This Tres Leches Cake is sweet and moist, featuring vanilla sponge cake soaked in three different types of milk, then topped with fluffy whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. It’s an authentic Mexican dessert recipe that’s simple yet irresistible!
The Best Homemade Tres Leches Cake
One of my family’s favorite dessert stops is Cafe Latte on Grand Avenue, where every single cake is truly a work of art. It often takes a few minutes for each of us to decide which (giant) piece of cake to order. And one of my longtime favorites is their Tres Leches Cake.
I first enjoyed Cafe Latte’s pretty double-layer tres leches cake shortly after moving to the Twin Cities area more than 20 years ago. And then I set out to make my own version to enjoy at home, a simple 1-layer cake that’s made in a 9×13 pan.
This tres leches cake is easy to make, featuring a super moist vanilla sponge cake that’s soaked in sweet deliciousness. Topped with a fluffy whipped cream layer that’s sprinkled with cinnamon, it’s hard to resist!
I often make this authentic Mexican dessert for Cinco de Mayo, but it’s a favorite dessert any time of year. My whole family adores this cake, and one of my (previous) co-workers said this was the best cake he’s ever eaten. Yep. It’s that good!
Another favorite Cafe Latte cake? Their turtle cake is amaaaaaaazing!
What is Tres Leches Cake?
Tres Leches Cake is popular in many parts of Latin America, including Mexico, and translates to “Three Milks Cake”. It’s simply a sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk – evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and half-and-half or heavy cream.
The cake is light and airy, with lots of air bubbles to soak up all the milk. And it does not turn soggy. It truly acts like a sponge, in the most delicious, wonderful way!
And a slightly sweetened whipped cream layer is a delicate, perfect topper. I like to add a dusting of cinnamon (which is also in the cake itself) and poke a stemmed cherry into the top of each piece!
What You’ll Need
As the name implies, this “three milk cake” is made with 3 different types of milk, plus a few baking staples.
- Cake flour – Cake flour creates a lighter crumb in this cake.
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon – Adds a bit of warm, spiced flavor to the dessert.
- Unsalted butter – Softened to room temperature.
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla – Use only pure vanilla extract (not imitation vanilla) for the best flavor.
- Milks – This recipe uses evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and half & half.
- Heavy cream – For the whipped topping.
- Powdered sugar – Sweetens the heavy cream for the topping.
- Maraschino cherries – Optional garnish.
How to Make Tres Leches Cake
This Mexican dessert is simple to make. The most important thing is to allow time for the cake to cool and also for the glaze to soak in.
- Make the batter. Whisk together the dry ingredients and set aside. Beat the butter until fluffy, then add the sugar. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the dry ingredients.
- Bake. Transfer the batter to a greased and floured pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cake is lightly golden.
- Cool & Poke. Let cake cool for 30 minutes. Then poke holes all over the cake with a fork.
- Prepare the glaze. Whisk together the three milks. Slowly pour over the cake, giving it time to soak in.
- Add the topping & chill. Whisk the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff and thick. Spread over the soaked tres leches cake, then sprinkle with cinnamon. Chill in the fridge.
- Garnish & serve. If desired, top each piece with a stemmed cherry. Enjoy!
Should I Make This in Advance?
I always recommend making tres leches cake a day in advance, as it takes the glaze some time to soak in. While you can technically serve it in a few hours, overnight is the best bet for the desired texture and flavor.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips to help you make this Mexican dessert.
- Poke lots of holes. Be sure to poke holes over the entire cake – and lots of them. This helps the glaze soak in faster and moisten the entire cake.
- Use all the glaze. It seems like a lot of glaze, but definitely use it all. It will not completely soak up until it has sat overnight, but pouring slowly will help it absorb while you pour.
- Beat the cream well. For the whipped topping, you want to beat the heavy cream very well, until it’s stiff and thick. This will ensure the pretty, clean slices of cake that you see in the photos.
Serving Suggestions
Tres leches cake is best served cold the day after it’s made. Traditionally, it can be enjoyed with a Mexican coffee or some hot chocolate. The hot beverage with the cold, milky dessert is the perfect combination!
As noted in the recipe, I like to top my cake with maraschino cherries, but fresh strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries are other great options.
How to Store Leftovers
Once the whipped topping layer has been added, tres leches cake can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. After two days, it tends to become a bit soggy instead of just moist. Keep it covered or in an airtight container.
While I do not recommend freezing the assembled tres leches cake, you can freeze the base before you add the glaze and whipped topping. Allow it to cool completely then tightly wrap in two layers of plastic wrap. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw completely on the counter before adding the glaze and whipped topping.
