Tres leches cake, a sweet and milky treat, is a popular dessert enjoyed all over the world. Originating in Mexico, this cake consists of a moist sponge cake soaked in a mixture of three types of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. The result is a luscious, creamy cake that's sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. Among the many renditions of this delightful cake, one particular recipe from Cafe Central El Paso has gained renown for its exquisite taste and texture. This article delves into the secrets behind this renowned tres leches cake, providing a detailed guide to recreate this culinary masterpiece in your own kitchen.
Let's cook with our recipes!
TRES LECHES (THREE MILKS CAKE), LATIN AMERICA
Provided by Food Network
Categories dessert
Time 2h4m
Yield 1 cake, about 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour a 9 by 13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- In the bowl of a mixer, beat the egg whites on low speed until soft peaks form. Add the sugar gradually with the mixer running and peak to stiff peaks. Add the egg yolks 1 at a time, beating well after the addition of each.
- Sift together the flour and baking powder and add to the egg mixture, alternating with the milk. (Do this quickly so the batter does not lose volume.) Add the vanilla. Bake until golden, 25 minutes.
- To make the cream topping: In a blender, combine the evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream and blend on high speed.
- Remove the cake from the oven and while still warm, pour the cream mixture over it. Let sit and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.
- To make the icing: Once the cake is completely chilled, in a saucepan combine the water and sugar. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and stir to dissolve the sugar. Cook until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage, 235 to 240 degrees F. Remove from the heat. In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. While beating, add the hot syrup in a stream. Beat until all the syrup has been added, the mixture cools, and a glossy icing forms.
- To assemble: Remove the cake from the refrigerator and spread the icing evenly across the top. Arrange the mango and papaya slices over the top and serve.
TRES LECHES CAKE FROM CAFE CENTRAL, EL PASO
I visited El Paso and was won over by the excellent "Cafe Central" restaurant downtown. Upon arriving home, I searched the internet for their recipes and found one from the 1999 Texas Monthly magazine, courtesy of Cafe Central's pastry chef, Maria Devora. Instead of merengue icing, it substitutes a "sugar-cream." All prep times are guesses.
Provided by Jessica T
Categories Dessert
Time 1h
Yield 1 9x13 cake, 1 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Cake:.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Separate egg yolks and whites, keeping whites at room temperature.
- In bowl of an electric mixer, cream sugar and butter together until pale yellow and fluffy.
- Add egg yolks and beat until fluffy again, 2 to 3 minutes on medium-high speed.
- In a separate bowl combine flour and baking powder.
- In a third bowl mix milk and vanilla.
- Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk mixture to the butter mixture (a fourth at a time) until all are combined.
- Beat until smooth after each addition.
- Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form and, using a large spatula, gently but thoroughly fold into flour-and-butter mixture.
- Grease bottom of a 9- by 13-inch metal baking pan.
- Pour in batter and bake for approximately 25 minutes, until golden brown. Allow to cool.
- (May also be baked in an 11.5- by 17.5-inch sheet pan for 20 minutes; this size rises very evenly, helpful for inexperienced cooks.).
- Three Milks:.
- Stir the milks together thoroughly; do not beat.
- Do not refrigerate canned milks before using.
- Cream Icing:.
- Whip cream and sugar together until stiff.
- When cake is cool, slice or peel off the thin top crust.
- Ice sides first, creating a small lip on top to catch milk mixture.
- Pour milk mixture evenly over top of cake (if necessary, poke holes in cake with a knife or toothpick to facilitate soaking; you will probably need only 3/4of mixture).
- Finish icing top.
- Refrigerate.
- (If using an 11.5- by 17.5-inch pan, cut cake in half to make 2 equal pieces. Soak first layer, ice top if desired, and place second layer on top of it. Proceed as above.) Serves 12.
TRES LECHES CAKE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium size bowl whip the eggs and sugar until very light and fluffy. Add in the zest and gently fold in the flour. Pour the batter into a greased 10-inch round cake pan and bake until golden, about 20 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and allow to cool. Return the cake to the pan.
- To make the milk mixture, pour all of the ingredients into a medium size pot and bring to a boil.
- To assemble the cake, use a small cup and pour the hot milk mixture over the cake and allow to soak for at least 30 minutes, pressing down on the cake to make sure it is absorbing the milk mixture. To garnish the cake, whip the heavy cream and top the cake with the whipped cream. Add the berries decoratively.
