Easy Tres Leches Cake
Tres Leches Cake is a sweet, airy, and fluffy cake, drenched in a delicious blend of three milks and finished with a layer of fresh whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon on top.
Servings: 16 slices
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 package (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- ⅔ cup milk
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Tres Leches Milk Mixture:
- 1¼ cups milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
For the Whipped Cream Topping:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ground cinnamon, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 13 x 9 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray; set aside.
For the Cake
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cake mix, eggs, milk, softened butter, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Transfer the cake batter to the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Cool the cake in the baking pan set on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
For the Tres Leche Mixture
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the milk, 1/2 cup heavy cream, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk.
- Generously poke holes into the cake and pour over the milk mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
For the Whipped Cream Topping
- In a mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract together until soft peaks form.
- Spread the cream mixture over the cake and dust with ground cinnamon before serving.
Notes
- Poke Enough Holes: After baking, use a skewer to poke holes all over the cake. This helps the milk mixture to be evenly absorbed.
- Let it Soak: Allow the cake to soak in the milk mixture for several hours or overnight to ensure it fully absorbs the flavors.
- Keep the Cake in Its Pan: Given its exceptionally moist and somewhat custard-like consistency, it's best to refrain from removing the cake from its pan before adding the tres leches mixture. Attempting to unmold it could result in the liquid seeping out from the bottom. The most practical approach is to serve it directly from the pan it was baked in.
- Garnishes: Add toppings such as shavings of chocolate, a dusting of cocoa powder, maraschino cherries, a luscious caramel drizzle, or a sprinkling of tropical flaky coconut.
- Store in the fridge for 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 426kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 326mg | Potassium: 262mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 933IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 249mg | Iron: 1mg
