Pati's Mexican Table : TVRecipes
TRES LECHES CAKE
Pastel de tres leches
Serves 10 to 12INGREDIENTS
Cake Ingredients:
9 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flourSauce Ingredients:
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 12oz can evaporated milk
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extractFor the Topping:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugarTO PREPARE
Preheat the oven to 360 degrees. Butter a 9×13-inch pan, lining the bottom with a piece of parchment paper cut to fit the pan.Pour the egg whites into the bowl of your mixer and beat on medium-high speed for 4 to 5 minutes, or until they hold soft peaks. Slowly stir in the sugar and continue beating until they hold harder or stiffer peaks. Turn off the mixer and, with a spatula, move the egg white mixture into a large mixing bowl.
Rinse the mixer bowl and its whisk. Now, pour the egg yolks into the bowl and beat on medium-high speed for about 5 to 6 minutes, or until the yolks become creamy and puffy and their color has toned down to an almost cream color rather than a loud yellow. Stir in the vanilla and continue beating for another minute.
Pour the egg yolk mixture onto the egg white mixture and, with a spatula, in circular motions, combine them into a homogeneous single batter. Do so gently, trying not to lose too much volume gained from beaten egg whites. Fold in the flour, scraping the bowl with the spatula so that all the flour is well mixed.
Pour batter into the prepared cake pan and place into the oven for 22 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. It can be a bit moist, but not wet. The top of the cake should be tanned or golden brown.
Once it cools down, turn it onto a platter. Remove parchment paper, cover the top with an upside-down platter and invert again. The platter should be large enough to hold the cake and the vanilla sauce you are about to prepare. Using a fork, or two, poke holes all over the cake so that it will better absorb the vanilla sauce.
In a mixing bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, milk, and vanilla extract. Pour the vanilla sauce over the cake. It may appear like too much sauce, but it will all be absorbed!
In the bowl of your mixer, whip up the heavy cream with the confectioners’ sugar on medium-high speed until the mixture holds up stiff peaks. Spread the whipped cream all over the already-wet cake and place it in the refrigerator. You can decorate the cake with berries or any other topping of your choice.
POSTED IN: Pati's Mexican Table, TVRecipes
TAGS: Cake, Dessert, EP206, Jinich, Recipe, tres leches, Vanilla
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subscribe to rssHola Ann, It is so great to hear that you think my tres leches cake recipe is a keeper! And thank you for the insight on the length of time it takes to get the egg whites to stiff peaks. It always helps me to hear feedback from the person using my recipe. Let me know if you try anything else.
I think I’ll have to pass on this cake, or use some no calorie sugar in place of the granulated sugar, since it already has the sweetened condensed milk. As a new diabetic have to watch sugars and carbs. Granted the cake reads as a really yummy one, but trying to be good and follow my nurse practitioner’s orders.
Hola Lauralee, I’m sorry you will have to pass on the Tres Leches Cake. Maybe you can try my baked plantains with only a little bit of sugar or honey for dessert: http://patismexicantable.com/2009/07/three-ways-to-eat-ripe-plantains.html#more
Pati,
Right now I use a lot of your recipes in my kitchen. I love the tomatillo jam with lime. The chochoyotes that are small dumplings of masa in that rich broth with meat is just wonderful ( I looked it up – the amarillito mole recipe); I think I could eat that once a week and never tire of it. The chicken with brown sugar,chipotle and tomatillo has a problem: I cook enough to have leaft overs, but there aren’t leftovers (ever). Your Immaculate Comception empanada filling is great but I make it in empanada dough taht is a lot lower in fat (so my husband can dip them in melted queso and not drown in fats). Not only did I make your Chicken with Tamarind, I found a seed in my tamarind paste and it’s now a two foot tall tree growing in a pot in my kitchen window.
So, Pati, I think can call myself a fan of yours and of your recipes. Thank you for the fun you’ve given us.
Ann P., hola! You have no idea how much it means to me that you are trying all these recipes. And you’ve just inspired me to grow my own tamarind tree!
Pati! I love your show and watch it on both my local PBS Channel and (from time to time) on their Create Channel.
I have watched other Mexican Cooks and your show is the most vibrant, fun and interesting.
