Mexico · North America
Tres Leches Cake
A sponge that drinks three milks overnight and becomes pure custard.
classic tres leches cakethree milks cake
The Chemistry in This Bake
Pouring three milks over a baked sponge and letting them diffuse through the crumb over hours — the same physical process as a liquid soaking into a porous solid.
Learn the full technique →Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Whole milk
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Evaporated milk
- Heavy cream
- Vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
Method
Beat eggs and sugar until thick and pale, then fold in flour and baking powder.
Bake in a 180 °C oven until springy, about 25 minutes.
Poke the warm sponge all over with a skewer.
Mix condensed milk, evaporated milk, and cream, then pour slowly over the cake.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours so the milks diffuse fully through the crumb.
Top with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon.