Dreamy Tres Leches Cake: A Taste of Mexico in Every Bite

Recipe Introduction

Quick Hook

Ever had a dessert that just melts in your mouth? This tres leches recipe is that dream come true. It's all about that milky, sweet, utterly divine flavour.

Brief Overview

Tres leches cake , or three milks cake , originated in latin america. some people said it come from mexico.

This dessert is surprisingly easy. this sponge cake recipe only needs about an hour and a half. the outcome is a beautiful cake for 12 lucky people.

Main Benefits

Honestly, the best part about tres leches is how incredibly moist it is! it's perfect for birthdays or potlucks. plus, making homemade tres leches just feels special, you know? it's a crowd-pleaser for sure.

Okay, so what makes this easy tres leches recipe stand out? Well, it's all about nailing that perfect sponge. The sponge cake has to be light and airy.

Now, onto the good stuff... the ingredients! This isn't complicated, promise!

Alright, let’s talk ingredients and equipment for this dreamy tres leches recipe . Think of this cake as a hug in dessert form. Honestly, it’s worth the effort. Ready? Let's dive in.

Dreamy Tres Leches Cake: A Taste of Mexico in Every Bite Recipe Card

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Preparation time:25 Mins

Cooking time:35 Mins

Servings:12 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pan
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 5 large eggs, separated
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar, divided
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup (60ml) whole milk
• 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for greasing the pan
• 1 (12 ounce) can (354ml) evaporated milk
• 1 (14 ounce) can (414ml) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup (237ml) heavy cream
• 1 cup (237ml) heavy cream, cold
• ¼ cup (50g) powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Ground cinnamon, for dusting (optional)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
• In a large bowl, beat egg yolks with ¾ cup (150g) of the granulated sugar until pale and thick. Beat in vanilla extract.
• Gradually add the milk and melted butter to the egg yolk mixture, mixing until combined.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
• In a separate, clean bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining ¼ cup (50g) of granulated sugar and continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form.
• Gently fold the egg whites into the batter in two additions, being careful not to deflate the egg whites.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then poke holes all over the cake with a toothpick or skewer.
• In a bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream.
• Slowly pour the three milks mixture evenly over the cooled cake, making sure to soak all areas. Let the cake soak for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight, in the refrigerator.
• In a cold bowl, beat the cold heavy cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
• Frost the soaked cake with the whipped cream topping. Dust with ground cinnamon, if desired.
• Cut into squares and serve chilled.

Nutrition Facts

Calories:400

Fat:23g

Fiber:0g

Recipe Info

Category:Dessert

Cuisine:Mexican

Getting Your Goods: Main Ingredients

Here's what you need. Don't skimp, especially on the milk!

Sponge Cake Base

• 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour. Plain flour, nothing fancy.
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder. Make sure it's fresh!
• ¼ teaspoon salt. Just a pinch to balance the sweetness.
• 5 large eggs, separated. Room temperature is best, honestly.
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar, divided. Split it like the recipe says.
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Good quality makes a difference.
• ¼ cup (60ml) whole milk. Full fat is your friend here.
• 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled. Don't use salted butter!

The Three Milk Magic

• 1 (12 ounce) can (354ml) evaporated milk. This is NOT sweetened condensed milk.
• 1 (14 ounce) can (414ml) sweetened condensed milk. The sweet stuff!
• 1 cup (237ml) heavy cream. Proper heavy cream, not single cream.

Whipped Dream Topping

• 1 cup (237ml) heavy cream, cold. The colder, the better.
• ¼ cup (50g) powdered sugar. Also known as icing sugar.
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Because you can never have too much.
• Ground cinnamon, for dusting. Optional, but pretty!

Quality Check: For the heavy cream, aim for one that's at least 36% milkfat. This will whip up beautifully. Honestly, you'll taste the difference.

Spicing it Up: Seasoning Notes

Vanilla is your best friend in this tres leches cake . a dash of cinnamon on top just elevates the whole thing.

You know? if you’re feeling adventurous, a tiny pinch of nutmeg in the cake batter is lovely. almond extract in the whipped cream? also amazing.

Gear Up: Equipment Needed

Don’t stress, you probably have most of this.

• 9x13 inch baking pan. Standard size, easy to find.
• Electric mixer. Stand or hand-held, both work great.
• Mixing bowls. A few different sizes.
• Measuring cups and spoons. Accurate measuring is key, my friend!
• Whisk. For the dry ingredients and milk mixture.
• Spatula. For folding in the egg whites.
• Toothpick or skewer. For poking holes in the cake. This is CRUCIAL.
• Fine-mesh sieve. For dusting cinnamon. Not essential, but fancy.

Household Hacks: Don't have a fancy mixer? A good old-fashioned whisk and some elbow grease will do! No sieve? Just sprinkle the cinnamon on with your fingers.

