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Home » Dessert

Tres Leches Cake

By: Kita · Published May 3, 2013 · Updated: Jan 6, 2023 · This post may contain affiliate links

Jump to Recipe SaveSaved!

This Tres Leches Cake is perfect. It's a ruin your weight watchers plan binge eat half the cake with a fork for breakfast and hide the rest for later kind of good.

Tres Leches Cake | Kita Roberts PassTheSushi.com

Cinco de Mayo!!

Cinco de Mayo is almost here and I am really really sad. But we're finishing out the celebration on PtS and GirlCarnivore with a bang! This Tres Leches Cake is the perfect end to a spicy Mexican binge.

I'm pretty sure I could eat Mexican for an entire month long celebration of Cinco de Mayo if we wanted to make this party last... But I'm also sure I would be painfully single and looking for a place to rent on the cheap too as Handsome patiently puts up with a few Mexican recipes by eating a bag of Chex mix for dinner but wouldn't have it for a month straight.

Tres Leches Cake | Kita Roberts PassTheSushi.com

Tres Leches Cake!

Tres Leches means three milks, which can make for an awfully heavy and dense cake when you think about it. But the magic elves in the Cook's kitchen made this work in big ways without falling to a soggy mess.

I have to say, this Tres Leches Cake is amazing. Bees Knees. Boom shizzle and so forth. It's simple, but the few ingredients really hold their flavors. That ½ teaspoon of cinnamon is just enough. The cake is perfect. It's ruin your weight watchers plan, binge eat half the cake with a fork for breakfast and hide the rest for later good. I mean, I would never do that... But it could be that good... If you had a fork and no one was looking. 😉

Tres Leches Cake | Kita Roberts PassTheSushi.com

For this recipe I tried out a handy dandy BEAST of a machine. The guys and gals over at BigKitchen sent me an awesome Cuisinart Hand Mixer to test out. Like a big tool I sat on it for a while. I had a hand mixer once, and it ruined hand mixing relations for me for a long time. It had two speeds, off, and oh god the kitchens on fire. There was nothing that could be effectively mixed with it. So, even though I hated washing the bowl and mixer every time I needed to whip something up, I ended up relying on Betsy, the KitchenAid stand mixer, for every little thing.

That was until yesterday morning, when I needed to whip this topping up in no time, snap pics and get to work.

This amazing dodad comes with a whisk attachment! And it has 9 speeds, and an engine like a tank, so it gracefully powered up to speed and whipped the frosting into soft peaks in no time. I was genuinely shocked it did such an amazing job. Even though I do love Betsy, its going to be great making pancakes, brownies, and quick breads without having to haul out so many big supplies.

Tres Leches Cake | Kita Roberts PassTheSushi.com

So this Tres Leches will have dessert covered. Looking for some inspiration for the rest of your Cinco de Mayo celebration? Try these out!

  • Slow Cooker Chipotle Beef Burritos
  • Simple Strawberry Margaritas for One
  • Colorado Red Chile Enchiladas Sauce

If you’ve tried this Tres Leches recipe or any other recipe on passthesushi.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also follow along for more good eats and travel tips on Instagram @passthesushi & @girlcarnivore, Twitter & Facebook.

Tres Leches Cake | Kita Roberts PassTheSushi.com

Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches means three milks, which can make for an awfully heavy and dense cake when you think about it. But the magic elves in the Cook's kitchen made this work in big ways without falling to a soggy mess.
5 from 12 votes
Print Pin Rate
Dessert
American
Author: Kita
4 hrs 10 mins
Serves: 12

Equipment

  • Cuisinart HM-90BCS Power Advantage Plus 9-Speed Handheld Mixer with Storage Case, Brushed Chrome
  • Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowl Set (3-Piece)
  • KitchenAid KSM150PSER Artisan Tilt-Head Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield, 5-Quart, Empire Red

Ingredients

For the Milk Mixture:

  • 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
  • 12 oz can evaporated milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cake:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 8 tablespoon butter
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 4 large eggs - at room temp
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla

For the Topping:

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoon corn syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Prepare the milk mixture:

  • Put the condensed milk into a microwave safe bowl (use a big one). Cover tightly (no joke) with plastic wrap and microwave on low power for 9-15 minutes, stirring and replacing the plastic wrap every 3 minutes. Seriously, replace the plastic wrap every 3 minutes. Watch the microwave like a hawk. This goes from awesome to sticky hot mess all over your microwave in seconds. Not that I would know.
  • When slightly darkened and thickened, remove plastic wrap and slowly whisk in the evaporated milk, cream, and vanilla. Cover and set aside.

