Tres leches cake

A light sponge cake soaked in a blend of three milks and topped with whipped cream. It is moist, creamy and not too sweet.

Tres leches cake

Pastel de Tres Leches: @joefoodie, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Where it comes from

Tres leches is loved throughout Mexico and Latin America, where it became popular through recipes printed on cans of evaporated and condensed milk. It is a favorite for birthdays and family gatherings.

Explore the cuisine of Mexico.

Recipe

Make Tres leches cake at home

Serves 12Time 50 minutes plus chilling

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 5 eggs, separated
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
  • 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp powdered sugar
  • Cinnamon or fresh fruit to garnish

How it's made

  1. Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C) and grease a 9x13-inch pan.
  2. Beat egg yolks with 3/4 cup sugar until pale, then mix in milk and vanilla and fold in the flour and baking powder.
  3. Whip the whites with the remaining sugar to stiff peaks and fold into the batter.
  4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until golden and a toothpick comes out clean; cool.
  5. Whisk the evaporated milk, condensed milk and whole milk; poke the cake all over and pour the mixture over slowly.
  6. Chill at least 4 hours.
  7. Whip cream with powdered sugar, spread on top and garnish.

Variations

  • Strawberry tres leches: layered with berries.
  • Coconut tres leches: coconut milk replaces one milk.
  • Chocolate tres leches: cocoa sponge.

Cook’s tip: Pour the milk mixture slowly in stages so the sponge absorbs it all evenly.

Also on the menu in

Related dishes

About this page

Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.

Photo credit
  • Pastel de Tres Leches: @joefoodie, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)