
• Let cool to room temperature.
• Mix the 3 milks.
• Poke cake full of holes. A chopstick works great for this. Don't skimp on the holes; that's what allows the cake to absorb the milks.
• Pour the milk mixture over the cake slowly, until it's absorbed the liquid.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Serve as desired. If you're serving company, you might cover the cake with whipped cream and fruit; you might just drizzle heavy cream over each serving; you might puree a carton of frozen strawberries and use that as a base to serve slices on.

CHOCOLATE TRES LECHES CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom only of a 9-by-13-inch cake pan (preferably metal), leaving a 1/4-inch border that remains ungreased. Do not butter the sides of the pan.
• Place a large sifter or a sieve in a large bowl. Add the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt and sift. Add the sugar and whisk to combine.
• In another large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla until combined. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk until there are no lumps and the batter is smooth. Carefully pour in the boiling water and stir until combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the center of the oven until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean and the cake bounces back when lightly pressed, about 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the tres leches: In a large bowl, combine the evaporated milk, condensed milk (setting 3 tablespoons aside for the whipped cream), heavy cream and vanilla bean seeds or extract (if using) and whisk to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate if not using immediately.
• Remove the cake from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. Run a butter knife around the cake's edges. Cool completely.
• While the cake is still in the pan, use a skewer or a fork to poke small holes through the cake to the bottom, about an inch apart. Slowly spoon the tres leches over the top of the cake, giving it time to soak in. Once the liquid is absorbed, repeat until all the tres leches is used. (Toward the end, the tres leches will pool at the edges, but don't worry; it will be absorbed while in the fridge.) Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 5 to 6 hours, preferably overnight.
• When ready to serve, make the whipped cream: Add the reserved condensed milk along with the cream, vanilla and cinnamon (if using) to the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium high until the cream has doubled in volume, forms soft peaks and is light and fluffy. Spread the cake with the cream and sprinkle the chocolate shavings on top. Serve from the pan.

TRADITIONAL TRES LECHES CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 3-quart baking dish. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat egg yolks and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy. In another bowl, whisk egg whites and salt to soft peaks. Using a rubber spatula, fold whites into yolks until almost combined. Sift flour over egg and gently fold into batter (do not overmix).
• Spread batter in prepared dish. Bake until golden and pulling away from sides of dish, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool 20 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the three milks; pour evenly over cake. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• To serve, whip cream and confectioners' sugar to soft peaks. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip, and pipe whipped cream in a decorative pattern, if desired.

TRES LECHES CAKE WITH DULCE DE LECHE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Separate the eggs, putting the whites in one large bowl and the yolks in another.
• Add the cream of tartar to the whites, and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low, and gradually add 1/3 cup of the sugar. When all the sugar is in, turn the speed back up to medium-high and continue to beat until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 4 minutes.
• Add the remaining sugar and 1 tablespoon of the vanilla to the bowl with the yolks, and beat with the electric mixer until the mixture is pale yellow and very thick and a bit of the batter dropped on top of the rest sits there for a few seconds before sinking in, about 5 minutes. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt over the mixture, and fold until blended. Fold in about 1/3 of the whites until the batter has lightened in texture. Fold in the remaining whites in two additions until smooth and no streaks of white remain. Pour the batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan.
• Bake until the cake is browned and the top springs back to the touch, about 35 minutes. Immediately turn the pan over onto a cooling rack, and let the cake cool completely in the pan. Run a thin spatula around the outside edge and the inside ring; gently working around the cake, pull with a spatula until it releases from the pan. Scrape out the crumbs from the bottom and sides of the pan (it doesn't have to be totally clean, but you don't want the crumbs to absorb the soaking milks), then put the cake back in the pan.
• Using a long skewer, poke holes all over the top of the cake (around 60 is good), going all the way to the bottom of the pan. Whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, cream and remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla in a medium bowl. Slowly pour the mixture over the cake, letting it run down the sides of the cake, making sure the cake is well coated. (It may seem like a lot of liquid, but be sure to use it all so the cake is moist throughout.) Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.
• One hour before serving, remove the cake from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature to warm slightly.
• For the frosting: Meanwhile, bring a few inches of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Set a large stainless-steel bowl over it (do not let the bowl touch the water); add the sugar, egg whites, 1/4 cup cold water, vanilla, cream of tartar and salt, and whisk until the ingredients are combined. Then, with the bowl still over the simmering water, beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until thick, glossy, stiff peaks form, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat, and let stand a few minutes.
• To assemble: Run a thin spatula around the outer edge and the inside rim of the pan, gently pulling to release the cake. Turn it out onto a rimmed serving plate. Generously frost the top, the sides and the inside ring, using a small offset spatula or spoon. Microwave the dulce de leche in a small microwave-safe dish until it's loose enough to drizzle, about 8 seconds. Drizzle the cake with the dulce de leche, letting it gently drip down the sides.

BEST TRES LECHES CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Stir together 1/2 cup milk with 1 teaspoon vanilla in a glass measuring cup.
• Beat egg whites with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. With mixer running, add 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat until whites are very stiff but still glossy, about 8 minutes. With mixer on low, add yolks, 1 egg at a time, beating until combined. Add flour mixture, 2 tablespoons at a time, alternating with milk mixture just until batter is smooth (be careful not to beat so much it deflates).
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in middle of oven until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, 27 to 30 minutes.
• Cool cake 30 minutes in pan on a rack (it will shrink), then invert onto rack to cool completely. When cooled, return cake to baking pan. Poke holes all over cake with fork.
• Stir together condensed milk, evaporated milk, and remaining 1/2 cup whole milk, and pour over cake. When cake absorbs milk mixture, 5 to 10 minutes, cover pan with plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.
• Whip heavy cream with remaining 1/4 cup sugar and remaining teaspoon vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until stiff, then spread evenly over cake. Serve as is or top with fresh fruit.

TRES LECHES PINA COLADA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch cake pan.
• Stir yellow cake mix, eggs, water, and vegetable oil in a bowl until moistened; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in crushed pineapple. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cake is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with moist crumbs, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove cake from oven.
• Whisk cream of coconut with milk in a bowl until smooth; pour mixture over hot cake. Allow cake to cool thoroughly.
• Whip cream in a mixing bowl with sugar, using an electric mixer, until whipped cream holds soft peaks. Frost top of cake with whipped cream and sprinkle with toasted coconut.