AuthorSarah TeamDifficultyBeginnerTres leches cake is one of the top five most-searched Mexican dessert recipes in the US, peaking every April and May (Google Trends, 2025). The three-milk soak is the non-negotiable core. Chilling the soaked cake for at least 4 hours increases milk absorption by roughly 30% compared to serving immediately. A light sponge cake base is the structural foundation that makes the soak work.
Ingredients:
Sponge Cake:
1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
1.50 tsp baking powder
0.25 tsp salt
5 large eggs separated at room temp
1 cup (200g) sugar divided
⅓ cup (80ml) whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Three-Milk Soak:
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 cup (240ml) heavy whipping cream.
Whipped Cream Topping:
2 cups (480ml) cold heavy whipping cream
3 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract.
Equipment:
9 x13-inch baking dish
stand or hand mixer with whisk attachment
3 large mixing bowls
toothpick or skewer
offset spatula.
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Equipment: 9x13-inch baking dish, stand or hand mixer with whisk attachment, 3 large mixing bowls, toothpick or skewer, offset spatula.
Ingredients
Ingredients:
Sponge Cake:
1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
1.50 tsp baking powder
0.25 tsp salt
5 large eggs separated at room temp
1 cup (200g) sugar divided
⅓ cup (80ml) whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Three-Milk Soak:
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 cup (240ml) heavy whipping cream.
Whipped Cream Topping:
2 cups (480ml) cold heavy whipping cream
3 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract.
Equipment:
9 x13-inch baking dish
stand or hand mixer with whisk attachment
3 large mixing bowls
toothpick or skewer
offset spatula.
