My birthday cake of selection for these of us that love moist, dairy-rich desserts! This Tres Leches Cake is ideal for a crowd made in a 9×13-inch pan, however I even have instructions for scaling it right down to a 6-inch cake pan to serve 2-4 individuals.
Tres leches cake recipe
You’re my birthday cake of selection: the beautiful, tender sponge cake soaked in 3 completely different dairy milks and topped with whipped cream, often known as Tres Leches Cake. Tres leches in Spanish interprets to ‘three milks,’ in the event you didn’t know.
Tres leches is a fundamental sponge cake, with a candy creamy combination of three milks poured on high. The milks seep into the beautiful air bubbles of the cake and make it so moist and scrumptious. The icing on high of the cake is actually simply extra freshly whipped cream.
This cake is gentle, fluffy, dense, creamy, and unctuous abruptly. Sure, I simply stated unctuous, and I imply it in one of the best ways attainable.
What’s a sponge cake?
First, let’s speak about sponge cake. A sponge cake is when the eggs of the cake are separated and the whites are whipped individually with the intention to create a lot of air bubbles and pockets in a cake. The air bubbles hold the cake gentle and ethereal (naturally), however additionally they give a spot for the milk combination to reside.
So, for this cake, we’re going to separate the egg white and whip it individually, till it’s fluffy, white and holding comfortable peaks. Some sponge desserts don’t name for the egg yolks in any respect, however I embody the egg yolk on this recipe as a result of I just like the richness within the cake.
We have to speak about whipped cream as frosting for this cake, as a result of whipped cream doesn’t retailer very properly. Whipped cream is nothing however air whipped into the fats molecules of the milk. After sitting, the air pockets collapse and it will probably flip again into liquid cream. So, I actually counsel frosting this cake inside a number of hours earlier than serving. Proper earlier than serving is greatest, nevertheless it’s okay to retailer within the fridge for two hours or so. You could possibly additionally use my whipped cream cream cheese frosting as a substitute, for extra stability.
You could possibly additionally add gelatin to this whipped cream frosting to assist it maintain peaks longer. If you wish to attempt, sprinkle in ½ teaspoon of powdered unflavored gelatin into the cream earlier than whipping it.
Finest Tres Leches Cake components
- Eggs. 5 massive eggs, which should be separated as a result of we’re whipping the whites individually for the sponge.
- Sugar. One cup of white granulated sugar.
- Half and Half. Don’t use the fat-free half and half! (To be sincere, I do not even perceive what that is made out of as a result of it ought to technically be half fats, nevertheless it’s non-fat?) Anyway, we’d like ⅓ cup of half and half for the sponge cake, and 1 ¾ cups for the milk topping. You will be wonderful with only a pint!
- Vanilla Extract. The cake wants two teaspoons of vanilla extract (half within the cake and half within the frosting). Vanilla is so vital for this tres leches cake. Can I counsel utilizing a Mexican vanilla? It has a sweeter, smokier taste and tends to be thinner than conventional vanilla extracts.
- Flour. One cup of all-purpose flour.
- Baking Powder. One and a half teaspoons of baking powder.
- Salt. One-quarter teaspoon salt for balancing candy flavors.
- Cinnamon. It is non-compulsory, however I actually suppose ⅛ teaspoon of floor cinnamon brings heat to this cake .You’ll be able to add ¼ or ½ teaspoon in the event you adore it! I additionally prefer to mud the cake with cinnamon earlier than serving.
- Condensed Milk. One 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk. This isn’t the identical as evaporated milk, as a result of it comprises sugar and is thick and syrupy.
- Heavy Whipping Cream. For the frosting on this tres leches cake, we’re whipping 2 cups of heavy cream till good and fluffy.
- Powdered Sugar. One-quarter cup of powdered sugar sweetens the frosting.
Make Tres Leches Cake:
Preheat the oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit, and spray your cake pan calmly with cooking spray.
Add the 5 egg whites to a clear bowl, and beat with an electrical mixer till they type very stiff peaks. It’s going to take about 4-5 minutes of beating on excessive. When the egg whites and stiff sufficient, you need to have the ability to tilt the bowl the wrong way up and they won’t fall out.
In a separate bowl, whisk collectively the 5 egg yolks and the cup of granulated sugar till well-mixed, about 1 minute.
Add ⅓ cup of half and half and one teaspoon vanilla extract, and beat simply to mix. Put aside.
In a separate bowl, whisk collectively the one cup of flour, 1.5 teaspoons of baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon.
Gently stir the egg yolk combination into the dry components till no streaks of flour stay.
Then, very gently fold the egg whites into this combination. Use correct fold and down the center method to watch out to not take away an excessive amount of air from the egg whites.
Pour this combination into the ready pan. Bake for 29-33 minutes, till the perimeters of the cake begin to draw back from the pan and a toothpick comes out clear. Put aside to chill.
Poke holes all around the floor of the cake utilizing a fork.
Whisk collectively the can of condensed milk with 1 ¾ cup of half and half (or nonetheless a lot is left within the pint container). Whisk very properly till easy, after which slowly pour this combination over the cake. Let soak within the fridge for not less than one hour.
Simply earlier than serving, beat the two cups of heavy cream with ¼ cup of powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract till gentle and fluffy. Unfold on the cake and serve.
Tres Leches Recipe storage
This recipe retains within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Make sure to cowl it with plastic wrap first.
