Quick and easy Tres Leches Cake recipe made of leftover or make-ahead chiffon cake, topped with vanilla whipped cream. This easy delicious dessert recipe is ready in 15 minutes.
Why is it called Tres Leches?
Tres Leches is a Spanish word that means three-milk. A popular Mexican dessert made of sponge cake and three kinds of milk poured all over the cake.
Should tres leches cake be wet?
Tres Leches cake should be a moist and wet cake, it is soaked in three different kinds of milk. This cake is made of a light cake with many air bubbles. That is why even it is soaked with liquid, the distinct texture is not soggy.
How do you make tres leches from scratch?
To make tres leches from scratch, you need to make the sponge cake base first. Typically the base of the cake is a vanilla sponge cake or vanilla chiffon cake.
After baking the cake. Mix the tres leches ( three milk ) mixture in a liquid measuring cup or small pitcher until well blended.
Poke the cake with the fork several times. Slowly pour the milk mixture all over the cake.
Allow the cake to absorbs the milk mixture for few minutes. While allowing the milk mixture into the cake, make the topping.
In a large bowl, whip the cold heavy cream until stiff peaks then spread evenly onto the wet cake.
Can I make tres leches a day before? Yes, you can make tres leches a day before and will even taste better because the 3-milk mixture will have time to soak into the cake. This is a good make-ahead cake that freezes well too. You can also make the base of the cake in advance, or even freeze it, thaw then pour the 3-milk mixture and topped with the whipped cream.
Tres Leches Cake
Watch How to Make It
Ingredients
Tres Leches / Three Milk mixture for half chiffon cake
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup condensed milk
- ½ cup evaporated milk
Frosting
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 3 tbsp powdered sugar or to taste
- 1 vanilla bean
For optional topping
- ¼ cup dulce de leche
- 1 tsp evaporated milk
Instructions
- If using a leftover cake, slice the chiffon cake evenly in half and place it on a cake serving plate. Skip this method if baking from scratch and bake the cake in a regular baking pan or baking dish.
- Mix the tres leches ( three milk ) mixture in a liquid measuring cup or small pitcher until well blended.
- Poke the cake with the fork several times. Slowly pour the milk mixture all over the cake. Allow the cake to absorbs the milk mixture for few minutes.
- For the optional topping. Microwave the dulce de leche for few minutes, stir and add a few drops of milk until desired consistency. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cold heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla beans. Whip until stiff peaks or spreadable.
- Spread the frosting evenly on the cake, slice and drizzle with the dulce de leche.
