Tres Leches Cake is a popular dessert in Latin America and like many dishes it has a own variation depending of the cook. This Torta de Tres Leches is my Colombian version and is an easy to make, moist, absolutely delicious and authentic three milks cake recipe.
Torta de Tres Leches (Three Milks Cake)
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup whole milk
- 5 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 egg whites
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- preheat the oven to 350° F
- Grease and lightly flour a baking dish.
- To make the cake: In a bowl whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder.
- In a small pot heat the milk and butter, remove from the heat and set aside.
- In a large bowl beat the eggs with an electric mixer on high speed for 2 minutes. Add the sugar and continue mixing for 5 minutes. Reduce the speed to low. Add the flour mixture, butter mixture and vanilla extract and mix for 1 more minute.
- Pour the batter into the baking dish and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean. Remove cake from the oven and with a fork make holes all over the top of the cake. Set aside to cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
- When the cake is cooling, make the milk sauce, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, heavy cream and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl.
- Pour the 3 milks sauce over the cake until it is all absorbed. Refrigerate for a least 3 hours or overnight before frosting.
- For the frosting, in a small pot mix the water and sugar, over medium high heat, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Set aside.
- Beat the egg whites with cream of tartar until stiff peaks are formed. While beating the egg whites, add sugar syrup and continue beating for 5 more minutes. Add vanilla extract and beat 1 more minute. Spread the frosting over the cake and refrigerate into ready to serve.
- Turn on the broil for your oven and place the top rack in the middle. Cover cake with meringue. Bake for 2 minutes; or until the meringue is lightly browned. In this step you must be careful because the meringue can burn very quickly. To avoid accidents I do it with the oven door open.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 528kcalCarbohydrates: 90gProtein: 10gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 141mgSodium: 336mgPotassium: 207mgFiber: 1gSugar: 66gVitamin A: 654IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 151mgIron: 2mg
Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mycolombianrecipes and tag #mycolombianrecipes!
Torta de Tres Leches or Three Milks Cake is a popular dessert in Colombia and Latin America. This cake gets the name from the three milks we use, condensed milk, evaporated milk and heavy cream and it is what makes this cake so moist and delicious.
Every country has their own version for the frosting and in Colombia the cream of tartar frosting is very traditional.
Jen Schall @ MyKitchenAddiction.com
Looks fabulous... I can't wait to try this recipe!
~Carole
This looks delicious! I've printed it and can't wait to make it.
Jacktels Kochbuch
Hello,
extremely delicious Recipe. Compliment!!
One after-bakes shortly.
Greeting Jacktel
ARUNA
wonderful recipe.......simple but i'm sure it will b very delicious!!
oysterculture
This sounds delicious with some fruit on the side!
Erica
Thank you every one for visiting my blog. I appreciate all your comments.
Christelle
Great blog you have there, (great cake hum... :), I am not familiar with colombian food and I find it very definitely interesting and educative !
Dan
Thank you so much for these wonderful recipes. We have adopted 2 children from colombia and spent many months there. It is great to find so many flavors we remember from our stay and that will connect our children with the country of their birth.
Looking forward to making many of these over the coming months.
Erica
Hi Dan,
Thank you so much for your nice comment. Glad you like my blog.
Ellen
Hi Erica,
I am planning on baking this for the long weekend. I was wondering what do you usually bake this in ? 9 x 13 glass pyrex ??
Thanks
ellen
Erica
Hi Ellen,
Yes, I used a 9 x 13 baking dish.
Mansi
Hi Erica, just got here from ecurry's blog! you have a great space!
Tres Leches is my absolute favorite, and your cake looks alluring too! btw, I'm back to blogging after my motherhood break, and hope you can find some time to make some goodies for my Sweet celebration event.
Amber
This recipe looks so good. I've tried another recipe I found that was mexican and my whole panamian family loves it. I think the main difference is the frosting but I def want to try yours next time I make it!
Stephanie
This recipe is amazing!! I'm not a baker but my sister is, so I asked her to make this cake for my husband's birthday on October 17th. My husband who was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia loved it! Our Colombian friends were also very impressed and asked my sis to make the cake for their birthdays!! Thanks Erica for this site, I also made plantain soup a couple of weeks ago which my husband also LOVED! I can now make traditional Colombian dishes for my husband!
Erica
Stephanie,
Thank you for your feedback and your wonderful comment 🙂
Caroline
I am always a sucker for cake of any kind but this one looks particularly delicious. I love all your awesome recipes. Keep up the good work. 🙂
katelyn
It doesn't say how much vanilla extract you need for the frosting!
Erica
Katelyn- for the frosting add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
de
What is a good beverage to serve with this cake??
Erica
De- I love this cake with Black coffee ,but you can serve it with white wine.
LA Gring
Hello, I would love to make for my husband here in Cali but could you give me the 3 milks in spanish. I know everything else in Spanish but for the milks. thanks
LA Gring
Also could you give me it in grams instead of oz for each one.