Okay, let's get baking! Honestly, folks, there's nothing quite like a slice of Dreamy Tres Leches Cake . It's like a warm hug, but in cake form.

Dreamy Tres Leches Cake: A Taste of Mexico in Every Bite

This cake is a mexican dessert recipe favourite. a sponge cake swims in evaporated milk condensed milk heavy cream cake .

Sounds lush, right? it is! it is a very moist cake recipe . think about the great british trifle, this three milks cake is the cake version.

Prep Steps: Let's Get Organized!

Essential Mise en Place

First, get everything ready. we are talking serious organisation. measure your 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour , the 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder , and that wee pinch of ¼ teaspoon salt .

Separate your 5 large eggs . this is where having all your ducks in a row really helps, trust me! also, ensure the 9x13 inch baking pan is good to go.

Time-Saving Organization Tips

Honestly, chilling the three milks mixture ( 1 (12 ounce) can (354ml) evaporated milk, 1 (14 ounce) can (414ml) sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup (237ml) heavy cream ) while the cake bakes? total game-changer.

It soaks in better! i swear it does!

Safety Reminders

Be careful with the oven! That heat is no joke. Always use oven gloves. No one wants burnt fingers.

Step-by-Step Process: Bake It 'Til You Make It!

1. Preheat your oven to 350° F ( 175° C) . Grease and flour that baking tin like your life depends on it. This helps the sponge cake recipe be successful.

2. Whisk your dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt. Just a wee whisk, nothing crazy.

3. Beat the 5 large egg yolks with ¾ cup (150g) of the granulated sugar . Beat 'em good, until they're pale and thick. Add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract .

4. Gently mix in ¼ cup (60ml) whole milk and cooled 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter . We want a happy mixture, not a lumpy one.

5. Gradually add the dry stuff to the wet stuff. Gently does it. No overmixing! That's key.

6. Now, for the egg whites. whisk them until soft peaks form. then, slowly add ¼ cup (50g) of the granulated sugar and keep whisking to get stiff, glossy peaks.

   This is what you want in an easy tres leches recipe .

7. Fold those egg whites into the batter, like you're cradling a baby bird. Gentle!

8. Pour it all into the pan and bake for 30- 35 minutes . A toothpick should come out clean.

Pro Tips: Secrets from My Kitchen

Want to know how to make a truly awesome homemade tres leches ? I'm spilling the beans here!

• Don't overbake it! Slightly underbaked is better, as it soaks up the milk better.

• Poke lots of holes in the cake after it cools a bit. More holes equals more milky goodness.

So, there you have it! my take on a tres leches cake . trust me, your friends will be begging you for this tres leches recipe .

Enjoy! why not make the tres leches cake frosting and go the whole hog? i hope you love it!

Okay, let's talk about this dreamy tres leches recipe ! you've baked the cake, you've soaked it in that glorious three-milk mixture.

.. now what? don't worry, i've got you covered with some essential tips. honestly, these are the things i wish i knew the first time i made it!

Recipe Notes

Serving Suggestions: Plating and Presentation

Okay, so your easy tres leches recipe is done. how to make it look amazing? first off, don't be shy with the whipped cream! swirls, peaks, the whole shebang.

Presentation matters. a little dusting of cinnamon adds a lovely warm touch. you know? serve individual slices on pretty plates.

Consider adding fresh strawberries, or even a drizzle of dulce de leche. for a truly authentic touch, use mexican pottery if you have it.

If you want to impress, maybe even brulee the top with a kitchen torch!

Storage Tips: Keepin' it Fresh

Right, so you've got leftover three milks cake . lucky you! this stuff is best kept in the fridge, covered tightly.

The fridge helps the moist cake recipe stay at its best. it'll happily sit there for up to 3 days.

If you try to freeze it, honestly, the texture suffers. it gets a bit weird . i wouldn't recommend it. for reheating – don't! it's meant to be enjoyed cold straight from the fridge.

Variations: Mix it Up!

Want to jazz up your homemade tres leches ? try adding a shot of rum or a splash of coffee liqueur to the milk mixture! gives it a little oomph .

You can also easily make it gluten-free by swapping the regular flour for a gluten-free blend. remember, baking is all about experimenting! i would consider looking at the seasonal ingredient swaps for each season.

Nutrition Basics: The Skinny on the Sweetness

Let's be real, this isn't a health food. but hey, everything in moderation, right? a slice of this mexican dessert recipe is gonna clock in around 350-450 calories, packed with carbs, sugar, and, of course, deliciousness.

The milk and cream also mean a decent amount of protein. enjoy responsibly!

So there you have it! my little notes to help you on your tres leches cake journey. have fun, experiment a bit, and most importantly, enjoy every single, delicious bite! i bet you're really excited to cook an sponge cake recipe .

You got it!