Three Milks Cake is a popular dessert in Latin America and like many traditional dishes this dessert has its own variation depending of the cook and country.
What is Three Milks Cake?
It's known as torta de tres leches in Spanish and it's 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.
This Three Milks Cake is my Colombian version and is an easy to make, moist, absolutely delicious and authentic torta de tres leches recipe. This dessert is perfect for entertaining, because it can be make ahead and it tastes even better the next day.
Every country and family has their own version for the frosting and in Colombia the meringue frosting is very traditional. Fee free to use your own favorite frosting if you prefer a different one.
Ingredients You'll Need
The printable recipe card with exact amounts, cooking directions and step by step video is below
Flour: I recommend using a quality brad all purpose flour to make this cake.
Baking Powder: To help the cake rise.
Salt: A little bit of salt to balance the flavors.
Eggs: You need whole eggs for the cake and just egg whites for the frosting.
Sugar: To add sweetness to the cake.
Milk: You need whole milk to make this cake.
Butter: Adds richness to the tres leches cake.
Vanilla: Adds extra flavor to this recipe. You need it for the cake and the frosting.
Three Milks Mixture: Heavy cream, Evaporated Milk and Sweet Condensed Milk. Yo can use whole milk instead of the heavy cream, but I like the richness of the cream.
Frosting: For the meringue frosting you need egg whites, sugar, water and creme of tartar.
Tips to Make Three Milks Cake
*I use a 9 by 13 baking dish to bake this cake, but you can divide the batter into 2 cakes and use smaller baking pans.
*You can make this cake ahead of time and frost it before serving. It's usually better and very moist the next day.
*When making the frosting be sure that the bowl is very clean and dry. An oily bowl will prevent the egg white to form peaks.
*The leftovers are good up to 4 days, but the cake will soak the frosting over time.
More Cake Recipes
Dulce de Leche and Coconut Roll Cake
Pastel Borracho (Drunken Cake)
Chocolate Cake with Dulce de Leche Filling
Three Milks Cake Recipe (Torta de Tres Leches)
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
Frosting
- 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.
- To make 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.
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!!