Unlock the secret to a truly easy Tres Leches Cake recipe that stands out from the rest! Our Betty Crocker Tres Leches Cake, crafted with the convenience of Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ Yellow Cake Mix, promises a remarkably moist, flavorful, and deeply rich dessert. Tres Leches Cake is celebrated for its iconic "three milks" blend – sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, and whipping cream – which soaks into the prepared cake, creating an unparalleled texture and taste.
Whether you're planning a memorable birthday cake, a festive holiday dessert, or simply a delightful weekend treat, this dessert transforms a simple mix into a culinary masterpiece. Enjoy a decadent slice of this three milks cake in the comfort of your own home, thanks to this trusted recipe from Betty Crocker.
Let's dive into the delicious components that make this easy Tres Leches Cake recipe.
Cake
Yellow Cake Mix: This is your fantastic starting point. It provides the perfect cake base for a consistently moist and tender crumb every time, making baking effortless.
Water: Essential for hydrating the cake mix, water helps activate the leavening agents and brings all the ingredients together to form a smooth, pourable batter.
Vegetable Oil: A secret to a truly moist cake, vegetable oil adds richness and tenderness, contributing to that delightful melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Vanilla: This classic flavor enhancer infuses your cake with a warm, inviting aroma and a subtle sweetness that complements the rich milk soak.
Eggs: Eggs add structure, richness, and help the cake rise beautifully, giving it that lovely, airy texture before it's soaked.
Tres Leches (Three Milks) Soak
Sweetened Condensed Milk: This thick, sweet milk is crucial for the tres leches soak, imparting intense sweetness, incredible creaminess, and that signature rich flavor to your three milks cake.
Whole Milk or Evaporated Milk: This dairy addition thins out the condensed milk just enough while adding another layer of dairy richness.
Heavy Whipping Cream: Rounding out the "three milks," this cream contributes to the luxurious, decadent texture of the soak.
Topping
Heavy Whipping Cream: This creates a light and airy topping, when whipped into fluffy peaks.
Powdered Sugar: Not just for sweetness, powdered sugar helps stabilize the whipped cream, ensuring it holds its shape and provides a delightful, smooth texture to your dessert topping.
Here are the simple steps to create your delicious Tres Leches Cake! See the full recipe below for all the details.
Bake the cake just until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. An overbaked cake will be drier and won't absorb the milks as effectively, potentially leading to a less moist cake.
Make sure you poke plenty of holes in the cake, the holes should stop just shy of the bottom of the cake. When pouring the milk mixture, do it slowly and evenly over the entire cake. Work back and forth to ensure all areas get saturated. You want the milks to soak in, not just pool on top.
Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours, or even longer (overnight is best) until it's completely chilled and has fully absorbed the milks. This chilling time is crucial for the cake's signature moist texture and rich flavor.
Use a chilled bowl and beaters to beat the cream. Beat just until stiff peaks form, if you beat it too long, it can become grainy or even turn into butter.
Here’s how to keep your Tres Leches Cake tasting delicious. Since it contains dairy, it should be refrigerated within 2 hours for food safety.
Cover the cake with plastic wrap or store individual pieces in a covered container for up to 3 days. If using plastic wrap, insert toothpicks into the cake to prevent the wrap from touching the sticky top.
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom and sides of a 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, beat all Cake ingredients with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally. Pour the batter into the pan.
Bake 24 to 28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven to a cooling rack; let stand for 5 minutes. Using a fork, poke holes every 1/2 inch over the top of the cake. If necessary, wipe fork tines occasionally with a paper towel to reduce sticking.
In a large bowl, stir together the Tres Leches ingredients until blended. Carefully pour evenly over top of cake, working back and forth to fill the holes. Refrigerate for about 2 hours or until chilled.
In a chilled medium bowl, beat 3/4 cup whipping cream with an electric mixer on high speed until slightly thickened. Add powdered sugar. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form. Drop whipped cream by spoonfuls over the top of the cake; spread evenly.
Runny short on time? Substitute 1 tub (12 oz) Betty Crocker™ Whipped Fluffy White Frosting for the whipped cream topping. When frosting this moist cake, spread in just one direction using long strokes. Using a back-and-forth motion often causes the top layer of cake to come off, leaving crumbs in the frosting.
For more takes on tres leches, check out all of Betty’s tres leches-inspired recipes.
| Food Component / Nutrient | Amount | % , Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 14g | 21% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | % Value Not Available |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Omega-3 | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Cholesterol | 70mg | 23% |
| Sodium | 280mg | 11% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 51g | 17% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Soluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Insoluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Sugars | 39g | % Value Not Available |
| Protein | 5g | % Value Not Available |
| Vitamin D | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Calcium | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Iron | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Potassium | 150mg | 4% |
| Vitamin A | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Vitamin C | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin E | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Thiamin | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Riboflavin | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Niacin | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin B6 | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Folic Acid | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Vitamin B12 | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Pantothenic Acid | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Phosphorus | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Magnesium | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Zinc | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Manganese | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Selenium | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Copper | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Beta-Carotene | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
