Tres leches cake is a traditional dessert throughout Latin America and is thought to originate in Central America. Beginning in 1875, the Nestle Company opened plants in Mexico and printed a recipe for the “three milk” cake on the outside of cans of evaporated milk, condensed milk, and cream. It wasn’t until the 1960s that Nestle published the recipe on cans in the United States. Nestle gets credit for taking this delicious and surprisingly light cake mainstream.
Recipe Servings: 8
Prep Time
25 minutes
+ 3 hours 10 minutes resting
+ 3 hours 10 minutes resting
Cook Time
30 minutes
Total Time
4 hours 5 minutes
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Kosher
Halal
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray, as needed to grease parchment
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting cake pan
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 1½ cups sugar
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 can (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can (12 oz) can evaporated milk
- 2 cups heavy cream, divided
- 3 Tbsp orange liqueur (like grand marnier)
- 1 Tbsp powdered sugar
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 10-inch cake pan with 2-inch high sides using parchment. Grease the parchment using nonstick cooking spray.
- Mix the flour and baking powder together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Whisk the egg whites in a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer until frothy.
- Add the sugar with the mixer running and beat until stiff peaks form.
- Beat in the yolks one at a time, blending well after each addition.
- Add the flour mixture a little at a time, alternating with the whole milk until all milk and flour is incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool cake slightly for about 10 minutes. Then invert onto platter with 1-inch high sides.
- Pierce cake all over with thick skewer.
- Mix together the condensed milk, evaporated milk, 1 cup heavy cream, and orange liqueur in a medium bowl.
- Pour the mixture over the cake while warm.
- Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 3 hours.
- Combine the remaining 1 cup heavy cream and powdered sugar in a medium bowl and beat with electric mixer until soft peaks form.
- Spread whipped cream over the cake and sprinkle with ground cinnamon.
Recipe introduction and directions © Copyright 2016-2024 World Trade Press. All rights reserved.