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What is Tres Leches Cake?
Tres leches cake is a classic Latin American dessert that translates to “three milks.” It’s a sponge cake soaked in a mixture of three types of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. The result is a wonderfully moist cake that melts in your mouth. By adding cocoa powder to the mix, we create a luscious chocolate version that’s sure to delight chocolate lovers of all ages.
Cake Ingredients
- I cheated and used boxed cake! I used Devils Cake for this cake.
Three Milk Mixture
- 1 (12-oz) Can of Evaporated milk
- 1 (14-oz) can of Sweetened Condensed milk
- I (14-oz) can of Heavy Cream
- 2 Tbsp of Cocoa Powder
- 1 tsp of Vanilla
Chocolate Whipped Cream
- 2 Cups of Heavy Cream
- 1 Tbsp of Confectioners Sugar
- 2 Tbsp of Cocoa Powder
- 2 Tbsp of Nutella (Optional)
- Fruit or Chocolate Shavings for Garnishing
Bake the Cake:
I cheated this time and used a boxed cake mix! I like the way the devil cake turned out with this mixture. It was a little moist but I honestly want a soaked cake. So it is to your preference!
Bake the cake according to the instructions on the box and we can make the milk mixture/ whipped cream while it is baking! I used a 9 x 13 cake pan for this design. But you can also do a round cakes as well.
Prepare the Tres Leches Soak:
This is what we will moisten the cake with that gives it a tres leche name! While the cake is baking, prepare the milk soak. In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and optional cocoa powder if you want extra chocolatey goodness. You can also add some vanilla if you would like. I usually add more vanilla to the whipped cream for the extra vanilla flavor.
Soak the cake:
Once the cake is done baking let it cool for about 5 minutes. Then take a fork or a chopstick like me and poke a million holes in it!
Once you are done poking the holes take your milk mixture and pour it slowly over the cake. Allow the milk mixture to evenly spread across the cake. Pouring slowly allows the cake to soak up evenly so that not one side is too soaked.
Once it is soaked, put it back in the off oven for about 10 minutes to let the residual heat set the milk mixture.
Take it out of the oven and put it in the fridge overnight to allow it to fully soak and cool down.
Homemade Chocolatey Nutella whipped cream :
They next morning of baking and soaking the cake lets make some fresh homemade whipped cream. I love making homemade whipped cream because you add as much flavor as you want! This time, I decided to add Nutella to the whipped cream, and it turned out soooo good!
Add your heavy cream, sugar, cocoa powder, and Nutella in a large mixing bowl. Whip together the ingredients until they form peaks and are fluffy! You have the option to add more vanilla or Nutella to the mix until you get the chocolatey-ness of your liking.
Decorate and Garnish:
Take about 1/2 to 3/4 of your whipped cream and spread it evenly across the cake. You can then take your remaining whipped cream and use a piping bag to add some finishing touches.
It is fun to add some garnishes to your cake! I decided to add some fresh strawberries and cherries to my cake this time, but you can add candy bars or chocolate shavings as well! Something that I think would be a great garnish would be the Ferrero Rocher candies all around the sides!
Slice and Enjoy:
This Chocolate Tres Leches Cake is a chocolate lover’s dream—light, moist, and packed with flavor! Perfect for parties, family gatherings, or just an indulgent treat for yourself. Let me know how yours turns out! 
Comment below or tag me on social media! #edamamabean_ (Insta) or @edamamabean (tiktok)
Tips:
- Make-Ahead: This cake actually tastes better the next day after the milk has had more time to soak in.
- Extra Chocolatey: For an ultra-decadent version, sprinkle some mini chocolate chips or drizzle chocolate sauce over the top.
Equipment Used
- 9 x 13 Cake Pan
- Whisk
- Mixer
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Piping Bag
- Spatula
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Recipes Related
Easy Chocolate Tres Leche Cake
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- I cheated and used boxed cake! I used Devils Cake for this cake.
Three Milk Mixture
- 1 (12-oz) Can of Evaporated milk
- 1 (18-oz) can of Sweetened Condensed milk
- (18-oz) I can of Heavy Cream
- 2 Tbsp of Cocoa Powder
- 1 tsp of Vanilla
Chocolate Whipped Cream
- 2 Cups of Heavy Cream
- 1 Tbsp of Confectioners Sugar
- 2 Tbsp of Cocoa Powder
- 2 Tbsp of Nutella Optional
- Fruit or Chocolate Shavings for Garnishing
Instructions
Bake the Cake:
- I cheated this time and used a boxed cake mix! I like the way the devil cake turned out with this mixture. It was a little moist but I honestly want a soaked cake. So it is to your preference!
- Bake the cake according to the instructions on the box and we can make the milk mixture/ whipped cream while it is baking! I used a 9 x 13 cake pan for this design. But you can also do a round cakes as well.
Prepare the Tres Leches Soak:
- This is what we will moisten the cake with that gives it a tres leche name! While the cake is baking, prepare the milk soak. In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and optional cocoa powder if you want extra chocolatey goodness. You can also add some vanilla if you would like. I usually add more vanilla to the whipped cream for the extra vanilla flavor.
Soak the cake:
- Once the cake is done baking let it cool for about 5 minutes. Then take a fork or a chopstick like me and poke a million holes in it!
- Once you are done poking the holes take your milk mixture and pour it slowly over the cake. Allow the milk mixture to evenly spread across the cake. Pouring slowly allows the cake to soak up evenly so that not one side is too soaked.
- Once it is soaked, put it back in the off oven for about 10 minutes to let the residual heat set the milk mixture.
- Take it out of the oven and put it in the fridge overnight to allow it to fully soak and cool down.
Homemade Chocolatey Nutella whipped cream :
- They next morning of baking and soaking the cake lets make some fresh homemade whipped cream. I love making homemade whipped cream because you add as much flavor as you want! This time, I decided to add Nutella to the whipped cream, and it turned out soooo good!
- Add your heavy cream, sugar, cocoa powder, and Nutella in a large mixing bowl. Whip together the ingredients until they form peaks and are fluffy! You have the option to add more vanilla or Nutella to the mix until you get the chocolatey-ness of your liking.
Decorate and Garnish:
- Take about 1/2 to 3/4 of your whipped cream and spread it evenly across the cake. You can then take your remaining whipped cream and use a piping bag to add some finishing touches.
- It is fun to add some garnishes to your cake! I decided to add some fresh strawberries and cherries to my cake this time, but you can add candy bars or chocolate shavings as well! Something that I think would be a great garnish would be the Ferrero Rocher candies all around the sides!
Slice and Enjoy:
- This Chocolate Tres Leches Cake is a chocolate lover’s dream—light, moist, and packed with flavor! Perfect for parties, family gatherings, or just an indulgent treat for yourself. Let me know how yours turns out! 🍫✨
Tips:
- Make-Ahead: This cake actually tastes better the next day after the milk has had more time to soak in.
- Extra Chocolatey: For an ultra-decadent version, sprinkle some mini chocolate chips or drizzle chocolate sauce over the top.
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