Our Easy Tres Leches Cake made with a cake mix is as delicious as it is quick to throw together. Nothing better than a three milk cake topped with a strawberry.
I am not a huge fan of a lot of traditional cake recipes, because I often find them too dry. It should be no secret then, that I am a big fan of this easy tres leches cake.
Easy Tres Leches Cake
If you are a picky cake person like me, there are a few other exceptional cake recipes you should know about. Our Copycat Nothing Bundt Cake is phenomenal. Better than Sex Cake kind of speaks for itself, and Texas Sheet Cake is always a winner in my book.
Now let’s get back to today’s star.
How to Make Tres Leches Cake
A tres leches cake is also known as pan tres leches, which literally translates as “three milks bread.” It is a sponge cake that is soaked with three types of milk: evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and cream.
Don’t be fooled into thinking this makes it complicated, because that is not the case. It’s just as easy to whip together as it is delicious to eat.
Top Left – Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl combined your cake mix, eggs, milk, softened butter and vanilla and beat on low until well combined.
Top Right – Transfer your batter into your greased pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick near the center comes out clean.
Middle Left – Allow cake to cool for 25 minutes. Use a fork to poke holes all over the top of your cake.
Middle Right – While cake is cooling, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and half and half.
Bottom Left – Pour your three milk mixture evenly over the cake allowing holes to fill with milk. Cover your cake and refrigerate for four hours or overnight.
Bottom Right – Prepare your whipped cream and spread over cake before serving. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar or fresh strawberries if desired.
Pro Tips:
- If you are running short on time you can substitute cool whip in place of whipped cream. Freshly whipped cream definitely takes the cake to the next level, though.
- You may substitute heavy whipping cream or whole milk in place of the half and half. Either will change the taste and consistency of the cake slightly, but I have used both in a pinch and the cake is still delicious.
- Tres Leches Cake can be prepared a day or two in advance.
Tres Leches Cake with Cake Mix
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Tres Leches Cake
Video
Equipment
- Oven
- 9x13 Baking Dish
Ingredients
Cake Batter
- 1 Package Golden or Yellow Cake Mix
- 3 Large Eggs
- 2/3 Cup 2% Milk
- 1/2 Cup Butter Softened
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Milk Mixture
- 1 14 Ounce Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 12 Ounce Can Evaporated Milk
- 1 Cup Half and Half
Whipped Cream
- 1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- 3 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl combined your cake mix, eggs, milk, softened butter and vanilla and beat on low until well combined.
- Transfer your batter into your greased pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick near the center comes out clean. Allow cake to cool for 25 minutes. Use a fork to poke holes all over the top of your cake.
- While cake is cooling, whisk together sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and half and half. Pour your three milk mixture evenly over the cake allowing holes to fill with milk. Cover your cake and refrigerate for four hours or overnight.
- Prepare your whipped cream and spread over cake before serving. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar or fresh strawberries if desired.
Notes
Pro Tips:
- If you are running short on time you can substitute cool whip in place of whipped cream. Freshly whipped cream definitely takes the cake to the next level, though.
- You may substitute heavy whipping cream or whole milk in place of the half and half. Either will change the taste and consistency of the cake slightly, but I have used both in a pinch and the cake is still delicious.
- Tres Leches Cake can be prepared a day or two in advance.
- I love to serve this for dessert after some of our favorite Mexican recipes like Cafe Rio Chicken Tacos or our Healthy Beef Enchiladas.
Nutrition
Happy eating, friends.
xo,
This is the easiest recipe I followed in making Tres Leches Cake! My new go-to cake recipe for important occasions.
Yay! I am so glad you loved it.
this recipe really was so easy and came out so good!! the whole fam loved it!