Tres Leches Cake: the best you'll ever try! -Baking a Moment (2024)

Tres leches cake! Made with soft, buttery vanilla cake soaked in a sweet and creamy 3 milk blend, topped with a cloud of whipped cream!

So, last week I joined my good friend Joanne for lunch at one of her favorite Mexican restaurants. It was a perfect day to enjoy that kind of food- warm, sunny, and breezy. They had the windows opened way up, so it almost felt like we were eating outside. We had every kind of taco under the sun, along with guacamole and 2 kinds of salsa, street corn fritters and spicy pickled cucumbers. It was fantastic in every way, and when it came time to order dessert we were primed and ready.

We had some difficulty narrowing it down, so we ended up getting key lime pie AND tres leches cake.

Now I have to tell you, I’ve never really had the desire to try tres leches cake. To me, it just sounded kinda blah. Wet cake? I dunno.

But I had it on my bucket list, so I decided to give it a try.

O. M. G. !!!

It completely blew me away. It was SO incredible. They served it in jars, and it was like a soft custard or an extra creamy bread pudding, with bits of buttery cake running all throughout and a creamy, almost caramel-like taste. It had a thick layer of whipped cream on top, drizzled with dulce de leche and topped with a sprinkling of toasted coconut.

I have never been more wrong about anything in my life. I’m begging you, if you have been reluctant to try tres leches cake, don’t put it off for another second!!

After eating that scrumptious dessert, I knew I had to try my own hand at making it. And I really wanted to get it done in time for Cinco de Mayo!

So here it is. It’s a dead ringer for what Joanne and I swooned over that day.

If you’re throwing a party, you’ve got to make this for dessert. Add it to your menu, along with my favorite guacamole recipe, these classic margaritas, and a big plate of crispy churros!

WHAT IS TRES LECHES CAKE?

Tres leches means “three milks” in Spanish, and it gets its name from the 3 kinds of milks that get poured over the soft, buttery cake.

It’s pronounced like “trace lay-chase.”

They make it all over Latin America, and it’s a perfect dessert for a spring or summer party. Serve it chilled, with lots of whipped cream on top. It’s just so creamy-dreamy and delicious!

HOW TO MAKE TRES LECHES CAKE

Since the dessert Joanne and I enjoyed was served in jars, I decided to make mine that way too.

I think it works out well because it’s individually portioned and the cake can sit in that glorious milky soak, and just be scooped out with a spoon. But if you prefer to make it as a sheet cake, you can totally do that. There’s more info on that below.

THE CAKE

Start by making the cake.

Put the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a big bowl and stir to combine them.

Next, work in the soft butter. Just beat it together for about a minute, until the mixture resembles damp sand.

Then, add in the egg. Once it’s incorporated, it will be like a really stiff, almost dough-like batter.

Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula, then add the sour cream, milk, and vanilla.

Beat the batter for about a minute on medium-high speed, just to aerate it a bit and build the cake’s structure.

Then just spoon it into the jars. I used 4-ounce mason jars, but you could also use the low, 8-ounce wide mouth kind. If you do, you’ll need to bake them for an additional 5 minutes, and you’ll get half as many.

Bake the cakes until a toothpick inserted in the thickest part comes out clean, then cool them slightly and pierce them all over with a skewer.

THE TOPPINGS

Now for the tres leches milk mixture.

Whisk the condensed milk, evaporated milk, and half and half together.

Pour this mixture over the warm cakes. At first, it will seem like there is WAY too much liquid, but after a few minutes it will really soak in.

Chill everything down nice and cold, then layer on the whipped cream. So tempting!!

CAN TRES LECHES CAKE BE MADE IN A DIFFERENT SIZED PAN?

As I mentioned above, these cakes can be made in individual 4-ounce jars, or in 8-ounce jars that are perfect for sharing.

You can also bake it as a sheet cake, in a 9×9 inch square pan. Just keep an eye on the bake time, as it may need to be adjusted slightly. You’ll know it’s done baking when a toothpick inserted in the thickest part comes out clean.

CAN TRES LECHES CAKE BE MADE AHEAD

Not only can it be made ahead, but it SHOULD be made ahead. The longer this cake sits, the better it gets. And it’s so nice to enjoy it ice cold. So summery and refreshing!

SHOULD TRES LECHES CAKE BE REFRIGERATED?

Because it contains half and half, it’s best for this cake to be kept refrigerated. It’s ok to leave it out on your dessert table for a few hours, but any leftovers should be tightly wrapped and kept cold.

HOW LONG DOES TRES LECHES CAKE LAST?

These tres leches cakes will keep in the fridge for a week or so. But I honestly doubt you’ll have them around for that long! They’re so scrumptious I’m sure they’ll all be gobbled up in a heartbeat!

Definitely think about making this tres leches cake for your next summer party! It’s perfect for Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, Mother’s or Father’s Day, or any kind of warm-weather gathering!

As an amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.