Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches Cake is popular in many Latin American countries, as well as many areas of the United States. Literally, tres leches translates to 3 milks, which refers to the three types of milk used in the Tres Leches Cake recipe. This cake is not a typical cake; it is moist, not overly sweet, and topped with whipped cream. A delicious end to any meal, and definitely a favorite with my family.

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Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches Cake is a wonderfully light and airy sponge cake that is soaked with a mixture of three milks: evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream. To say it's decadent is an understatement. Moist, delicious, and always a crowd pleaser.

Servings

Ingredients

Cake

• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
• 1 cup sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Milk Mixture

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 12 oz can evaporated milk

Topping

• 1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cocoa powder, garnish (optional)

Servings Ingredients Cake 1-1/2 cups flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick) 1 cup sugar 5 eggs 1 tsp pure vanilla extract Milk Mixture 2 cups whole milk 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk 1 12 oz can evaporated milk Topping 1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp cocoa powder, garnish (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° F.

1. Grease and flour a 9″ x 13″ baking pan.

To Make the Cake:

1. Sift the flour and baking powder together into a small bowl. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time; beat well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and beat well to incorporate.
3. Slowly add the flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture, mixing until well blended. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan.
4. Bake at 350° F for 25-30 minutes, until the cake is golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

While cake is baking, prepare the milk mixture:

1. In a bowl or large measuring cup, add the milk, sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk; stir to combine. Set aside.

When the cake has cooled:

1. Using a fork or wooden skewer, pierce the cake all over. It is important that you pierce it a lot so that the milk mixture can be absorbed throughout the cake. Once the cake has been thoroughly pierced, pour the milk mixture evenly over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

To finish the Tres Leches Cake:

1. In a large bowl, add the heavy whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla. Beat on medium-high speed with an electric mixer until the whipped cream forms peaks. Top the cake with the whipped cream mixture and dust with cocoa powder, if desired.