MAKES 1 (9 X 13-INCH) CAKE
Tres leches cake, or “three milk” cake, is especially popular in Central and South America and, yes, it really uses three different milk products—cream, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk. We love one possible story regarding the history of the cake. This popular cake may have originated over one hundred years ago and may have first appeared on the label for one of the canned milks. Imagine our delight to learn that, as we’ve spent much of our professional careers developing recipes for companies to print on food labels and packages. That is a successful recipe!
Nonstick cooking spray
1 (15.25- to 18-ounce) white cake mix
Eggs and oil as directed on the cake mix box
Buttermilk, in place of the water called for on the cake mix box
½ cup heavy cream
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (5-ounce) can evaporated milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
TRES LECHES VANILLA CREAM TOPPING:
1½ cups heavy cream
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Prepare the cake according to the package directions, substituting buttermilk for the water called for on the box. Bake according to the package directions for a 9 x 13-inch cake.
Place the cake on a wire rack and let cool completely.
Poke holes evenly over the baked cake using the tines of a fork.
In a medium bowl, stir together the cream, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and vanilla. Slowly and evenly pour the milk mixture over the cake. Cover and refrigerate the cake for 1 hour.
MAKE THE TRES LECHES VANILLA CREAM TOPPING: In a medium bowl using a handheld mixer, beat the cream on low speed until frothy. Increase the speed to medium-high. Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar, beating continuously until the cream holds stiff peaks. Beat in the vanilla.
Frost the cake with the whipped cream. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight before serving.
TIP
Substitute 1 (8-ounce) tub frozen whipped topping, thawed, for the Tres Leches Vanilla Cream Topping.