Today, I learned how to make REAL Tres Leches Cake. I’ve had the real deal and some from folks who don’t really know how to make it. As a baker, I like to be authentic when possible. Soooo, I’ll be making Tres Leches Cake now. The right way!!!
Thank you!
Hola Pati,
I’ve been studying Spanish language and culture and I must say this is my favorite recipe! Absolutamente sabroso. I am going to prepare it for one of my classes – Can’t wait!
Saludos,
Hola Alex, I am thrilled that you are going to prepare my tres leches cake for your class. Thank you for telling me! Good choice of studies as well. All the best to you.
Hi, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your website in Chrome, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, great
blog!
Felipa, Thank you so much for taking a moment to bring this issue to my attention! We are looking into it.
Hi, Pati:
My husband (of Mexican descent) and I both watch your show—and love it! I try many of your recipes, and they have all been delicious. My husband says that my cooking, based on your recipes, brings back fond memories of his childhood when his “Abuela” cooked for him. Thank you so much for your wonderful show—so informative, and so much fun! Oh, I’m intrigued by that HUGE stand mixer you use—what is it?
Hola Sandra, It’s wonderful to hear you are using my recipes, and it’s bringing back memories for your husband of his abuela’s cooking. The mixer you mention is made by Viking. Thank you very much for watching the show!!!
Wonderful recipe, Pati! Thank you for sharing. I had a problem with losing some volume on the egg whites when I added the sugar but, other than that, the cake turned out delicious. I noticed someone with an earlier post had the same problem and I wonder what I could have done differently.
I’m looking forward to your book release. I have it preordered through Amazon. I’m curious though, is there somewhere that I can either purchase or just watch your show? Thanks!
Hola Natalie, Thank you so much for pre-ordering my book!! I don’t have DVDs of the show released for sale at this time, but you can watch episodes everyday on CreateTV at 6:30pm, 9:30pm and 3:30am EST. For the cake, it’s natural the egg whites will loose some volume as sugar is added. The key is to add the sugar slowly with the mixer still going at a medium-low speed. Once all the sugar is added, you can turn up the mixer and let it go until the egg whites form stiff peaks. I hope this helps!! I appreciate you writing me with your question!!!
a pinch of Cream of Tartar helps with the volume of the egg whites not being lost. Love the shoe.
Great tip!
Hi Pati,
I’ve been watching your show on Create as well as my local PBS channel for a while now. I happened to catch it today and saw you making this cake. It was perfect timing since I’ve been looking for a special dessert to make for my husband’s graduation. I can’t wait to get started on it today!
Hi Pati! I caught your show on PBS and I’m going to try this cake at our Christmas Dinner!
I have a 2 questions – the cake still rises without using baking powder or soda? And no salt?
Thanks, Pati! Love your show,
Vivian
Hi, I want to make this cake for my husband’s birthday. He’s been asking me to make one for a long time. What size can is the evaporated milk? It comes in small 4 or 5 oz. cans & larger 12 oz. cans.
Thanks!
Hi Erin, It’s a 14oz can sweetened condensed milk and a 12oz can evaporated milk. I hope your husband enjoys the cake!
I just found your show and really liked watching. I then went to your website and saw this recipe for TRES LECHES CAKE. I want to make it for a get together for some of my friends but was wondering about the fact that there isn’t any fat in the cake recipe…is this right? Do the eggs provide all the rising capabilites so you don’t need baking powder or soda? Thank you for any help you can provide.
Hi Carol, Yes, the eggs will provide the volume. You will beat the whites to stiff peaks, which will give the cake it’s volume. I hope you will give the recipe a try! All the best to you.
I tried this, followed the directions to the T, but the cake came out flat and hard. i still poured the sauce over it and put it in the fridge and cross my fingers that it will resurrect in the morning. I also used King Arhtur all purpose flour if that matters.
Hola Maria, the cake is quite sturdy and hard… then you poke it all over with a fork and pour the sauce on top. Should be fine! It is hard on purpose, so it will be in a way resilient to the sauce.
King Arthur flour is on the high-end of “all-purpose” flours in terms of protein content. It has 13-15% protein, where Gold Medal has about 10-12%, and Soft-as-Silk has about 9%. So it is as close to “bread flour” as it gets in that category of flours. If you had problems with it, maybe try a different brand, but I think that cake flour would not give you the structure you need.
