I am totally mesmerised by this wonderful dessert! It is a light and fluffy cake soaked in milk and frosted with whipped cream. It is literally a dream cake! I don't know how it is possible that I only discovered it recently and I can't wait to present you my version of an Easy Tres Leches Cake.
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Who invented this famous dessert
The authentic Tres Leches Cake recipe comes from Central America. "Tres Leches" in Spanish means literally "Three milks". Most probably the cake was invented as a result of the introduction of evaporated and condensed milk in the continent. Supposedly the recipe of the cake was printed on the cans in a way of promoting the products.
As a result condensed and evaporated milk are a big part of the Latin American cuisine and the Tres Leches Cake is a traditional dessert in Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua and other countries from the region, even in Brazil.
Other variations
It is considered that this cake was brought to the Balkans due to a Brazilian soap opera in which it was featured. That's how it started its popularity in Turkey, Albania and other countries from the area.
The Balkan variation is called Trileçe, which most probably is a bastardisation of the original name. The dessert was modified and instead of canned milk the "original" recipe of this area calls for milks from three different animals: goat, sheep and cow. It is usually served with a caramel glaze on top.
I fount multiple Trileçe recipes in Bulgarian, most of which are not meeting the initial requirement of "three milks": they call for cow milk only, some also for powdered milk or cream. On the other hand goat and sheep milk are not for everyone due to their specific smell so I surely prefer the Latin American style of the cake.
But even the authentic Tres Leches Cake has some variations. And the current one is among the easiest and tastiest: fluffy but not excessively sweet.
What ingredients you need
As mentioned, this cake is made with three kinds of milk: full fat milk, evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk. The three are combined in a mixture in which the sponge cake base is soaked.
For the cake base you would need: eggs, all purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, milk, vanilla extract. I didn't use any oil or butter in order to make it as light as possible. The milk mixture by itself is quite rich so any additional fats would make the cake heavy for my liking. So this recipe makes a light and airy soaked dessert.
The last touch on this fantastic cake is the whipped cream frosting. Traditionally the cake is sprinkled with cinnamon. Optionally you can use some fresh seasonal fruit for decoration.
Recipe summary
- First make the sponge: divide the eggs and whip the whites in a bowl. Separately beat the yolks together with the sugar. Add the milk and also the flour, mixed with baking powder.
- Carefully combine the yolk mixture with the whites. Bake for 25-35 minutes on the bottom rack of the oven (I made the mistake to put it in the middle so I had to place aluminium foil to avoid burning. As a result part of the crust peeled out when the foil was removed. This is not a problem as the frosting covers that imperfection).
- When the cake is at room temperature, poke it all around with a skewer. Mix the three kinds of milk and pour the mixture over the base.
- Finally whip the cream and frost the cake on top with it. This is the traditional, very simple topping for Tres Leches Cake and it is much lighter and less sweet than the Balkan caramel version.
Can you freeze it
If you want to make it ahead, you can freeze the cake base after it has cooled down to room temperature. Avoid freezing the cake after it has been soaked as it might change its consistency when thawed.
Let me know what you think if this recipe! I would be happy to answer all your questions. If you want to read more about the history of the Tres Leches Cake, you can check the article How tres leches became a phenomenon outside Central America.
If you liked the post, please share it in social media!
If you want to check more soaked desserts, I have prepared you a small selection below:
- Easy Strawberry Charlotte
- Triple taste icebox cake
- Easy Icebox Cake with Dulce de Leche
- Strawberry Cheesecake Poke Cake from Scratch
📝 Recipe
Easy Tres Leches Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 5 eggs, separated
- ⅖ cup milk, 100 ml
- 1 cup all purpose flour, 120 g
- 1 cup sugar, 200 g
- 1,5 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ teaspoon salt
For the Three Milks:
- 7 oz sweetened condensed milk, 200 ml
- 10 oz evaporated milk, 300 ml
- ⅖ cup milk, 100 ml
For the Topping:
- ¾ cup whipping cream, cold (200 ml)
- cinnamon sugar for sprinkling
- fresh fruit for decoration, optional
Instructions
Cake Base:
- Preheat oven to 360 degrees F/ 180 degrees C. Grease well a rectangular 11 x 8 inch tin or a square one with similar size.
- In a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer whip the egg whites with a pinch of salt, until they become fluffy and thick.
- Combine flour with the rest of the salt and the baking powder. Stir well to blend.
- In another bowl beat the egg yolks with the sugar for 2-3 minutes, until pale and creamy. Start adding from the flour mixture, folding carefully with a rubber spatula. Alternate with the milk. Fold the mixture gently, until both ingredients are absorbed.
- Carefully combine the egg whites with the yolk mixture, folding gently with the rubber spatula.
- Pour the batter into the prepared tin. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes on the lowest rack of the oven. Test with a toothpick for readiness: if it comes out clean, remove the cake from the oven.
- Let the cake base cool until room temperature. Use a wooden skewer to poke it all around before soaking it.
Three Milks mixture:
- Combine the three kinds of milk. Whisk very well until dissolving completely the sweetened condensed milk. Pour the mixture over the cooled cake. Distribute it around with a spoon, if necessary.
Topping and decoration:
- Whip the cream until thick and fluffy. Spread the cream on top of the soaked cake. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Optionally decorate with fresh fruits.
- Serve immediately or after refrigerating. Preferably the cake should be frosted right before serving.
Notes
- I didn't add sugar to the topping as the cake is sweet enough. If you like sweeter desserts, you can add 1-2 tbs powdered sugar to the whipped cream.
- I used tangerines for decoration but you can also choose berries, peaches, orange slices, mango, kiwi and others.
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