For the cake:

  • preheat the oven to 325 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
  • Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.
  • Melt the butter with milk in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat to cool.
  • Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the eggs on medium speed until foamy, about 30 seconds. 
  • Slowly add the sugar, and continue to whip until incorporated, 5 to 10 seconds. Increase the speed on that bad boy to medium-high and whip those eggs until they are thick and glossy, 5 to 7 minutes longer. 
  • Reduce the speed and pour in the milk and butter mixture and vanilla. 
  • Add the flour mixture, in three additions, scraping down the sides as needed with a rubber spatula. 
  • Spread cake batter into prepared baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 
  • Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
  • Using a wooden skewer (bigger than a toothpick), pole holes all over the top of the cake at ½" intervals. 
  • Slowly pour the milk mixture over the cake until incorporated I poured a little at a time in different areas and let it be absorbed before continuing on. 
  • Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before placing in the fridge for 3 to 24 hours, uncovered.

Make the whipped topping:

  • Remove the cake from the fridge 30 minutes right before serving. 
  • Using a stand mixer (or a hand held mixer with the whisk attachment) whip the cream, corn syrup, and vanilla on medium low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. 
  • Increase the speed gradually to avoid splatter and whip until soft peaks for about 2-3 minutes. Spread over cake, slice and serve.

Notes

from Cook's Illustrated Mexican Favorites

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 649kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 153mg | Sodium: 473mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 67g

Nutritional informations provided as a courtesy and is only an approximatation. Values will changes based on ingredients used.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says

    May 03, 2013 at 8:49 am

    Oh my friend, we love tres leches cake over here. That looks amazing. I'm sorry that your Cinco de Mayo celebration is over so you don't have an excuse to flood your kitchen with Mexican food anymore. I'm sure we can come up with another holiday soon though. 🙂

    The hand blender sounds wonderful. Since I don't have a stand mixer, I rely on my hand-held one for everything. I'm jealous of your new one. That being said, I looked at what The Kitchen has to offer and got overwhelmed pretty quickly. I think I settled on the 16" All-Clad paella pan as my favorite thing. I want one of those pretty badly. Well, that or the KitchenAid stand mixer. 🙂

    Reply
  2. The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says

    May 03, 2013 at 8:50 am

    I already follow you on facebook.

    Reply
  3. The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time says

    May 03, 2013 at 8:50 am

    I already follow you on Twitter.

    Reply
  4. Ai says

    May 03, 2013 at 9:21 am

    I've never had tres leches cake but in my head it tastes devine 🙂
    Wish I lived in the US to join the giveaway!

    Reply
  5. Heidi @foodiecrush says

    May 03, 2013 at 9:32 am

    I looooove tres leche cake. Bees knees, shnizzle and boom back to you too! Happy cinco de mayo.

    Reply
  6. Tieghan says

    May 03, 2013 at 9:51 am

    YUM! i have never had this cake but it sounds so good!

    Reply
  7. Danielle says

    May 03, 2013 at 10:47 am

    I'm right there with you! We could eat Mexican together every day and race each other in our Hoverounds because we wouldn't be able to walk! I'm a big fan of Tres Leche cake too. How could it be bad with 3 milks?!

    Reply
  8. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says

    May 03, 2013 at 11:08 am

    I think I've only have tres leches cake once - and it was at a wedding! Very good but never think to make it for some unknown reason. As for Big Kitchen, I'm dreaming of the entire set of AllClad pans.

