In Mexico, celebrations often mean tres leches—a favorite cake for everything from birthday parties to holidays like Cinco de Mayo.

Tres Leches Cake Recipe: 5 Tips for Making Tres Leches Cake

Tres leches cake, or “three milks” cake, is a popular sponge cake from to Latin America. The sponge cake featured in this dessert is soaked with syrup made from three types of milk: evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and whole milk. The cake is finished with a thick layer of whipped cream, and a garnish of fresh berries or maraschino cherries.
The best tres leches cake is just as much about technique as it is rich, sweet flavor.

1. __Start with cold eggs for easier separation__. While not strictly necessary, starting with cold eggs will make separating them more manageable, especially if it’s your first time doing this. 
2. __Swap the whole milk__. While whole milk is a staple ingredient of this popular Latin American dessert, you can swap it out for a full-fat alternative like [coconut milk](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-coconut-milk). 
3. __Gently fold the egg whites into the batter__. The key to tres leches cake is a sponge full of tiny, indestructible air bubbles that allow the cake to absorb the milk mixture without becoming soggy. When folding the whipped egg whites into the cake batter, take care not to overmix, which can cause the air to collapse out of the cake, making it difficult for the milk to penetrate the dense sponge.  
4. __Make cupcakes__. Instead of making the traditional single-layer tres leches sheet cake, make a single-serving variation for special occasions. Grab a cupcake tin and spoon the batter in (or use an ice cream scoop for even portions) to make tres leches cupcakes. 
5. __Let the cake rest__. It may feel counterintuitive, but let the cake rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of two hours after soaking. This resting period gives the cake time to absorb every last bit of the milk mixture—crucial to achieving the moist cake’s signature crumb.
In Mexico, celebrations often mean tres leches—a favorite cake for everything from birthday parties to holidays like Cinco de Mayo.

Tres leches cake, or “three milks” cake, is a popular sponge cake from to Latin America. The sponge cake featured in this dessert is soaked with syrup made from three types of milk: evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and whole milk. The cake is finished with a thick layer of whipped cream, and a garnish of fresh berries or maraschino cherries.

What Is Tres Leches Cake?

The best tres leches cake is just as much about technique as it is rich, sweet flavor.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Start with cold eggs for easier separation. While not strictly necessary, starting with cold eggs will make separating them more manageable, especially if it’s your first time doing this. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Swap the whole milk. While whole milk is a staple ingredient of this popular Latin American dessert, you can swap it out for a full-fat alternative like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-coconut-milk' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-coconut-milk","linkCopy":"coconut milk","category":null}'>coconut milk</a>. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter. The key to tres leches cake is a sponge full of tiny, indestructible air bubbles that allow the cake to absorb the milk mixture without becoming soggy. When folding the whipped egg whites into the cake batter, take care not to overmix, which can cause the air to collapse out of the cake, making it difficult for the milk to penetrate the dense sponge. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Make cupcakes. Instead of making the traditional single-layer tres leches sheet cake, make a single-serving variation for special occasions. Grab a cupcake tin and spoon the batter in (or use an ice cream scoop for even portions) to make tres leches cupcakes. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Let the cake rest. It may feel counterintuitive, but let the cake rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of two hours after soaking. This resting period gives the cake time to absorb every last bit of the milk mixture—crucial to achieving the moist cake’s signature crumb. </li></ol>

5 Tips for Making Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches Cake Recipe

In Mexico, celebrations often mean tres leches—a favorite cake for everything from birthday parties to holidays like Cinco de Mayo.

In Mexico, celebrations often mean tres leches—a favorite cake for everything from birthday parties to holidays like Cinco de Mayo.
