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Milk-Soaked Tres Leches Cake Recipe

Milk-Soaked Tres Leches Cake Recipe


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4.6 from 31 reviews

  • Total Time: 2 hours 20-25 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Perfectly moist Tres Leches Cake brings sweet memories straight from Mexico to your dessert table. Creamy milk-soaked layers blend delicate sponge with rich dairy for a celebration your taste buds will absolutely adore.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • ½ cup whole milk
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

Supporting Ingredients:

  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup rum
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream

Garnish:

  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Crank your oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
  2. Grab a medium bowl and sift 2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, and ½ tsp salt together.
  3. Carefully separate 6 eggs, placing whites and yolks into different large mixing bowls.
  4. Whip those egg whites using an electric mixer until soft, cloud-like peaks emerge.
  5. Gradually sprinkle 1 cup white sugar into the egg whites while beating until stiff peaks form.
  6. Add egg yolks one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
  7. Gently fold ½ cup whole milk and 1 tsp vanilla into the fluffy mixture.
  8. Incorporate the flour blend delicately, stopping just as ingredients combine.
  9. Transfer batter to the prepared pan, spreading it smoothly and evenly.
  10. Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out completely clean.
  11. Remove cake and allow it to cool entirely on a wire rack.
  12. Whisk 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1 can evaporated milk, 1 cup heavy cream, and ¼ cup rum together.
  13. Use a fork to puncture numerous holes across the cake’s surface.
  14. Pour milk mixture slowly over cake, ensuring complete and even absorption.
  15. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, letting the cake soak up all those delicious milks.
  16. Whip 1 cup heavy cream with 3 tbsp powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla until peaks stand firm.
  17. Spread whipped cream across the soaked cake in a smooth, consistent layer.
  18. Dust ground cinnamon over the top for a beautiful finishing touch.
  19. Chill an additional 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Use room temperature eggs for the fluffiest, most stable cake batter when whipping whites and mixing ingredients.
  • Poke plenty of holes in the cake so the milk mixture soaks evenly throughout, creating that classic saturated texture.
  • For a non-alcoholic version, simply skip the rum or replace with vanilla extract for added depth of flavor.
  • Refrigerate the cake for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the milk mixture to fully absorb and create the signature ultra-moist texture.
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
  • Category: Cakes
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Latin American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 366 kcal
  • Sugar: 32 g
  • Sodium: 190 mg
  • Fat: 20 g
  • Saturated Fat: 12 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 38 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 120 mg