Tres Leches Cake is a light sponge cake soaked with three kinds of milk: sweetened condensed, evaporated and heavy cream (milk-ish enough to count), hence the name. Today is Cinco de Mayo and this cake seemed just the thing to celebrate with.
It’s a rather simple cake, both in its presentation and in the making of it. Just bake a sheet cake, soak it and cover in whipped cream. I added a layer of cinnamon for the intensity of flavor and because I like how it looks. The recipe is from the newest cookbook by the America’s Test Kitchen folks, The Perfect Cake
As is suggested in their name, they test the living daylights out of every recipe they print, so I always trust they will work. The book is filled with the hows and whys of baking cakes, so you understand what you are up to while baking. You know how I love a good tutorial on baking, so this is right up my alley. It’s a great book and covers all the basics of cake baking.
The only place I went off script was in the whipped cream topping. I had a little bit of homemade creme fraiche left over from my Pot de Creme, so I added it to the whipping cream and made a slightly more decadent topping. I also wanted a slightly thicker layer of the cream, so the creme fraiche stretched it for me. Then I dusted with cinnamon, which is not required, but it’s delicious.
There is a version of tres leches cake—Cinco Leches—in my book, Zoë Bakes Cakes!
Tres Leches
from The Perfect Cake by The America’s Test Kitchen
Ingredients
Milk Mixture
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup whole milk
- 4 large eggs, room temp
- 2 cups (400g) sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Topping
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup crème fraîche optional
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- cinnamon for dusting optional
Instructions
- Pour condensed milk into a large bowl, cover and microwave (set to low power) for about 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until it is thick and slightly darker.
- Stir in the evaporated milk and heavy cream. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter and flour a 9×13″ baking dish.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Heat the butter and milk until butter is melted, cool completely.
- Whip the eggs (stand mixer or handheld will work), until foamy, then slowly add the sugar. Whip until thick and glossy, about 7 minutes. Reduce speed and slowly add the cooled milk mixture. Then add the flour mixture in three additions.
- Transfer batter to pan and bake until a skewer comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes.
- Let cake cool for 10 minutes, then poke it with a skewer to create holes in 1/2-inch intervals. Pour the milk mixture evenly over the cake. Let sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, then refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 3 hours, but overnight is best.
- When ready to serve, let the cake sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then make the whipped cream. In a bowl whip the cream, crème fraîche, sugar and vanilla on medium speed until medium peaks. Spread over the cake, dust with cinnamon and serve.
My favorite cake has chocolate anywhere and/or everywhere.
My all time favorite cake is Burnt Almond Torte! It’s going to be my wedding cake.
Beautiful! My favorite cake is any homemade vanilla cake, but I’m gusssing this could be my new fave. Mmm!
Hello! my favorite cake is banana cake with chocolate pieces and cream cheese frosting!
My favorite cake has to be a tres leches as well! It’s so yummy with a cup of hot black coffee!
I love a good chocolate cake, or red velvet.
My nostalgic favorite is one my aunt used to make, that was a boxed mix chocolate cake with a creamy frosting with 8 Hershey bars chopped up and folded in!! It sounds ridiculous, but it’s to die for! My more grownup favorite is Julia Turshin’s Afternoon Lemon Cake, with some blackberry jam swirled into the batter. Delicious!
I loved watching you make this on Instagram – thank you for sharing! I’ve been really into citrus upside-down cakes lately 🙂
Any chocolate cake is my favorite. I’m a new follower and really enjoy the baking inspiration. Thank you for a chance to win!
I like most cakes , chocolate and carrot are top contenders . Learning tons from you! Keep the recipes and tips coming
My favorite cake is vanilla almond with raspberry buttercream filling. This looks delicious too, and is my husband’s favorite cake!
This looks wonderful, not too sweet! My favorite is caramel cake with salted caramel frosting!
My mom’s chocolate cake with white icing!
Any cake that I get to watch you make!! My kitchen is going through a remodel right now and I can’t wait to get back in there! Thanks for all the inspo.
I love the carrot cake you made!!
Can’t wait to make this, sounds so yummy! Thank you for sharing, I know my family and friends will love it!
Great recipe! I especially love watching the process on Instagram. My current favorite cake is a whole wheat date cake with burnt sugar frosting. Thanks for the giveaway!
Tees leches is definitely one of my favorites! In al it’s many permutations! Or any cake with a pastry cream filling. Would love ! That cookbook!
German chocolate!
Looks beautiful!!
I’ve been loving a fresh orange buttercream on yellow or white cake! Refreshing
I love a good chocolate cake. I’m sure there is one (or more) in this book.
My favorite cake is chocolate! Thank you, Zoë!
chobese sponge cake!!
Your photos are always so gorgeous. Love all your videos and work!