This Tres Leches recipe produces a light and spongy, moist and delicious vanilla cake that is soaked in a combination of three different types of dairy products.  "Tres Leches" = "Three Milks"

Texas Tres Leches Cake Recipe

The origin of this cake recipe is somewhat of a mystery.  However, it has firmly established itself as favorite throughout Texas.  With the sweet moistness of the milk cream mixture soaking through the sponge cake, Tres Leches is a refreshing break from the ordinary.

There are three preparations involved with making the Tres Leches cake: (1) the sponge cake; (2) the tres leches milk mixture; and (3) the whipped cream icing.

You will need one 9-inch by 13-inch rectangular baking pan and the ingredients listed at the right. Use a non-stick pan if you have one available. Preheat oven to 350° F (175° C).  Grease and flour the rectangular cake pan. Makes one 9x13-inch rectangular cake.

Prepare the sponge cake:

Using an electric mixer and a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until frothy.  And the sugar to the egg whites and beat well.  Add the egg yolks one at a time and beat well after each.  Beat in the vanilla and the sifted self-raising flour. 

Then, pour into the pan and bake 30 minutes.  The cake will be fully baked when golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

While the cake is baking, prepare the tres leches milk mixture.

Prepare the tres leches milk mixture:

In a bowl, simply stir the 3 milks together.

When the cake is fully baked, remove it from the oven.  Take a butter knife and carefully peel off the "skin" from the surface of the cake.  This will expose the spongy interior of the cake and enable the milk mixture to absorb.

Immediately (no need to wait for the cake to cool), evenly pour the tres leches milk mixture over the surface of the cake.  Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour.

Prepare the whipped cream icing:

In a large metal mixing bowl, combine the heavy whipping cream, sugar and vanilla.  Whip the mixture until thick.

Before serving, evenly spread the whipped cream icing over the surface of the cake.  Keep refrigerated.  Add sprigs of fresh mint to garnish and serve chilled.  Texas Tres Leches is very nice with fresh berries.  Also nice with a piece of good dark chocolate on the plate.

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Texas Tres Leches Cake

Recipe Ingredients

For sponge cake:
7 eggs separated
1-1/2 cups of sugar
1-1/2 cups self-rising flour (sifted)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 

For tres leches milk mixture:
1 cup whole milk
6 ounces evaporated milk
                (1/2 of 12-ounce can)
7 ounces sweetened condensed milk
                 (1/2 of 14-ounce can)

For whipped cream icing:
1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For when serving:
sprigs of fresh mint leaves
fresh berries (such as strawberries,
          blueberries, blackberries, or
          raspberries)
pieces of good dark chocolate