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Creamy vanilla cake slice with whipped frosting and cinnamon powder, served on wooden platter.

Tres Leches Cake Recipe

Amanda BC
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling & Soaking Time 10 hours
Total Time 11 hours
Course desserts
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 10
Calories 458 kcal

Ingredients
  

For The Cake:

  • 1 cup cake flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 5 eggs separated
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/3 cup whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

For The Milk Soak:

  • 1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

For The Whipped Cream Topping:

  • 1 pint heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
  • Ground cinnamon for topping

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. 
    Flour mixture in stainless steel bowl for baking bread or pastries.
  • Separate the eggs. Place whites in one bowl and yolks in another. Add 3/4 cup of sugar to the egg yolks and whisk until the yolks and sugar make a smooth, pale yellow mixture. Pour in the milk and the vanilla essence and mix together. 
    Whisking eggs in a stainless steel bowl with milk and ingredients for baking or cooking.
  • In a separate large bowl, use a whisk or a mixer to beat the egg whites into stiff peaks. As they begin to thicken, add in the rest of the sugar.
    Smooth whipped cream in mixing bowl with whisk, baking ingredients in background.
  • Combine the flour mixture and the egg yolk mixture until smooth. Then gently fold in the stiff egg whites.
    Fluffy meringue topping on a lemon dessert in a metal bowl.
  • Pour the batter into an ungreased baking dish and level on top. Then place in the center of the oven and bake for 25-35 minutes or until a knife poked into the center comes out clean. Take the cake out of the oven and allow it to cool completely, around 2 hours.
    Creamy yellow cake batter pouring into a baking dish for homemade baking recipes.
  • Next, mix the evaporated milk, whole milk, and condensed milk together. Then, using a fork, poke holes all over the cake and pour the condensed milk mixture over the cake. Place the cake in the fridge and allow the cake to absorb the milk mixture overnight (8 hours). If in a rush, soak for at least 1 hour.
    Cream being poured over homemade vanilla cake in a baking dish, fresh dessert preparation.
  • When you are ready to serve your cake and the milk mixture is all absorbed, make the whipped cream topping. Whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla into stiff peaks. Pour onto the cake and smooth out. Sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy.
    Light and fluffy whipped cream being spread over a golden-brown cake in a baking dish. Fresh greenery and a jar of filling in the background.

Nutrition

Calories: 458kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 10gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 16gSodium: 1174mgFiber: 0.001g
Keyword tres leches, tres leches cake
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