Tres leche cake is a dessert that everyone will love, made from basic ingredients that you most likely already have in your pantry. It doesn’t get any easier (or yummier) than that! 

WHAT IS TRES LECHE CAKE? 

Tres leche cake is Spanish dessert, made from basic cake ingredients, like eggs, flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. It’s an easy and delicious cake recipe that will make everyone happy (and if your family’s dessert palate is anything like mine, that’s not always an easy thing to accomplish!). 

Tres Leche Cake Ingredients

These ingredients are fairly straightforward.

Swap out all of the dairy ingredients for non-dairy options, and use a vegan egg replacement if you want to make vegan tres leche cake!

Cake:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 5 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar, divided
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup milk, whole or 2%

Milk Syrup:

• 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting:

• 2 cups chilled heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract

Serving:

• Fresh fruit 
• Cinnamon and sugar mixture 

HOW TO MAKE TRES LECHE CAKE 

This is the BEST tres leche cake recipe and it’s super easy, too! 

Step 1

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2

Then, coat a 13×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and dust with flour.

Step 3

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. All the dry ingredients go into a bowl first. Make sure it is a large bowl, not a small bowl.

Step 4

Then, in 2 small bowls, separate egg whites and yolks.

Step 5

In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks with ¾ cup granulated sugar until pale yellow.

Step 6

Next, stir in 1/3 cup milk and vanilla extract.

Step 7

Add egg yolk mixture to flour mixture and stir gently to combine.

Step 8

In a large bowl, beat egg whites at high speed until soft peaks form.

Step 9

Gradually add ¼ cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

Step 10

Fold egg white mixture into batter gently just until combined.

Step 11

Spread evenly in prepared pan.

Step 12

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted into middle of cake comes out clean.

Step 13

Remove from oven and cool on wire rack

Step 14

Place large mixing bowl and beater in freezer to chill for frosting

How to Make Tres Leche Cake Milk Syrup

Step 1

In a medium bowl, combine evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream, stir in cinnamon and vanilla extract until well combined. 

Step 2

When cake is cool, poke small holes in cake using a fork or skewer.

Step 3

Next, slowly drizzle milk syrup over cake, allowing it to soak in.

Step 4

You will now need to use all of the milk mixture.

Step 5

Set aside. 

Making Tres Leche Cake Frosting 

Step 1

First, remove bowl and beaters from freezer.

Step 2

Next, add whipping cream to bowl and beat on high speed until soft peaks form. You can also use your electric mixer.

Step 3

Add powdered sugar and vanilla and continue beating on high speed until stiff peaks form.

Step 4

Then, frost cake.

Step 5

Serve immediately or place in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Step 6 

Store leftovers in refrigerator. 

HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN FREE TRES LECHE CAKE 

The only thing you will need to do to make gluten free tres leche cake, is to replace the flour with gluten free all-purpose flour!

That’s it!

As always, double check the ingredients of all processed ingredient labels to be sure the products are gluten free.

This cake makes me think of a sponge cake, its so light. And the poke holes really lets the 3 types of milk in and the whipped topping on top of the cake….yum.

DELICIOUS AND EASY DESSERT RECIPES From Kids activities Blog

If your family is like mine, you can’t get enough desserts! Here are some more easy and delicious recipes to try: 

• Strawberry dessert lasagna looks more difficult than it actually is! This is a great “fancy” dessert, perfect for Valentine’s Day! 
• Snickers salad is as fun to make as it is to eat! 
• Combine a few favorites into one fun dessert and make this s’mores sugar cookie dessert pizza.
• Sometimes you just need an easy vanilla cupcake recipe, and The Nerd’s Wife has got you covered! 
• Banana bread is a classic, and it’s a great introduction to baking for kids! We’ve got 25 amazing banana bread recipes for you to try!
• Fancy desserts don’t have to be difficult! Like this easy homemade chocolate mousse.
• Try making this yummy Jello Poke Cake recipe.

What’s your favorite cake recipe? Let us know in the comments we’d love to hear from you.