CLASSIC TRES LECHES CAKE
Tres leches means "three milks." This cake gets its name because it uses three kinds of milk-evaporated, condensed and cream. This cake's light and airy texture has made it a classic in Mexican kitchens for generations. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h5m
Yield 10 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Place egg whites in a large bowl. Line bottom of a 9-in. springform pan with parchment; grease the paper., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. In another large bowl, beat egg yolks until slightly thickened. Gradually add 1/3 cup sugar, beating on high speed until thick and lemon-colored. Fold in flour, a third at a time., Add salt to egg whites; with clean beaters, beat on medium until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until soft glossy peaks form. Fold a third of the whites into batter, then fold in remaining whites. Gently spread into prepared pan., Bake until top springs back when lightly touched, 20-25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely., Place cake on a rimmed serving plate. Poke holes in top with a skewer. In a small bowl, mix cream, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and extracts; brush slowly over cake. Refrigerate, covered, 2 hours. , For topping, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar; beat until peaks form. Spread over top of cake. If desired, top cake with dulce de leche or strawberries just before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 392 calories, Fat 23g fat (14g saturated fat), Cholesterol 142mg cholesterol, Sodium 104mg sodium, Carbohydrate 40g carbohydrate (33g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 8g protein.
TRES LECHES CAKE
This is a part dry, part moist Mexican cake made with three types of milk. It is a sweet and delicious treat!
Provided by Monica
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 2h30m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter and flour bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.
- Beat the egg yolks with 3/4 cup sugar until light in color and doubled in volume. Stir in milk, vanilla, flour and baking powder.
- In a small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Beat until firm but not dry. Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the yolk mixture to lighten it; fold in remaining egg whites. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool 10 minutes.
- Loosen edge of cake with knife before removing side of pan. Cool cake completely on a wire rack.
- Place cooled cake on a deep serving plate. Use a two-pronged meat fork or a cake tester to pierce the surface of cake.
- Mix together condensed milk, evaporated milk and 1/4 cup of the whipping cream. Set aside 1 cup of the measured milk mixture and refrigerate for another use. Pour remaining milk mixture over cake slowly until absorbed. Whip the remaining whipping cream until it thickens and reaches spreading consistency. Frost cake with whipped cream and garnish with cherries. Store cake in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 642 calories, Carbohydrate 75 g, Cholesterol 240.7 mg, Fat 33 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 14.2 g, SaturatedFat 19.7 g, Sodium 270.5 mg, Sugar 61 g
2-LAYER TRES LECHES CAKE RECIPE BY TASTY
So, you've been tasked with baking a cake. Think beyond the usual suspects - angel food, carrot cake, even red velvet - and opt for something totally original, like this two-layer tres leches cake. This traditional Mexican dessert is topped with whipped cream and drizzled with a mixture of evaporated, condensed, and coconut milk. It's surprisingly easy, but it looks (and tastes) very impressive.
Provided by Betsy Carter
Categories Desserts
Time 25m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together in a medium bowl.
- In a separate large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together with an electric mixer until light, fluffy, and nearly doubled in size, 6-8 minutes.
- Using a spatula, gently fold in the flour mixture until just combined (some streaks of flour are okay).
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Combine the milk and vanilla extract in a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, then gently fold into the batter, mixing just to blend.
- Spray 2 9-inch (23 cm) round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Divide the batter between the pans.
- Bake until the cakes are golden brown around the edges and spring back slightly when pressed in the center, about 20-25 minutes.
- While the cakes are baking, combine the evaporated milk, coconut milk and condensed milk in a liquid measuring cup or small bowl and whisk to blend.
- Once the cakes are done, immediately remove the cakes from the pans and invert them onto a wire rack or baking sheet. Cool for 2 minutes. Then, poke the cakes all over with a fork.
- Return the cakes to the pans. Drizzle the condensed milk mixture over the cakes, letting it soak in. Let sit for 15 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, whip the heavy cream and powdered sugar with an electric hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Carefully transfer one of the cakes to a cake stand.
- Spread a layer of the whipped cream over the cake. Place the other cake on top and spread with the remaining whipped cream.
- Decorate with berries, if desired.
- Slice and serve.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 650 calories, Carbohydrate 70 grams, Fat 39 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 15 grams, Sugar 53 grams
TRES LECHES CAKE
Bake a classic Mexican tres leches cake, sometimes called milk cake, for an afternoon treat or coffee morning - it gets its name from the three types of milk used
Provided by Cassie Best
Categories Dessert
Time 1h15m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lightly oil and line the base and sides of a 20cm square cake tin.