How lengthy does tres leches cake final?
As soon as frosted, this cake lasts for 3 days within the fridge. Nonetheless, it is best and has the fluffiest frosting in the event you hold it unfrosted till you are able to serve it. You’ll be able to hold the soaked cake for 3 days within the fridge, tightly wrapped.
Are you able to freeze Tres Leches Cake?
Completely not, do not freeze a tres leches cake. When thawed, the ultimate product will probably be a soggy messy. What are you even considering with this query?
Whereas I’ve not examined this cake with gluten-free flours, I’ll provide the inexperienced gentle to take action, solely as a result of Paul Hollywood (from Nice British Bake Off) says sponge desserts lend themselves to gluten free flours very properly. The aim of this recipe is to provide a lightweight and fluffy cake that has simply sufficient construction to carry the milks poured on high of it.
Oh sure, you’ll be able to! You may make the sponge cake a number of days forward of time, and even make it and freeze it for up to some months! Simply to be clear: freeze the cake with out the milks poured on high, okay? As soon as the milk is poured on high, the cake is greatest after sitting for a number of hours, as much as 24 hours. As soon as the milk has been poured on the cake, retailer the cake within the fridge. The cake will get barely extra tender on the 24 hour mark, and it’s completely excellent.
So, in case your birthday is on a Saturday, make the cake Thursday evening, wrap it tightly and retailer it on the counter. On Friday evening, make the milk sauce, and pour it over the cake. Place the cake within the fridge. Saturday, whip the cream and frost the cake simply earlier than serving.
This cake tastes like a candy, comfortable, creamy vanilla milkshake. You are going to adore it!
It wants not less than an hour to soak earlier than serving.
Now, use your fingers to rely the three milks in your complete ingredient record: half and half within the cake, sweetened condensed milk within the milk drench, and heavy cream within the frosting. All collectively, we have now 3 milks, don’t we? Half and half is technically half milk and half cream, if you wish to go there. This cake has loads of milks, okay?
Typical tres leches cake recipes comprise a can of evaporated milk, however my recipe doesn’t. I go away it out, as a result of have you ever ever smelled that stuff? It is a no for me. We get loads of milk taste right here utilizing recent cream, half and half and sweetened condensed milk.
I’ve additionally seen variations of this cake referred to as quarto leches cake, as a result of they add a drizzle of cajeta (goat’s milk caramel) on high earlier than serving. I’ve ordered that in a number of Tex-Mex eating places in Texas, and it’s unbelievable.
make a smaller 6-inch tres leches cake:
For the cake, use
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 massive egg, separated
- pinch of cream of tartar
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup half and half
For the topping, use:
- ½ cup half and half
- ⅔ cup sweetened, condensed milk
For the frosting, use:
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Observe the very same directions beneath (however with the above ingredient measurements), and bake in a 6-inch cake pan for 21-23 minutes (or till the cake begins to barely draw back from the perimeters of the pan). Let cool for half-hour, and pour over the milk topping. Then, make the frosting, frost the cake and serve.
Psst, you’ll be able to try all of my 6 inch cake recipes right here.
Different recipes utilizing condensed milk:
Yield: 12
Tres Leches Cake
Makes one 9×13-inch cake; see beneath for 6-inch small cake variation.
Prep Time
25 minutes
Prepare dinner Time
22 minutes
Whole Time
47 minutes
Components
Sponge Cake:
- 5 eggs, separated
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup half and half
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350, and grease an 9×13-inch pan calmly with cooking spray.
- In a really clear medium bowl, add the egg whites and beat with an electrical till they type stiff peaks, about 4-5 minutes. Put aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk collectively the 5 egg yolks and the sugar till well-mixed, about 1 minute. Add the half and half and vanilla extract, and beat simply to mix. Put aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk collectively the flour, baking powder and salt.
- Gently stir the egg yolk combination into the dry components till no streaks of flour remind.
Then, very gently fold the egg whites into this combination. Use correct fold and down the center method to watch out to not take away an excessive amount of air from the egg whites. - Pour this combination into the ready pan. Bake for 25-35 minutes, till a toothpick comes out clear. Put aside to chill.
- Poke holes all around the floor of the cake.
- Combine the condensed milk with half and half. Slowly pour this over the cake combination and let soak within the fridge for one hour.
- Simply earlier than serving, make the topping by whipping the cream with powdered sugar and vanilla and frost the cake. Retailer cake in fridge. Embellish the cake nonetheless you need; typically it’s adorned with raspberries or strawberries or a dusting of cinnamon.
Notes
To make a small 6-inch model: For the cake, use ½ cup all-purpose flour, ¾ teaspoon baking powder, 1 massive egg, separated, ½ cup sugar, and ¼ cup half and half. For the topping, use ½ cup half and half and ⅔ cup sweetened, condensed milk. For the frosting, use: ¾ cup heavy whipping cream, 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, and ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract.
Observe the very same directions beneath (however with the above ingredient measurements), and bake in a 6-inch cake pan for 21-23 minutes (or till the cake begins to barely draw back from the perimeters of the pan).
Vitamin Info:
Yield:
12
Serving Measurement:
1
Quantity Per Serving:
Energy: 340Whole Fats: 21gSaturated Fats: 13gTrans Fats: 1gUnsaturated Fats: 7gLdl cholesterol: 138mgSodium: 175mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 0gSugar: 24gProtein: 6g