Thank you for sharing this info!!
Hi Pati,
I made this recipe today for my husband’s work. Someone requested a Tres Leches cake for their birthday. It turned out wonderful when I added the coconut and the blueberries. I was never a fan of tres leches up until this cake because all of the others don’t call for nearly enough vanilla. Thanks for liberating me of bland tres leches!!
Thank you, Abby!! I’m so glad I could “liberate” you from bland tres leches.
typo on last, love the show. sorry for typo
No worries, I do typos ALL THE TIME
Hi Patti,
I enjoy watching your show and am planning to bake the Tres Leches Cake for a party.
Do I have to make high altitude adjustments for your recipe listed on your website?
Thanks, Maxine
Hi Maxine, There are always shifts and changes depending on where you are located in the world. I recommend you try the recipe as it is, and if by the end of the cooking time you insert a toothpick and it still comes out very wet, leave it in another 5-10 minutes and check again. Thank you so much for watching the show!!
Pati,
I don’t know anything about Mexican cuisine. I cook French & Italian almost exclusively. Not for any reason other than habit & familiarity. Been watching your show on PBS, and am starting to get a bit familiar with your totally new (to me) pantry of ingredients. As I’m trying to get up the courage to try some new techniques, flavors, & recipes, this was a great low-pressure way to start. This cake was flat-out yummy.
Now time to get more adventurous and try out a few of your savory recipes. Thanks for the intro to this new type of cuisine. If you ever wonder to yourself, “Is anybody out there learning anything?” – the answer is “YES”. Thanks again.
Jeff, Thank you for your message!! I am so happy you are interested in trying you hand at Mexican cuisine. Please let me know what else you try and how it turns out. Jump in!
Hi Pati,
I started watching your show in Dec. 2012. I made your Tres Leches Cake for our Christmas party. I have been laid up due to surgery on my foot and unable to cook. I found your show at 3am so that’s when I watch it. It seems to have changed so I had to get on today to find new times.
I love your show. Today I Pre-ordered your cookbook. I get to start walking again on Thur. which means I get to start cooking. I have looking up your receipts on line and planning my meals.
Continued blessing on all you do.
Mary
Hola Mary, I am so sorry to hear about your surgery, but am glad you will be on your feet again soon! I am happy you have found the show and are enjoying it! It is great to hear. Please let me know how your meals with the recipes turn out. And thank you for ordering my cookbook!! All my very best to you.
Hi Pati,
First of all I love your show. What size eggs do I use for the tres leches cake.
Hola Sonia, Thank you for watching the show! Large eggs will work just fine.
Made this awesome cake and feel so accomplished. My family adores this cake. Yum yum
Aww, thank you!! I’m so happy you tried it. 
I also tried your beans and rice both were delicious.
I pre-ordered your cookbook. It should be in my mail
box tomorrow. I can hardly wait.
I saw your going to be in San Francisco this month. I had just
canceled my trip there for the same weekend. I was so disappointed.
I would love to meet you.
Safe travels and blessings on your book.
Mary
Can I use heavy cream instead of regular milk?
Hmmmm that may make the milks sauce a bit too heavy… But you can give it a try!
Pati, could i make this cake with some sliced strawberries in the middle as well?
Of course!!
hi pati!
I absolutely love your show and I am so looking forward to baking this tres leches cake. you made it look so easy and yummy. keep the easy and delicious recipes coming please!
Thank you!!
Pati,
Can I make this with ordinary cake mix?
Hi Matt, I recommend using my recipe because it is a sturdier cake than most. But you are always welcome to experiment!
Hola Pat,
Im a PR girl from bklyn. tried to make the tres leche cake. sad to say it wasnt right. took longer to cook then 25 mins. then it sucked the sauce up like a sponge finally it was very (very)eggy. I did use extra lge eggs was that the problem? it didnt specify in the recipe Thanks, Deb Lewis
Hi Deb,
I always go for normal size eggs, so that may have been an issue… Did you poke it all over and let it cool a bit before adding the sauce??
Just made this last night and it turned out perfect! Thank you so much for the recipe. I think this will be a go-to recipe for potluck dinners.
Yey!!! I am about to post a recipe for Three Leches Jello, say tuned!
