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 right now is Carrot Cake! Just can’t beat the mix of golden raisins, toasted walnuts, and carrots!
This looks lovely!
Would love a copy of Perfect Cakes.
LOVE Tres Leches cake! Thanks for the chance!
So yummy looking!! This cake is definitely getting made sometime in the future. Hopefully sooner rather then later!! Thanks for sharing and for the awesome videos to go with the recipe!
Either chocolate or lemon cake with a lightly sweetened cream cheese frosting. Classic combos that are easily dressed up just by adding fresh berries or caramel. But speaking of tres leches, I once had it made with chocolate cake and it was to die for! Need to try and replicate that some day…..
I love to bake celebration cakes because it makes everyone happy including the baker. There is joy in celebration and cakes are emblematic of celebrations. I plan to try the Tres Leches cake-can’t wait!!
I’m definitely going to make this one!!! Looks amazing!
Princess torte! Hands down the best cake.
Thank you for always sharing your amazing and easy to understand tutorials on instagram! I never miss a video you put out 🙂
Tres Leche Cake is my favorite but I’ve never made it. A semi-fancy neighborhood restaurant always had it on the menu. I ised to stop in for a slice and a cup of coffee. They closed recently so the timing of this is perfect. Also, thanks for the whipped cream tip in your Instagram story. Now I know why my whipped cream always collapses!
Only one?!? Hmmm, probably chocolate/chocolate (ala smitten kitchen style.
Classic carrot cake with cream cheese frosting .. and lots of it !
While tres leches is up there, I’m obsessed with this Meyer lemon pudding cake recipe with blackberries I found like, 10 years ago. It’s sooo tasty!
I love a good Tres Leches cake!! I have tried Tartine’s version but need to practice it again 🙂 and my favorite Tres Leches to purchase is from Angel Maid Bakery in my neighborhood, close to Culver City, CA. As far as “A” favorite cake.. I have too many, including a raspberry lemon curd chiffon, my mom’s chiffon cake.. and this one amazing chocolate chocolate cake from Sarah Kieffer!!!!
My favorite cake is Medovik (Russian honey cake). It is so delicious!
I love your carrot cake recipe it’s a winner for birthdays
That looks like such a fabulous cake! Thanks for sharing!
Tiramisu cake!
Favorite cake is a baked cheesecake 🙂
My favorite cake is a classic yellow with a rich chocolate buttercream.
I like any kind of cake, but chocolate is my favorite. Made one yesterday and filled half with raspberry jam and the other half with peanut butter frosting. I think chocolate goes nicely with either, but the party guests were quite divided on their favorite.
Vanilla cake with vanilla Swiss or Italian buttercream with a custard filling lightened a bit with whipped cream or a
variation with berries added to the custard or a layer of jam under the custard filling…
Vanilla cake with vanilla Swiss or Italian buttercream with a custard filling lightened a bit with whipped cream or a
variation with berries added to the custard or a layer of jam under the custard filling…
My favorite is a vegan coconut lemon cake!! This looks amazing too!
I love carrot cake! But tres leche has become a close second thanks to my husbands family introducing it to me.
Thanks for your helpful videos! I especially love the little tips you give such as adding 1 tablespoon of sugar to help the milk from scorching. Those kinds of words of advice are invaluable!