Erica
La Gring
1 lata de leche condensada
1 lata de leche evaporada
1 taza de crema de leche
La Gringa
I went yesterday to the store to buy the milk. I found leche condensada and I know about crema de leche. I couldnt find the leche evaporada. Could it be called something else. I want to make this for my Colombian but I dont want to mess up....
Erica
La Gringa- I usually buy a Nestle brand (Carnation evaporated milk) Leche evaporada. It comes in a can.
La Gringa
I had a friend just go to the local grocery store here in my barrio. They said they didnt sale that leche . Do you think I could find that for sure at Carrefour or Exito..Thank you
Erica
La Gringa- Go the Exito.
La Gringa
Thank you so much....
new mommy
hi i came a cross this site when i was looking for some sort of traditional Colombian dessert recipe for my boyfriends brother in law ,his birthday is at the end of January and i was wondering if there was any sort of sliced fruit i could use to decorate the cake ? something to keep with the Colombian theme?oh and there a certain pan size i should use?
Erica
New mommy- I used a 9 x 13 baking dish. I think if you use strawberries....it could be delicious! Traditionally this cake does not have any fruit, but you can try it 😉
new mommy
Yah I kinda thought so but since I'm not colombian I wanted to make sure what about like a guva ice cream
Erica
new mommy-That sounds delicious!
new mommy
I was also wondering if any of your flan recipes were more traditional,which one is more of a taste of home
Erica
new mommy- all the flans I have here are traditional Colombian desserts, but traditional flan and coconut flan are very popular all around the country.
new mommy
thank you so much for all your help i cant wait to try this recipe hopefully it will look as delicious as yours.
Tangled Noodle
I'm so happy this link was on your latest post! I love Tres Leches and this sounds like a perfect recipe. Thank you!
Angie
HI! ive always wanted to make tres leches.. Im going to make this recipe but I bought "heavy whipping cream" can i still use that? is it the same as heavy cream? or is it media crema what I have to use> thank you
Erica
Angie- I use heavy whipping cream.
new mommy
hi erica,
i had a question. since the cake is best when left in the milk mixture for 24 hours is it ok to make the frosting when i make the cake,if so how do i store it,or am i supposed to make it when im gonna frost the cake?
Erica
new mommy- make the frosting when you are going to decorate the cake.
new mommy
hi erica i actually just baked the cake but im a lil worried that my cake didn't absorb the milk mixture as it should.there still seem to be a considerable amount of milk around the cake, i know i made enough holes with the fork did i do somethingwrong?
Erica
new mommy- If you opened enough holes with the fork, I am sure is good.
new mommy
im having trouble with my frostin the sugar keeps crystalising what can i do to fix it?
Erica
new mommy- Are you stirring the water and sugar often? Maybe your stove is stronger than mine....so just cook it the suagr and water for 2 - 3 minutes.
new mommy
Thank you it worked:) my cake seems denser then the one in your picture
new mommy
My cake came out very dense can you give me some pointers on how to make it lighter
Erica
new mommy- It is hard to tell you, because I can't see the cake. The texture of tres leches cake is a little wet.
new mommy
Its not the wet it didn't seem to rise its very solid looking alnost like a browny would look
Nicole
Hi Erica
I am going to make the three milks cake for my husbands birthday. I am thinking about puting whipped cream on top and dulce de leche instead of the frosting. What do you think, would the cake still taste ok and does the cake sit in the dish or can it be taken out and put on a plate? Thank you. Nicole.
Erica
Nicole- The dulce the leche sounds delicious! Are you going to put whipped cream in the frosting too? or just in the milk mixture?
You can place the cake on a plate or just leave it in the baking dish! I do it both ways, but my husband likes the cake better when I leave it in the baking dish. 🙂
Nicole
Hi Erica
I was going to cover the cake in the milk mixture like you say and leave it over night. The turn it out on to a plate and cover it in dulce de leche and whipped cream.
I have never tried this cake before so I wasn't sure weather it would be two sweet. My husband who is Colombian loves arequipe but it is very hard to buy here in Spain that why I am using dulce de leche.
Any suggestions you might have would be very much appreciated, I really want this cake to be perfect.
Thanks Nicole.
Erica
Nicole- You can try it! That sounds interesting and delicious! Let me know if he likes it.... I love arequipe too!
Ruby
I want to thank you for this recipe! the tres leche cake was a hit with my family! I love love love your website. My mother is Colombiana and these recipes are excellent for me. I've never lived in Colombia so this is great for me to make for my children and family. Keep up the great work! Felicidades en tu primer aniversario y gracias! estoy bien agradecida!
Erica
Ruby- Thank you so much for your feedback! Glad you liked the cake!!!
Lynda
Thanks for posting this recipe, Erica- I have had this cake at a local hispanic restuarant and loved it! I've been wanting to find a recipe for it to try it at home. Can't wait! I'll let you know how it turns out.
Chanelle
WOW its the best!!! I have tried a few different recipes and this by far is the BEST!!!! Thank you soooooo much for it!!!! Yummy 🙂
Nicole
Hi Erica
I just wanted to say thankyou. I made the cake last night and it was to die for and my husband thought it was amazing. I made the sponge covered it with the three milks and left it in the fridge over night. Then covered it in dulce de leche and whipped cream with a little vanilla and spinkled a little coco powder over the top. It worked perfectly. Thanks again.
