This Tres Leches Cake Recipe, made with a vanilla cake and soaked in 3 different types of milk, is absolutely heavenly and is super easy to make! (Tres Leches Poke Cake.)
One of my favorite desserts is Tres Leches cake. (If you’ve never heard of this type of cake before, it’s a simple white cake soaked in 3 different types of milk – hence the name, Tres leches.) We had a nearby Mexican restaurant with the best Tres Leches cake in town. I could not go to this place without bringing home a piece, and I could always talk my hubby into stopping by on his way home from work and bringing me home a piece whenever the need arose.
One day a few years back, the restaurant must have changed recipes or suppliers… I was so sad, because the new Tres Leches Cake they were serving was a major disappointment! (I just can’t block out the day he brought me home that second-rate piece of Tres Leches Cake, lol! It had been a rough day at home with the kids (18 months apart and they were still a baby and a toddler. I’d been debating hard with myself as to which dessert my hubby should bring home to me as a treat. (I had a couple of other faves – the skillet blondie from Applebees, raspberry cheesecake from Olive Garden, this tres leches cake, and the new york cheesecake with cherry topping from Marie Calendars.) Once I settled on the Tres Leches Cake, there was no deviating and THAT CAKE was what I wanted. Once I tasted that second rate version, it was over! I even accused the hubby of going somewhere else for my special dessert… ha ha.)
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For my Hubby’s last birthday, I decided it would be the perfect occasion to try my hand at an easy version of a Tres Leches Cake. I’m so glad I did!
Doesn’t it look good? These pictures are of the leftovers of his actual birthday cake. I figured it would be a bit rude to stop the party and take the cake into another room for pictures, so I had to make do with with the three leftover slices for pictures the next morning. 
Three pieces. That’s all that was left of this cake… It was delicioso! What makes this cake so yummy and delicious is the mixture of the 3 milks poured over the cake and then allowing enough time for the liquid to to soak in before serving.
Even on the second day, you can still see all the yummy, milky deliciousness that soaks through the cake. (Tip: the longer the cake chills, the more milk it will absorb, and the yummier it will be. So don’t be afraid to make your cake several hours ahead.)
This recipe is super easy and is based on a boxed vanilla cake mix. I almost think it can be called a Tres Leches Poke Cake, since I did poke holes in it and poured the delicious milk toppings over the top of the holes and let it soak in.
PrintTres Leches Cake Recipe
This Tres Leches Cake Recipe, made with a vanilla cake and soaked in 3 different types of milk, is absolutely heavenly and is super easy to make!
- Prep Time: 50
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 box French Vanilla Cake mix (I like the one w/ pudding in the mix) plus ingredients needed for the mix
- 1 can (14oz) Sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup Evaporated milk
- 1 cup half n half (I just used 2% milk)
- 1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup sugar
Instructions
Cooking Instructions:
- Prepare and bake cake mix according to package instructions.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Poke top of hot cake every 1/2 inch with fork or skewer.
- In large bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and half n half. Pour evenly over top of cake. Make sure to get the milk mixture down into the holes.
- Cover cake and refrigerate for at least an hour (or as long as overnight) to absorb milk mixture.
- For the frosting: At least 30 minutes before serving, Combine the heavy cream, sugar and vanilla into large bowl with mixer until soft peaks are formed. Spread the whipped cream onto the cake, and return to the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 to 35 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Yield: 12 to 15
Ingredients
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Bianca G says
Love this! and looks easy to make. I'm definitely going to try this out since its my favorite ! Pinning!! (found you from Create-Link-Inspire)
Stephanie Volkert says
I live near the Mexican border, so yep, I've had Tres Leches Cake, and it is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE EVER. EVER EVER EVER! I'm tempted to go to the store right now and buy one lol (our local grocery store makes them).
I'm going to have to learn how to make it myself though since I'm about to move far, far away, all the way up to Washington. So it's a good thing you shared this! I'll have to pin it so I wont' lose it!
Jamie says
This was really easy to make. Even though I used a box cake for the base, it was just as good as that other restaurants cake. Once you pour the 3 milks over the cake, I really don't think it matters to much…
~Jamie
Heather Grow says
Oh my, this looks soooo yummy.
Schulz Family says
visiting from sew darn crafty. Wow I have never ever heard of this cake. It sounds really weird. But I normally love cakes which have syrup soaked afterwards.
Tanya @ Moms Small Victories says
Visiting from Inspire Me Monday. We LOVE tres leches cake but don't find it often here in NC. My hubby would be so surprised if i made it! Pinned to my Desserts to try board.
Hope you'll linkup with our Small Victories Sunday linkup as well. http://momssmallvictories.com/small-victories-sunday-linkup-23/
Blair Lonergan says
This looks great! So glad to have found you at Made By You Monday! I have always wanted to make Tres Leches Cake, but I've never actually done so. This recipe might have to be my first! I love how moist the cake looks on the inside! Pinned!
Kimberly Lewis says
Hello beautiful! This looks so amazing. Pinned. Thank you for taking the time to stop by! I hope to see you at our party tonight, it starts at 7 pm. We love to party with you!
Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Natasha In Oz says
Thanks for sharing your delicious recipe at the Say G’Day linky party. I’ve just pinned this to the Say G’Day Saturday board.
Hope you have had a fabulous week!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
Bianca says
Thanks for sharing love this cake and I’m definetly making it! Have you ever tried it with chocolate cake and strawberries?? So Delish I really recommend trying it!!!
Smith Family says
This was a big hit with the family. I made this on Saturday, refrigerated it overnight, topped it with the whipped cream, and served it on Mother’s Day. It was so quick and easy. My husband said this cake was better than the ones he’s had at restaurants. I will be making this again and again.
Thank you very much for the recipe.
Rebca
★★★★★
Jamie says
I’m so glad you liked it!