    Reply
  9. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says

    May 03, 2013 at 11:09 am

    I follow you on FB

    Reply
  10. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says

    May 03, 2013 at 11:10 am

    I follow Big Kitchen on FB

    Reply
  11. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says

    May 03, 2013 at 11:10 am

    I follow you on Twitter

    Reply
  12. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says

    May 03, 2013 at 11:11 am

    I follow Big Kitchen on Twitter

    Reply
  13. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says

    May 03, 2013 at 11:12 am

    I tweeted https://twitter.com/thespiffycookie/status/330338350735183872

    Reply
  14. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says

    May 03, 2013 at 11:13 am

    I subscribe to your RSS feed

    Reply
  15. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says

    May 03, 2013 at 12:04 pm

    This is my all time favorite cake!

    Reply
  16. Kristen says

    May 03, 2013 at 12:21 pm

    I love the whistling tea kettle! This cake makes my mouth water though!

    Reply
  17. Kristen says

    May 03, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    I like Pass the Sushi on facebook!

    Reply
  18. Kristen says

    May 03, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    I like Big Kitchen on facebook!

    Reply
  19. Kristen says

    May 03, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    I follow Big Kitchen on twitter!

    Reply
  20. Tanya C says

    May 03, 2013 at 7:10 pm

    I would love to be eating this cake for breakfast, it looks incredible. I follow you on twitter.

    Reply
  21. Tanya C says

    May 03, 2013 at 7:10 pm

    I also follow you on FB 🙂

    Reply
  22. All That's Left Are The Crumbs says

    May 03, 2013 at 7:14 pm

    I follow PtS on FB.

    Reply
  23. All That's Left Are The Crumbs says

    May 03, 2013 at 7:15 pm

    I am now following BigKitchen on FB.

    Reply
  24. All That's Left Are The Crumbs says

    May 03, 2013 at 7:16 pm

    I subscribe to your emails.

    Reply
  25. All That's Left Are The Crumbs says

    May 03, 2013 at 7:16 pm

    I follow you on Twitter.

    Reply
  26. All That's Left Are The Crumbs says

    May 03, 2013 at 7:17 pm

    Love this cake. I am all for using a fork at breakfast time and devouring it. It would be worth the extra miles of exercise.

    Reply
  27. Isabel says

    May 04, 2013 at 12:41 am

    I follow you on Facebook

    Reply
  28. Isabel says

    May 04, 2013 at 12:44 am

    I follow you on twitter

    Reply
  29. Isabel says

    May 04, 2013 at 12:44 am

    I follow big kitchen on twitter

    Reply
  30. Isabel says

    May 04, 2013 at 12:45 am

    I already receive your emails

    Reply
  31. Isabel says

    May 04, 2013 at 12:53 am

    I follow big kitchen on facebook

    Reply
  32. LeNay says

    May 04, 2013 at 2:29 pm

    The Big Kitchen has soooooo much to offer. I liked the Chat Pack Conversation Icebreaker Cards for KidsConversation. It sounds like a great idea for a crowd of kids who don't know each other at a party. I already follow you on facebook. I have never had Tres Leche Cake but I will definitely have to try it. It sounds wonderful.

    Reply
  33. Millie says

    May 04, 2013 at 4:00 pm

    Any of their salt and pepper shakers is adorable!

    Reply
  34. Millie says

    May 04, 2013 at 4:01 pm

    I follow you on Twitter!

    Reply
  35. Millie says

    May 04, 2013 at 4:01 pm

    I follow BigKitchen on Twitter

    Reply
  36. Millie says

    May 04, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    I tweeted about the giveaway!

    Reply
  37. Vicki @ WITK says

    May 04, 2013 at 9:21 pm

    I think we may have had the same hand mixer. Mine has two settings also. Off and all of your flour is now on your pants. Very convenient. And I have a BF who doesn't like Mexican food either. We can get together and send the men off to watch baseball or something and we can eat tacos and chili. Then this cake. Yum.

    Reply
  38. karen says

    May 05, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    I like that cuisinart griddler. Need to up my pancake game here!
    karenreichmann@hotmail.com

    Reply
  39. Tracey says

    May 05, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    Happy Cinco de Mayo, Kita! I'm wishing I had everything on hand to make this cake this afternoon - just one last treat before the day is over!

