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3 Leche Cake
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5 from 39 votes

Tres Leches Cake

This easy Tres Leches cake recipe is a delicious dessert that can be enjoyed year-round. The sweet milk syrup is essential to the cake and makes it so special. 
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 12
Calories: 139kcal

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 5 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar divided
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Milk Syrup

  • cup milk whole or 2%
  • 1 can 12 oz evaporated milk
  • 1 can 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
  • cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting

  • 2 cups chilled heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract

Instructions

Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  • Coat a 13x9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and dust with flour
  • In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt
  • In 2 small bowl, separate egg whites and yolks
  • In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks with ¾ cup granulated sugar until pale yellow
  • Stir in ⅓ cup milk and vanilla extract
  • Add egg yolk mixture to flour mixture and stir gently to combine
  • In a large bowl, beat egg whites at high speed until soft peaks form
  • Gradually add ¼ cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form
  • Fold egg white mixture into batter gently just until combined
  • Pour batter in prepared pan.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted into middle of cake comes out clean
  • Remove from oven and cool on wire rack
  • Place large mixing bowl and beater in freezer to chill for frosting

Milk Syrup

  • In a medium bowl, combine evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream, stir in cinnamon and vanilla extract until well combined
  • When cake is cool, poke small holes in cake using a fork or skewer
  • Slowly drizzle milk syrup over cake, allowing it to soak in
  • You will now need to use all of the milk mixture
  • Set aside

Frosting

  • Remove bowl and beaters from freezer
  • Add whipping cream to bowl and beat on high speed until soft peaks form
  • Add powdered sugar and vanilla and continue beating on high speed until stiff peaks form
  • Frost cake after cake cools.
  • Serve immediately or place in refrigerator until ready to serve
  • Store leftovers in refrigerator

Nutrition

Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 109IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg