How to Bake Pastel de Tres Leches (Cake with 3 Milks)

You can't enjoy a delectable Cinco de Mayo dinner without something special to wrap up your celebration. You've never baked anything like Tres Leches before!


Ingredients for the cake:

1½ cups all-purpose white flour

1 tsp. baking powder

½ cup unsalted butter

1 cups granulated white sugar

5 large eggs

½ tsp. vanilla extract


Ingredients for the soaking liquid:

1 cup whole milk

½ of a 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

½ of a 12-ounce can evaporated milk

* Secret ingredient she wouldn't tell me


Ingredients for the topping:

1-½ cups heavy whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Whole ripe strawberries for garnish

Method:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Spray a 9-inch by 13-inch Pyrex baking pan with no-stick spray and lightly dust with flour. Shake out all the excess flour and set the prepared pan aside.

Sift flour and baking powder together and set aside.

Cream the butter and 1 cup of the sugar until fluffy.

Add the eggs and 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla extract. Beat well.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, 2 tablespoons at a time, mixing well until blended.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 30 minutes.

When cake has finished baking, pierce it in 8 or 10 places with a fork or skewer and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack.

For the soaking liquid, combine the whole milk, evaporated milk, condensed milk and liqueur and pour over the top of the cooled cake. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

When ready to serve, whip the heavy cream, 1 cup sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla extract into soft peaks. Spread over top of cake. Garnish with strawberries and serve.

Cook’s notes:

* Because this cake is loaded with milk products that can spoil, keep it chilled until you are ready to serve, and put it back in the refrigerator after everyone is served.
* You can also use this recipe to bake two 8-inch round cakes. Stack them with a layer of whipped cream and fruit in between, and then pour on the soaking milk. Chill. Frost with the rest of the whipped cream and fresh strawberries and serve cold.
* This recipe was taught to me by a wonderful Latina woman living in Avon, CO.

BONUS:

*Here are five great Mexican recipes from 5dollardinners.com that will feed your family or friends for $5 or less: 5 dishes for under $5

*Here are 7 delicious Cinco de Mayo main dish recipes. I've been served all 7 and they are delicious. The one I was served most often was the potato casserole.

*Try T.G.I. Friday's new Blackberry Margaritas or any drink from the bar and you can get Crispy Green Bean Fries, Fried Mozzarella, BBQ Pork Ravioli Bites, Pot Stickers, or a half order of Loaded Potato Skins for only five cents on the 5th of May.