My Favorite Tres Leches Cake | Do Try This at Home: My Favorite Tres Leches Cake

Thursday, August 06, 2015

My Favorite Tres Leches Cake

My Partner in Crime says I made the perfect ginger snap cookie. They were crisp on the outside and chewy and moist on the inside.  He said they were a perfect ten.  The only problem is, I can't remember exactly how I made them.  One of these days I'll get it right again, and then I will publish the recipe.

All this is to say why I rarely publish cooking recipes: I forgot how I made it. I forgot that I ever made it. I got distracted by taking the pictures so I forgot a full cup of flour.  I combined two recipes, but I forgot which two.  I spent so much time helping the Head of Demolition help me that I didn't have time to take pictures. It's always something.

However, my friend Beth asked for this recipe some time ago, and various other people have asked about it too.  I figure it's only so long before I lose the scrap of paper where I have it jotted down. I adapted this recipe from one I copied down from allrecipes.com, back in 1999 or 2000. I've been changing it ever since.

The first step is to cream 1/2 cup REAL butter and one cup of sugar. Seriously, leave the dieting for later. Eat a vegetable before or after having cake if it makes you feel better. I like to use salted butter, but either salted or unsalted is fine.

Then add five eggs and a generous teaspoon of vanilla. Add a little extra splash too - you can never go wrong with too much vanilla. Mix well.

Mix 1 1/2 cups flour and a teaspoon of baking powder together separately, then add into the butter and sugar by spoonful.

Pour into a greased and floured pan. Mine is 9 x 13, but I'm eternally in search of a good pan and next time I shop, I may go a little smaller.

I actually took a picture of the greased and floured pan, but as if in testament to my aforementioned inability to photograph and cook at the same time, I accidentally deleted it. I took a picture of the eggs too, but I assume that most people know what eggs look like.

Cook the cake 20-30 minutes.  I like it slightly golden brown, but not much more.

Tres Leches Recipe - ready for the milk
A cake tester or toothpick should come out clean, but don't let it get too well done or the "leches" part of the tres leches has trouble sinking into the cake.

Then punch it full of holes with a fork.  That helps the milk soak in.

Mix 1 1/2 cups milk, 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk, and 2 (14 oz) cans sweetened condensed milk together and pour over the top of the cake. It starts out looking like the cake has disappeared, but by and by the milk mixture will start to soak in.

Cover it and let it soak in the milk in the fridge overnight.

Tres leches recipe: soaking in the milk

Lastly, whip 2 cups heave whipping cream, another generous teaspoon of vanilla, and the last half cup of sugar, and spread over the top. Ready to eat!


A hopefully printable recipe card:




10 comments:

Beth said...

Thank you, was going to ask for a printable/smaller version and then found it at the end!

Natalie @ Obsessive Cooking Disorder said...

I LOOOOVE tres leches (I wanted it to be my wedding cake, excite the layers alas don't hold up well)

Anyways the reason I started blogging was because I couldn't remember how I made X haha. I'm forgetful since I keep make adjustments

Unknown said...

Ooh this looks so good. I love a good poke cake and this just looks like a better version of that! Great recipe! http://www.ourfoodieappetite.com/

Jill said...

Thanks Beth, Natalie & Kaitlin! Kaitlin I've never heard of poke cake - I'll have to look it up!

Unknown said...

Soooo I'm going to be eagerly awaiting that ginger snap cookie recipe! It sounds divine :) This looks so delicious. I've tried a couple poke cakes but never tres leches! I'll have to give it a shot!

Laurie said...

Love the name of your blog! Your recipe looks too incredible not to be pinned!
Thank you for taking the time to share your recipe with us at the Brag About It Link Party!
Hope you have a great weekend.
~Laurie

Unknown said...

Yes, definitely setting the diet aside for this one! I have never had tres leches cake . . .yet! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe with us at the Inspire Me Mondays Link-Up!

Betsy said...

thank you for the recipe. Looks scrumptuous

Morsels of Life | CJ Huang said...

Definitely know what you mean about losing or modifying recipes and then not being able to keep track. It's one of the reasons I started blogging. :) I hope you can stop on by and share this or any other recipe with us on Five Friday Finds!

Unknown said...

This looks delicious! Our recipes end up written on bits of paper or paper towels. Lol. Thanks for sharing at The Living With Style Linky Party. I hope you link up again this week. :)
Hugs,
Lory
www.therobinsnestdesigns.com

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