How to impress with the perfect tres leches cake recipe

Tres leches, meaning "three milks," is a classic cake originating from Latin America, celebrated for its unique texture and intensely milky taste. The secret to its uniqueness lies in soaking the sponge cake with a mixture of three types of milk: regular, condensed, and sweetened condensed. This makes tres leches moist, light, and creamy all at once.

The recipe for tres leches is simple, but it requires care to ensure the cake thoroughly absorbs all the milky ingredients. Here's how to prepare this exceptional cake, step-by-step.

Sponge ingredients:

                      
• Wheat flour (9 oz)
• Baking powder (0.2 oz)
• Eggs (5 pcs)
• Sugar (6 oz)
• Milk (2 oz)
• Vanilla extract (0.2 oz)

Soaking ingredients:

      
• Milk (4 oz)
• Condensed milk (28 oz)

Whipped cream ingredients:

          
• Cream 30% (9 oz)
• Icing sugar (1.5 oz)
• Vanilla extract (0.2 oz)

The tres leches cake tastes best chilled. You can decorate it with fruits like strawberries or raspberries, or sprinkle it with cinnamon. Cut into pieces and serve as a delicious, milky dessert that will delight everyone.

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a rectangular tin (approximately 8x12 inches), greasing it with butter and lining it with baking paper. In a bowl, mix the flour and baking powder. Separately, beat the egg whites until stiff, gradually adding the sugar. Next, add the yolks one by one, mixing gently. Finally, mix the flour, milk, and vanilla extract until combined. Pour the batter into the tin and bake for about 25-30 minutes, until the cake is golden and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out dry. Set aside to cool.
2. In a bowl, mix the regular milk, condensed milk, and sweetened condensed milk. Pierce the cooled cake with a toothpick or fork to help it absorb the liquids. Then slowly pour the milk mixture over the cake, distributing it evenly to soak every piece. Place the cake in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours, preferably overnight, to fully absorb the milk.
3. Whip the cream until stiff, adding the icing sugar and vanilla extract towards the end. Spread the whipped cream evenly over the top of the cake.

Tres leches is a unique cake that wins hearts with its delicate, moist texture and creamy taste. Its sweetness is perfectly balanced, and the milky notes give it a velvety structure. Furthermore, tres leches is simple to prepare, and its final appearance looks impressive.

Additional tips:

1. Alcohol version: For a touch of sophistication, a bit of rum or liqueur can be added to the milk mixture, enriching the taste and giving the dessert an elegant character.
2. Fruits as an addition: Tres leches pairs well with fruits. You can add fresh fruits on top of the cake, such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or mango, which will add lightness and freshness.
3. Storage: The tres leches cake is best stored in the refrigerator. This way, its moisture and creamy texture will be maintained, and the flavour will become even more intense.