Pastel de tres leches is a delicious Mexican cake that both kids and adults will enjoy. It’s great for birthday parties or any kind of celebration. If you’re looking for another yummy Mexican dessert you should check out this recipe for fresas con crema.
Why is it called pastel de tres leches?
Pastel de tres leches translates to three milks cake in English. This cake is named that because after baking, the cake is soaked in three different types of milk.
What are the three milks?
The three milks that the cake soaks in are evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and regular milk.
Ingredients needed
- flour
- salt
- baking powder
- ground nutmeg
- ground cinnamon
- eggs
- sugar
- Mexican vanilla
- evaporated milk
- sweetened condensed milk
- regular milk
- heavy whipping cream
- powdered sugar
How to Make Pastel de Tres Leches:
First mix together the flour, salt, baking powder, and nutmeg.
Next, beat the eggs in a separate mixing bowl. While beating slowly add the sugar and vanilla and continue beating until well incorporated.
Then add the flour mixture about 1/2 cup at a time to the egg mixture. Mix with a spatula until it is well incorporated.
Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish and bake at 350 until fork comes out clean.
After baking let cool and then poke holes all over the cake with a fork.
Now for the fun part! This is where the three milks mixture is poured on top of the cake.
The cake will absorb it. You will notice that the cake rises once the milk is absorbed.
Cover the cake and transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 6 hours or even overnight.
Now the cake is ready to be topped with the whipped cream.
To make the whipped cream add the heavy whipping cream, vanilla and ground cinnamon to a bowl.
Beat the mixture with a mixer while slowly adding the powdered sugar until it is whipped.
This will take about two minutes.
Spread the whipped topping on the cake.
You can also add fruit if you wish.
The whipped topping and fruit add a cool and refreshing taste.
We prefer strawberries but you can add any fruit topping that you desire. Peaches and kiwis are also great options!
Looking for more delicious dessert recipes? Try these:
- Mexican rice pudding
- Mexican fried bananas
- Homemade vanilla ice cream
- Easy sopapilla recipe
- Fried ice cream
How long does tres leches cake last?
This cake will stay good for about 3 -4 days if properly stored in the refrigerator.
Pastel de tres leches recipe
This is literally one of the most delicious cakes ever! What I really like about it is the fact that it isn’t overly sweet like a lot of cakes. It has just the right amount of sweetness to it.
You should definitely try it for Valentine’s Day or Cinco de Mayo!
I really hope you guys have enjoyed this recipe and I hope you’ll give it a try.
If you do I’d love to hear your thoughts on it in the comments below and don’t forget to leave it a rating!
Thank you so much for visiting, see you soon!
Pastel de Tres Leches
Pastel de tres leches is a popular latin american cake. It’s a unique cake made with three different types of milk!
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 2 cups of flour
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 8 eggs
- 1 cup of white sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
For the milk mixture:
- 12 oz can of evaporated milk
- 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
- 1 2/3 cup of milk
For the whipped cream:
- 1 3/4 cup of heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
Instructions
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In a mixing bowl combine flour, salt, baking powder, and nutmeg. Mix well.
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In another bowl beat eggs with a mixer.
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While continuing to beat eggs slowly add cup of sugar and vanilla.
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Continue beating until egg and sugar mixture is well incorporated.
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Add the flour mixture about 1/2 cup at a time to the egg mixture. Mix with a spatula until it is well incorporated.
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Heat oven to 350 and pour the cake mixture into a greased 9×13 pan.
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Bake for about 30 minutes or until a fork comes out clean.
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When the cake has cooled, poke holes all over the cake with a fork.
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In a bowl combine all three types of milk and stir until well blended.
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Pour the milk mixture over the cake.
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Cover the cake and transfer to the refrigerator to chill for at least 6 hours or even overnight.
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After the cake has chilled start making the whipped topping. In a bowl add heavy whipping cream, vanilla, and cinnamon.
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With a mixer beat the cream mixture while slowly adding the powdered sugar until it is whipped about 2 min.
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Spread whipped cream on cake. Add fruit is desired.
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Serve and enjoy! Store leftovers in the refirgerator.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
After soaking the cake in the three milks, it will rise and expand. So don’t worry if you think it looks a little flat coming out of the oven.
Check out some other delicious desserts from some of my favorite blogs!
- No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Bites – Typically Simple
- Pink Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting – Restless Chipotle
Adam
Friday 2nd of August 2019
First time making it and jt turned out great! Thanks riss
Carissa
Saturday 3rd of August 2019
I'm glad you liked it!!