Erica
Nicole- Thank you so much for your feedback!Glad you liked it 🙂
David
We made this cake for a party and everyone asked for the recipe. Thank you!
Jordan
hey...i'm going to try to make this recipe for a class project..how many servings does this recipe make?
Erica
Jordan- About 12 servings.
Jordan
oh...i'm sorry i just saw the serving size above...I'm a blonde...thanks!
maria
Hi, I'm in England and we dont use cups to measure when baking so Im a little confused. Do you have any idea what the measurements are in weight, ounces or grams? My husband is from Bolivia and his mum makes this cake, I would love to make it for him 🙂
Beatriz from NJ
Hola Erica! Tengo que darte las gracias por esta receta. La hice el Sabado para una reunion and quedo de ataque!
Thank you so much for providing this recipe. I made it this past Saturday for a dinner party & it was it! Can't wait to make it again!
Bea
Whitney
Looks fantastic! Can't wait to try it!
Anonymous
I made this cake for my mother in-laws birth day and everyone loved it! i had no problem with the icing or the cake. Everything came out great!
Anonymous
Delicious! The frosting makes it taste even better!
April
Thank you for publishing this recipe! However, I am living in Medellin, Colombia and I cannot find for the life of me Cream of tartar. I have went all over the city trying to find it. I have asked my husband (who is a Colombian but doesn't bake) and he keeps telling me that they don't have it here. I do not believe him obviously! Any information would be so helpful!
Erica
April-La encuentras como "Crema tartara" en cualquier supermercado, Busca en el Exito.
Maria
“I made this cake last night and all I can say is “WOW, WOW, WEEEEE, WOW! This is one amazing recipe. The cake is absolutely delicious! Easy to make. If I can do this anyone can!
Margarita
Hi Erica,
I'm doing a project on Colombia in my Spanish class and I was wondering if after I've made the whole thing and put on the frosting, would it still taste ok if I left it in the fridge overnight, like the night before I do my presentation. And also, would it last about four hours unrefridgerated, or should I try to find a fridge to put it in?
Thanks, Margarita
Erica
Margarita- You can add the frosting the night before. You should find a fridge to keep the cake!
Misty
Hi Erica,
I was looking for a cake recipe to bake for a friend's birthday, who is from Colombia. I came across your blog and decided to make this cake for him. Everyone absolutely loved it, especially my friend who hadn't had a Tres Leches cake in a while. Thank you for sharing your recipes and I look forward to trying out more dishes from your blog. The shrimp quesadillas look delicious!
Teresa
I have made it several times, once for a big get together. When I kept passing the guys who were going for seconds and thirds, several said it was the best cake they have ever had.
Hannah
Hi omg the cake sounds delious and i just told my mom t buy the ingrediants so i can make it for easter tomarrow
do you have any tips on makeing it
Cris LOpez
Quiero hacer esta torta para el cumpleanos de mi esposo, este lunes, mi pregunta es: en el frosting, cuando escribes whites al referirte a los huevos,significa solo las claras?
Erica
Cris- Si.....Solo las claras como para hacer merengue!
Karina
Hi Erica,
My mother is Colombian and I love pastel de tres leches. I was making the recepie but as I got to the frosting, It did not come out right. It was watery. Your recepie says use sugar. Which kind? granualted or powdered? My aunts and mom says to use powdred to have that thick consistency of a frosting. Granualted sugar just does not work. Can you tell me what you do?
Erica
Karina- For the frosting....I used granulated sugar...the secret is to beat the egg white to the right consistency!
Cory Joseph
Oh my, this was a great cake. I made this for a project/buffet at my school and it was a hit. Thank you so much.
Vanessa
I made this cake yesterday and it was really good.Moist, sweet and delicious.
Johana
I made this cake for my son's 5th bday party everybody loved it!!!!! your instructions are so easy to follow! Thank you for sharing such a good recipe!
Erica
Thank you for your feedback!
Annabelle
I just made this cake and it came out perfect,for sure i will do it again.
Dolly
Hi Erica,
I never made a frosting before,but want to make this one, but can't find tartar cream. Is tarta sauce, the same as the cream? If not what can I use.
Erica
Hi Dolly,
Cream of Tartar is a powder and you can find it at your local market (Spices Aisle).
Mercedes
Hola Erica:
Soy argentina viviendo en TN,US. Me encanta tu blog. Queria preguntarte sobre el merengue. Quiero hacer esta torta para el cumple de mi hija(#5). Quiere una mariposa, y estaba pensando como quedara si le doy color al merengue y le agrego detalles. Mi consulta es si quedara bien poniendole diferentes colores. Tambien tenia la idea de cambiar por mazapan como decoracion, pero quizas me lleve mas tiempo y dinero. Agradezco tu consejo.
natalie mejia
Hello!! I just found your blog and im thrilled!! I just finished making your recipe for empanadas and second ago finished tres leches cake. Your instructions were very easy to follow. Thanks for sharing and i am sure everyone will love the cake tonight!!