Tres Leches Cake

Latin Dessert Soaked Sponge Party Favorite

Ultra-soft sponge cake soaked in three milks and topped with lightly sweetened whipped cream. Chill overnight for the best flavor.

Ingredients – Cake

• All-purpose flour – 125 g
• Baking powder – 6 g (about 1½ tsp)
• Fine salt – 1 g (about ¼ tsp)
• Large eggs, separated – 5
• Granulated sugar, divided – 200 g (~150 g for yolks, 50 g for whites)
• Whole milk – 80 g
• Vanilla extract – 5 g (about 1 tsp)

Pan: 23×33 cm (9×13 in) ungreased metal pan lined on bottom with parchment.

Ingredients – Three-Milk Soak

• Sweetened condensed milk – 300 g
• Evaporated milk – 240 g
• Whole milk (or heavy cream) – 240 g
• Vanilla extract – 3 g (optional)

Ingredients – Topping

• Cold heavy cream – 400 g
• Powdered sugar – 40 g
• Vanilla extract – 5 g

Jump to Method ↓

Method

1. Preheat & prep: Heat oven to 175 °C / 350 °F. Line the base of a 9×13 in pan with parchment but do not grease the sides.
2. Dry mix: Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Yolk mixture: In a bowl, whisk yolks with 150 g sugar until pale and thick. Stir in milk and vanilla.
4. Combine: Fold the dry mix into the yolk mixture just until smooth.
5. Whip whites: Beat egg whites to soft peaks; gradually add the remaining 50 g sugar and beat to medium-stiff peaks.
6. Lighten batter: Fold one-third of the whites into the batter, then gently fold in the rest until no streaks remain.
7. Bake: Spread into the pan and bake 22–28 minutes until golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes, then invert onto a rimmed tray.
8. Soak: Pierce the cake all over with a fork. Whisk condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, and vanilla. Slowly pour over the warm cake in several passes until absorbed. Chill at least 4 hours (best overnight).
9. Topping: Whip cream with powdered sugar and vanilla to medium peaks. Spread over chilled cake.
10. Serve: Dust with cinnamon or add fresh berries. Keep refrigerated and consume within 3 days.

Pro Tips

• Do not grease the pan sides—the cake climbs better and stays spongy.
• Warm cake absorbs the milk mixture more evenly.
• For less sweetness, replace part of condensed milk with extra evaporated milk.

© Tres Leches Cake – soft sponge soaked in three milks