Torta de tres leches 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.
INGREDIENTS
(Serves 10-12)
CAKE
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
THREE MILKS SAUCE
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 can evaporated milk
1 cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
FROSTING
2 egg whites
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ cup sugar
¼ cup water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
1. preheat the oven to 350° F
2. Grease and lightly flour a baking dish.
3. To make the cake: In a bowl whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder.
4. In a small pot heat the milk and butter, remove from the heat and set aside.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Pour the 3 milks sauce over the cake until it is all absorbed. Refrigerate for a least 3 hours or overnight before frosting.
9. For the frosting, in a small pot mix the water and sugar, over medium high heat, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Set aside.
10. 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.
Related posts:
~Carole
on Apr 7th, 2009
@ 9:24 AM:
This looks delicious! I’ve printed it and can’t wait to make it.
Jen Schall @ MyKitchenAddiction.com
on Apr 7th, 2009
@ 9:29 AM:
Looks fabulous… I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Jacktels Kochbuch
on Apr 7th, 2009
@ 1:56 PM:
Hello,
extremely delicious Recipe. Compliment!!
One after-bakes shortly.
Greeting Jacktel
ARUNA
on Apr 8th, 2009
@ 12:02 AM:
wonderful recipe…….simple but i’m sure it will b very delicious!!
oysterculture
on Apr 8th, 2009
@ 12:41 AM:
This sounds delicious with some fruit on the side!
Erica
on Apr 8th, 2009
@ 6:56 PM:
Thank you every one for visiting my blog. I appreciate all your comments.
Christelle
on Apr 21st, 2009
@ 5:45 PM:
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
on Aug 8th, 2009
@ 11:32 AM:
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
on Aug 8th, 2009
@ 1:24 PM:
Hi Dan,
Thank you so much for your nice comment. Glad you like my blog.
Ellen
on Sep 3rd, 2009
@ 2:42 PM:
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
on Sep 3rd, 2009
@ 5:33 PM:
Hi Ellen,
Yes, I used a 9 x 13 baking dish.
Mansi
on Oct 15th, 2009
@ 7:02 PM:
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
on Oct 22nd, 2009
@ 11:33 AM:
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
on Oct 26th, 2009
@ 11:58 AM:
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
on Oct 26th, 2009
@ 12:27 PM:
Stephanie,
Thank you for your feedback and your wonderful comment
Caroline
on Nov 20th, 2009
@ 9:02 AM:
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
on Nov 29th, 2009
@ 8:43 PM:
It doesn’t say how much vanilla extract you need for the frosting!
Erica
on Nov 29th, 2009
@ 11:26 PM:
Katelyn- for the frosting add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
de
on Dec 2nd, 2009
@ 12:02 PM:
What is a good beverage to serve with this cake??
Erica
on Dec 2nd, 2009
@ 12:31 PM:
De- I love this cake with Black coffee ,but you can serve it with white wine.
LA Gring
on Jan 1st, 2010
@ 8:32 PM:
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
on Jan 1st, 2010
@ 8:47 PM:
Also could you give me it in grams instead of oz for each one.
Erica
on Jan 1st, 2010
@ 9:02 PM:
La Gring
1 lata de leche condensada
1 lata de leche evaporada
1 taza de crema de leche
La Gringa
on Jan 15th, 2010
@ 9:10 AM:
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
on Jan 15th, 2010
@ 9:15 AM:
La Gringa- I usually buy a Nestle brand (Carnation evaporated milk) Leche evaporada. It comes in a can.
La Gringa
on Jan 15th, 2010
@ 11:02 AM:
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
on Jan 15th, 2010
@ 11:14 AM:
La Gringa- Go the Exito.
La Gringa
on Jan 15th, 2010
@ 11:21 AM:
Thank you so much….
new mommy
on Jan 16th, 2010
@ 5:59 PM:
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
on Jan 16th, 2010
@ 7:06 PM:
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
on Jan 17th, 2010
@ 1:17 AM:
Yah I kinda thought so but since I’m not colombian I wanted to make sure what about like a guva ice cream
new mommy
on Jan 17th, 2010
@ 1:31 AM:
I was also wondering if any of your flan recipes were more traditional,which one is more of a taste of home
Erica
on Jan 17th, 2010
@ 8:40 AM:
new mommy-That sounds delicious!
Erica
on Jan 17th, 2010
@ 8:42 AM:
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
on Jan 17th, 2010
@ 4:02 PM:
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
on Jan 19th, 2010
@ 9:57 AM:
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
on Jan 23rd, 2010
@ 6:42 PM:
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
on Jan 23rd, 2010
@ 7:16 PM:
Angie- I use heavy whipping cream.
new mommy
on Jan 26th, 2010
@ 4:05 AM:
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
on Jan 26th, 2010
@ 8:27 AM:
new mommy- make the frosting when you are going to decorate the cake.
new mommy
on Jan 30th, 2010
@ 2:04 AM:
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
on Jan 30th, 2010
@ 8:58 AM:
new mommy- If you opened enough holes with the fork, I am sure is good.
new mommy
on Jan 30th, 2010
@ 4:44 PM:
im having trouble with my frostin the sugar keeps crystalising what can i do to fix it?
Erica
on Jan 30th, 2010
@ 5:50 PM:
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
on Jan 30th, 2010
@ 7:39 PM:
Thank you it worked:) my cake seems denser then the one in your picture
new mommy
on Jan 30th, 2010
@ 9:15 PM:
My cake came out very dense can you give me some pointers on how to make it lighter
Erica
on Jan 31st, 2010
@ 9:01 AM:
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
on Jan 31st, 2010
@ 6:54 PM:
Its not the wet it didn’t seem to rise its very solid looking alnost like a browny would look
Nicole
on Feb 9th, 2010
@ 9:09 AM:
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
on Feb 9th, 2010
@ 9:23 AM:
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
on Feb 9th, 2010
@ 11:00 AM:
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
on Feb 9th, 2010
@ 11:04 AM:
Nicole- You can try it! That sounds interesting and delicious! Let me know if he likes it…. I love arequipe too!
Ruby
on Feb 10th, 2010
@ 3:41 PM:
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
on Feb 10th, 2010
@ 3:45 PM:
Ruby- Thank you so much for your feedback! Glad you liked the cake!!!
Lynda
on Feb 18th, 2010
@ 12:24 PM:
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
on Feb 20th, 2010
@ 3:50 PM:
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
on Feb 24th, 2010
@ 10:36 AM:
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
on Feb 24th, 2010
@ 11:07 AM:
Nicole- Thank you so much for your feedback!Glad you liked it
David
on Apr 5th, 2010
@ 9:36 PM:
We made this cake for a party and everyone asked for the recipe. Thank you!
Jordan
on Jun 10th, 2010
@ 4:01 PM:
hey…i’m going to try to make this recipe for a class project..how many servings does this recipe make?
Jordan
on Jun 10th, 2010
@ 4:05 PM:
oh…i’m sorry i just saw the serving size above…I’m a blonde…thanks!
Erica
on Jun 10th, 2010
@ 5:09 PM:
Jordan- About 12 servings.
maria
on Jul 18th, 2010
@ 6:36 PM:
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
on Aug 30th, 2010
@ 1:16 AM:
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