More Mexican-Inspired Recipes:
- Easy Skillet Chicken Chilaquiles
- Carnitas
- Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
- Mole Pork Tacos
- Warm Mexican Salsa
- Mexican Coffee
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Tres Leches Cake
Ingredients
FOR THE CAKE:
- 1¾ cups cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 5 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
FOR THE GLAZE:
- 1 can 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 1 can 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup half & half
FOR THE TOPPING:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- cinnamon for sprinkling on top
- maraschino cherries with stems drained well, optional garnish
Instructions
- For the cake: Preheat oven to 350° F.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
- Place butter in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 1 minute.
- Decrease mixer speed to low, and with the mixer still running, very slowly add the sugar. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl, if necessary.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix to thoroughly combine. Add the vanilla and mix again.
- Add the flour mixture to the batter in three batches and mix until just combined.
- Transfer batter to a 9" x 13" pan and spread evenly. It will seem like a small amount of batter for a cake. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cake is lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool for 30 minutes. Poke the top of the cake all over (a lot!!) with a fork. Then prepare the glaze.
- For the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and half & half . If you have a bowl with a pour spout, that works great! Once combined, pour the glaze over the cake. It will seem like a lot of glaze, but use it all. Take your time and let it keep soaking in as you pour. The cake will not completely soak up the glaze until it has sat overnight. So, pop it into the fridge and finish it the following day.
- For the topping: Place the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla into the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, whisk together until stiff peaks are formed. It should be thick. Spread the topping onto the cake and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Allow cake to chill in the fridge until ready to serve. Top each piece with a stemmed cherry, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
This post was originally published in 2011, then updated in 2022.
Is this the 112 Eatery Tres Leches cake? I love that cake and I am not a cake person!
No, it’s not the 112 Eatery’s recipe. That’s just where I ate it for the first time. This recipe is adapted from Alton Brown.
I wanna come to your house on Cinco de Mayo…pomegranate martinis, tres leches cake? That sounds positively heavenly! Hope you have a fabulous evening!
Tres Leches cake is my favorite, but I have never made it. Thanks for the recipe!
Wow this was a nice way to celebrate cinco de mayo.
I’ve never heard of this but it sounds amazing! Def a recipe to bookmark and make on a rainy day. Thank you for sharing this.
Thanks for the heads-up about this recipe a few days ago. Looks great — I think I’ll give it a try (I have to stop sneaking Easter candy before I bake anything, though)!
Chocolate cake is my usual must have but this looks amazing. I’ll have to give it a try soon
Your pictures are gorgeous!
This cake will be made a lot around here ;-)
Have never tried a tres leches cake before but your sound and looks so good! I have bookmarked the recipe and will be trying it soon. Thanks for sharing:) !
I’m usually a chocolate girl myself, but I do have a weakness for a good tres leches cake.
Yum! Love the cherry apron too. I found you from the Tidy Mom Linky. I adore all the contributions from crafty/clever ladies. If you’ve got a moment, please link up this gorgeous recipe over at Momtrends on our Friday Food Linky:
http://www.momtrends.com/2011/04/healthy-dessert-recipe/
The cake looks amazing and it is sliced just so perfectly! Love your apron by the way!
Thank you, dear Paula! And that’s Hatti (your admirer) in the apron!
When I first saw the name of the cake I thought it was french haha! It looks amazing though. I wouldn’t be able to eat it on the diet I’m on but still, its good to look at!
Oooh that looks good! Gosh I could just eat Tres Leches cake forever :)
I love, love, LOVE tres leches! I used to have it all the time when I was a little girl living in Puerto Rico. I can still remember the taste even though that was 11-12 years ago. When I moved to the states, this is what I missed most and I kept begging my mom to find something similar to the tres leches that I would have in Puerto Rico. Sadly, I havent had any as good here as I’ve had over there. Your recipe does look so good though, and I like the little cherry on top; it adds a cute touch to the cake.
I would just love to try the cake of your memories – wonderful to hear about your growing up with it. Thanks, Becca!
I’ve been wanting to make one of these for the longest time. Yours looks just perfect (such clean squares)!
Thank you, Kathy! Do give this a try!
coolio! nice clean squares too–i always thought tres leches was a “messy” cake….great job!
Thanks, Michelle! It really is a sponge cake. There is alot of liquid, but it stays pretty well soaked into the cake. I would not call it “messy”.
What a lovely cake! Such a cute apron, too, matching the little cherry on top! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Georgia! My daughters and I all have cherry printed aprons. The photo is of my oldest daughter.
Saw you on Tidy Mom. This looks like perfection!
Ohmagoodness, I Love Love Love Alton Brown and have wanted to make this cake for years, but you’ve surpassed my wildest dreams! It’s beautiful!! I can’t wait to try your adapted recipe!
Thanks, Lauren. I will definitely be making this again!