    Dreamiest product? I'm going with the meat grinder attachment - I'm still yearning for one after your post 🙂

    Reply
  40. Belinda @zomppa says

    May 06, 2013 at 7:34 am

    Though km in shock it's May, I'm over the moon with this cake!

    Reply
  41. Julia says

    May 06, 2013 at 9:07 am

    This is by no means the 'dreamiest,' but, I've wanted it forever: the kitchenaid pasta maker attachment.

    Reply
  42. Julia says

    May 06, 2013 at 9:07 am

    I follow PtS on facebook.

    Reply
  43. Julia says

    May 06, 2013 at 9:08 am

    I follow BK on facebook

    Reply
  44. Julia says

    May 06, 2013 at 9:09 am

    I follow PtS on twitter.

    Reply
  45. Laurie {SimplyScratch} says

    May 06, 2013 at 9:13 am

    I could eat this cake Cinco de Mayo or not! Looks amazing!

    Reply
  46. RavieNomNoms says

    May 06, 2013 at 10:40 am

    I could eat Mexican for a month too! SOOO delicious! 🙂

    Your cake is definitely the bees knees!

    Reply
  47. Sandy says

    May 06, 2013 at 12:19 pm

    With summer grilling the Progressive Patty Caddy would be very handy

    Reply
  48. Sandy says

    May 06, 2013 at 12:19 pm

    I like Pass the Sushi on facebook

    Reply
  49. Sandy says

    May 06, 2013 at 12:20 pm

    I like Big Kitchen on Facebook

    Reply
  50. Sandy says

    May 06, 2013 at 12:21 pm

    I receive your email

    Reply
  51. Sandy says

    May 06, 2013 at 12:21 pm

    I receive your RSS feed

    Reply
  52. Sandy says

    May 06, 2013 at 12:24 pm

    I pinned this https://pinterest.com/pin/151715081169814255/

    Reply
  53. Heather @ Bake, Run, Live says

    May 06, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    I would love to start making my own ground meat, so I'm going with their Chef's choice meat grinder attachment for the KitchenAid mixer.

    Reply
  54. Heather @ Bake, Run, Live says

    May 06, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    I follow you on Twitter!

    Reply
  55. Nutmeg Nanny says

    May 06, 2013 at 9:43 pm

    Yum! I love Tres Leches cake! This looks wonderful 🙂

    Reply
  56. Tracy says

    May 06, 2013 at 11:17 pm

    All dreamy, but I'll pick the Breville Ikon juice fountain.

    Reply
  57. Judi W says

    May 09, 2013 at 3:59 pm

    I love the AllClad pans

    Reply
  58. Judi W says

    May 09, 2013 at 4:00 pm

    I follow Pass the Sushi on FB

    Reply
  59. Judi W says

    May 09, 2013 at 4:01 pm

    I follow BigKitchen on FB

    Reply
  60. Judi W says

    May 09, 2013 at 4:01 pm

    I have an email subscription

    Reply
  61. Becky Greene says

    May 10, 2013 at 9:48 am

    I love the Soleil cookware from La Creuset. Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  62. Becky Greene says

    May 10, 2013 at 9:50 am

    I am following PassTheSushi on Twitter via @AlphaBecky.

    Reply
  63. Becky Greene says

    May 10, 2013 at 9:51 am

    I am following @BigKitchenStore on Twitter via @AlphaBecky.

    Reply
  64. Becky Greene says

    May 10, 2013 at 9:52 am

    Tweted the giveaway.
    https://twitter.com/AlphaBecky/status/332855554143838208

    Reply
  65. Becky Greene says

    May 10, 2013 at 9:54 am

    I shared the giveaway on Google+.

    Reply
  66. Becky Greene says

    May 10, 2013 at 9:57 am

    Pinned the giveaway, too.
    https://pinterest.com/pin/243616661065834468/

    Reply
  67. Shaina says

    May 14, 2013 at 3:46 pm

    I adore tres leches cake. So flavorful and moist.

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Kita! The mountain biking, travel junkie, professional freelance photographer, and creator behind the scenes.

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