Tres Leches Cake
Tres leches cake: a light sponge soaked in three milks and topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. Make it a day ahead for the best texture.
8% of it needs you at the counter
- Hands-on
- 25 min
- Cooking
- 25 min
- Resting
- 4 hr 30 min
- Serves
- 15
- Calories
- 315
- Protein
- 8 g
- Per serving
- $0.65
Why this recipe works
Tres leches is a Latin American favorite for birthdays and celebrations: a plain sponge that becomes rich, cold and creamy after a night soaking in sweetened milks. It's a make-ahead cake by design, which makes it ideal for a party.
- A sponge made with whipped egg whites has an open, airy crumb that drinks up the milk without collapsing, unlike a dense butter cake.
- Pouring the milk mixture over the cake in three rounds, a few minutes apart, lets it soak in evenly instead of pooling at the bottom.
- Baking until a toothpick comes out clean matters more than usual here: an underbaked center turns pasty once it's soaked.
Ingredients
For the cake
For the three-milk soak
For the topping
You will need
- 9 x 13-inch baking pan
- Stand or hand mixer
- 2 large mixing bowls
- Fork or skewer
Method
Tap a step number to mark it done.
Heat the oven
Heat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the center. Grease the baking pan. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl.
AI-generated illustration of this step. Whip the whites
Beat the egg whites in a clean bowl on medium-high until foamy, then gradually add ¼ cup of the sugar and beat until they hold stiff, glossy peaks.
AI-generated illustration of this step. Make the batter
In the second bowl, beat the yolks with the remaining ¾ cup sugar until pale and thick, about 2 minutes. Beat in the milk and vanilla. Fold in the flour mixture, then fold in the whites in two additions until no white streaks remain.
AI-generated illustration of this step. Bake
Spread the batter in the pan and bake until golden and a toothpick in the center comes out clean, 22 to 28 minutes. Cool in the pan for 30 minutes.
AI-generated illustration of this step. Soak with the three milks
Whisk the condensed milk, evaporated milk and whole milk together. Poke holes all over the cake with a fork. Pour a third of the milk mixture evenly over the cake, wait 5 minutes, and repeat twice. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
AI-generated illustration of this step. Top and serve
Whip the cream with the powdered sugar to soft peaks and spread it over the cold cake. Dust lightly with cinnamon, cut into squares and serve cold.
AI-generated illustration of this step.
Techniques in this recipe
Wet batter: bake a few minutes more A few moist crumbs: done Is it baked yet?
A toothpick in the center should come out with a few moist crumbs, not wet batter. Check early: ovens vary, and overbaking dries things out fast.
Read the full guide
Cook's notes
- Separate the eggs while cold, then let them come to room temperature; warm whites whip higher.
- Even one speck of yolk stops whites from whipping, so separate each egg over a small cup before adding it to the bowl.
- Keep the cake covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Add the whipped cream on the day you serve it if you're making it far ahead.
Nutrition per serving
315 calories
$0.65 estimated cost per serving
Where the calories come from
| Protein | 10% of calories | 8 g |
|---|---|---|
| Carbs | 48% of calories | 39 g |
| Fat | 42% of calories | 15 g |
| Fiber | 0 g | |
| Sodium | 160 mg |
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for the listed ingredients and amounts; not lab-tested. Cost estimated from average US retail prices.
Questions people ask
What are the three milks in tres leches cake?
Sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and either whole milk or heavy cream.
Why is my tres leches cake soggy at the bottom?
The milk was poured too quickly, or the cake was underbaked. Pour in three rounds a few minutes apart, and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
How long does tres leches need to soak?
At least 4 hours in the fridge, and overnight is better: the milk spreads evenly and the flavor deepens.
