Tres Leches Cake
Photo: Stephen Han / Unsplash
A light sponge soaked through with three milks — evaporated, condensed and whole — until moist and creamy, then topped with softly whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon. Served chilled, it's Latin America's favourite celebration cake.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Prepare
Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and grease and line a 23 × 33cm baking dish.
Beat the yolks
Beat the egg yolks with 150 g of sugar until pale and thick. Beat in the 80 ml of milk and the vanilla. Gently stir in the flour, baking powder and salt.
Whip the whites
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Bake
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Soak
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Top and serve
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Prepare
Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and grease and line a 23 × 33cm baking dish.
Beat the yolks
Beat the egg yolks with 150 g of sugar until pale and thick. Beat in the 80 ml of milk and the vanilla. Gently stir in the flour, baking powder and salt.
Whip the whites
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Bake
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Soak
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Top and serve
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
The Story Behind the Dish
Soaking cakes in liquid is an old European idea, but tres leches as we know it took off in Latin America in the 20th century. Its rise is often linked to recipes printed on cans of evaporated and condensed milk, which were widely sold across the region.
Mexico, Nicaragua and several other countries all claim it as their own, and it is a fixture of birthdays, weddings and family celebrations throughout Latin America.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Its magic is the texture: a sponge so light and airy that it soaks up three kinds of milk without falling apart.
💡 Fun Fact
Tres leches tastes better on day two — the longer it rests in the fridge, the more evenly the milks soak through.
Mexico and Central America
19.43°N, -99.13°W
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