- Put the egg whites in a large bowl with a pinch of salt. Beat with an electric hand whisk until foamy, about 3 mins. Keep mixing while you add 150g of the sugar, a spoonful at a time, until thick and glossy.
- In another bowl, mix the egg yolks, remaining sugar and vanilla (no need to clean the beaters first) for 2 mins, or until pale and foamy. Add the flour, baking powder and milk to the egg yolks, and use a spatula to fold everything together.
- Add a large spoonful of egg white to the cake mix, beat together to loosen the mixture, then gently fold through the remaining egg whites with a large metal spoon (being careful not to over-stir so you don't knock out too much air), until you have a smooth batter.
- Pour into the tin, smooth the top and bake for 40-45 mins until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Mix together the evaporated milk, condensed milk and 3 tbsp of the cream.
- Leave the cake to cool for 10 mins in the tin, then ease a knife around the sides. Poke holes over the surface with a skewer, then pour over half the milk mixture. After 5 mins or so, most of it should have soaked into the cake. Leave for another 5 mins, then transfer to a plate and pour over some of the remaining milk until it starts to leak a little. (Any leftover milk that won't soak into the cake can be served on the side.) Leave to cool.
- Whip the remaining cream and icing sugar together until holding soft peaks. Spread the cream over the cake and sprinkle with a little cinnamon. Can be made and chilled a day ahead. Serve in squares with any remaining soaking milk.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 301 calories, Fat 15 grams fat, SaturatedFat 9 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 34 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 25 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 6 grams protein, Sodium 0.3 milligram of sodium
MEXICAN - TRADITIONAL TRES LECHES CAKE
Published for ZWT III. Recipe from World Recipes. A nice, simple recipe for a much loved traditional Mexican cake.
Provided by Um Safia
Categories Dessert
Time 1h20m
Yield 1 cake, 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Beat egg whites until peaks form. Add sugar gradually. Add yolks; beat 3 minutes. Combine flour and baking powder; add to egg mixture alternately with milk.
- Pour into well greased 9 X 13-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 to 40 minutes. Pour sauce ingredients into blender; blend.
- Punch holes in cake with toothpick while yet warm; pour sauce over cake. Allow cake to cool in refrigerator before frosting.
- To make frosting: mix all ingredients in the top of double boiler. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes while beating constantly.
- Frost cake. Keep refrigerated.
MEXICAN TRES LECHES CAKE (PASTEL DE 3 LECHES)
Pastel de 3 leches literally means 'cake made with three milks' in Spanish, and this classic Mexican cake is soaked in just that. Super moist and delicious, this cake is easy to make and will be the talk of your next party!
Provided by mega
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 2h20m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan.
- Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until foamy. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Clean beaters.
- Beat egg yolks in a separate bowl until creamy. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue beating until pale yellow. Fold egg yolks into egg white mixture using a spatula. Sift in flour and carefully fold into the batter; mix in zest of 1 lime. Pour batter into the prepared springform pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven until edges pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes. Turn off oven but keep cake in the closed oven for an additional 20 minutes.
- Prepare the '3 milks' while cake is resting in the oven. Combine condensed milk, evaporated milk, 1 cup heavy cream, and amaretto liqueur in a blender; blend until well combined.
- Remove the cake from the springform pan and and place on a serving plate. Pierce the cake several times across the top with a fork. Pour the '3 milks' mixture over the cake. Refrigerate cake until cool and milk mixture has soaked in, about 1 hour.
- Beat 1 cup heavy cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Garnish the top of the cake with whipped cream, peach slices, and 1 teaspoon lime zest.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 544.7 calories, Carbohydrate 59.3 g, Cholesterol 216.8 mg, Fat 28.9 g, Fiber 0.7 g, Protein 13.6 g, SaturatedFat 16.9 g, Sodium 379.8 mg, Sugar 45.5 g
Tips:
- Use room temperature ingredients: This will help the ingredients blend together more easily and create a smoother batter.
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing can make the cake tough. Mix only until the ingredients are combined.
- Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean: This will ensure that the cake is cooked through.
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting it: This will help the frosting set properly.
- Use a light hand when frosting the cake: Too much frosting can make the cake heavy and dense.
- Refrigerate the cake for at least 30 minutes before serving: This will help the frosting set and firm up.
Conclusion:
Tres leches cake is a delicious and classic dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With its moist and fluffy texture, creamy frosting, and sweet milk syrup, it's sure to be a hit with everyone. Follow these tips to make the best tres leches cake possible. ¡Buen provecho!
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