Hola Pati:
I made the 3 leches cake last night. I haven’t tried it yet, but I noticed that when I poked it with the fork before adding the sauce, some of the cake came out on the fork. Did I take it out too early? (Also, when I flipped it on the rack, a little of the cake stuck to the rack, too). Thanks, Pati. I LOVE the book. My boyfriend is Mexican, so I’m doing my best to try to learn some of the Mexican favorites. Can’t wait to try other recipes. Saludos de, Maureen
Hola Maureen, I’m so happy you are trying the tres leches cake! It’s ok if the fork comes out moist, but if it’s really wet it may have come out a little early. You want to bake it until a toothpick comes out clean when you test it and the top of the cake looks tanned or golden brown. But, not to worry, I’m sure your cake will still be fine. You’ll have to let me know how it is when you taste it.
Pati:
Sorry: one other question. If I make the 2 layer version, for the first layer that I’m topping w/ strawberries and whipped cream, do I poke that layer with holes, too? Not sure how the leches would get to that layer. I know that I would make a double portion of the leches, but please advise re: poking that first layer or not:)–Saludos de, Maureen
No worries, Maureen! Ask as many questions as you would like!! I would poke holes in first layer, pour the leches over it, and top it off with the strawberries and whip cream. Then, add the second layer of cake, poke holes, and pour leches over it.
Pati:
Thanks so much for the replies. Update re: the cake: I brought it to work (para que mis colegas hispanas lo probara) y fue un exito total:)–I’m taking a piece to my novio tonight, so I will remake the cake for his birthday this Saturday w/ the 2 layer version. !Mil gracias! Saludos de, Maureen
I saw this in create tv, Pati’s Mexican table, I went to my work, couple days later, we were talking abt this cake, at this restaraunt, that doesn’t make this anymore. I told the lady, who was talking abt this cake, didn’t know the name, but remembered the sauce over it, I saw this recipe on tv. I am going to make this, thank you, for sharing
Hi Robin, I love your story!! I’m so happy you happened to catch my episode with the Tres Leches Cake! Let me know how it turns out.
Hello Pati. I cannot always find you on TV but when I can I really enjoy your show. I made your Tres Leches Cake recently. I am in heaven! There’s still some in the fridge and I can’t wait to eat it again. I found it tasted better and was more evenly moist the day after it was made. I served it with caramel syrup and fresh strawberries. Thank you, Claudia.
PS I am looking forward to trying more recipes.
Yey! So happy to hear, Claudia. And caramel syrup and strawberries w Tres Leches sounds outstanding.
Pati,
I absolutely LOVE using your recipes. They are so vibrant and full of flavor! I have one question about the Tres Leches: Is there any way to add chocolate and keep the same traditional flavor? I see many recipes for chocolate tres leches but I would like to keep authentic as possible. Thank you!
Of course! You just need to add the chocolate choice of your choice to the Three Milks sauce. You can melt some Mexican chocolate like La Abuelita, in a water bath, or even use chocolate syrup.
My husband loves peaches,can I add this to the cake? Would love to make this for him for Father’s Day!
OF COURSE YOU CAN!!!
Pati:
My wife and I were foodies before the word was invented and have eaten in the very best restaurants all over. Never liked tres leches cake until having one made by a grandmother from the State of Michoacán at Oseguero’s restaurant in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We did not believe we would find one comparable or better until trying your recipe. It is absolutely fantastic! I would however, caution people to wait a full 24 refrigerated hours to enjoy the fully soaked perfection of this cake. We love your show and wish you continued happiness and success.
Nelson & Terrie Caldwell
Gracias Nelson and Terrie!!!!
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The Pati's Mexican Table TV show is produced by Follow Productions and WETA Washington, DC, and distributed by American Public Television (APT) to public broadcasting stations nationwide. Corporate funding is provided by GOYA Foods, Mission Foods, Mexico Tourism, Avocados From Mexico and TAJIN.
I made your Tres Leches cake this afternoon and it is delicious. I don’t think I know of another cake that can be said to be refreshing, but this is a keeper of a recipe.
The only thing I would change was the time it takes to get the egg whites to soft peaks. My mixer is a bottom of the line stand KitchenAid mixer and it only took two minutes to get to soft peaks with eggs at room temperature.