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Tres Leches Cake

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  • Prep 15 min
  • Total 2 hr 50 min
  • Servings 15
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A classic and easy Tres Leches Cake goes far beyond your average cake recipe. Our Tres Leches Cake recipe with Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ Yellow Cake Mix makes a moist, flavorful and deeply rich dessert. You'll mix and pour sweetened condensed milk, whole milk and whipping cream (the traditional “three milks") into "poke" holes in the cake to create the iconic flavor. Tap into your inner Betty with a cake that goes from mix to masterpiece, and make a tres leches birthday cake, holiday dessert or weekend delight!
By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Updated Aug 1, 2023
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Ingredients

  • 1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ Yellow Cake Mix
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
  • 1 cup whole milk or evaporated milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tub (12 oz) Betty Crocker™ Whipped Fluffy White Frosting

Steps

  • 1
    Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
  • 2
    In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan.
  • 3
    Bake 24 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove cake to cooling rack; let stand 5 minutes. Poke holes using fork every 1/2 inch over top of cake. If necessary, wipe fork tines occasionally with paper towel to reduce sticking.
  • 4
    In large bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk, whole milk and whipping cream, until blended. Carefully pour evenly over top of cake, working back and forth to fill holes. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled. Drop frosting by spoonfuls over top of cake; spread evenly. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    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.
  • tip 2
    Tres leches—or “three milks” in Spanish—is just a very moist cake enriched with two forms of concentrated milk and rich cream. The full dairy and vanilla flavors are a favorite in the southern U.S.
  • tip 3
    Try serving this Tres Leches Cake topped with a fresh berry or tropical fruit compote.
  • tip 4
    Now that you've mastered an easy Tres Leches Cake recipe, try this recipe for Banana Tres Leches Dessert. The additions of coconut milk and banana slices on top give it a more tropical flair.
  • tip 5
    If you love trying out Mexican-inspired desserts, check out this recipe for Mexican Chocolate Cake. The hint of cinnamon adds a welcome spice to the rich chocolate flavors.

Nutrition

350 Calories, 14g Total Fat, 5g Protein, 51g Total Carbohydrate, 39g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
350
Calories from Fat
120
Total Fat
14g
21%
Saturated Fat
7g
35%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
70mg
23%
Sodium
280mg
11%
Potassium
150mg
4%
Total Carbohydrate
51g
17%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
39g
Protein
5g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
4%
4%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
15%
15%
Iron
4%
4%
Exchanges:
1 1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 2 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
3 1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

  • Tres Leches cake features three different dairy products that come together to create a cake that’s moist, but not mushy, and dense with just the right amount of sweetness. This indulgent cake traces its origins back to South America, but you don’t need to fly across the equator to try a piece. You can enjoy a slice of decadent tres leches right in the comfort of your own home with this recipe from the Betty Crocker™ Test Kitchens. And for more takes on tres leches, check out all of  Betty’s tres leches-inspired recipes, plus instructions on how to make perfect cake, every time.
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