Easy Tres Leches Cake is a delicious doctored cake mix recipe with a creamy whipped topping. This ultra moist cake is just the thing to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

Slice of Easy Tres Leches Cake on a plate with fresh strawberries.

What Is Tres Leches Cake?

Tres Leches is a popular Mexican and Latin American dessert. Tres Leches means “3 milk”. This easy dessert consists of a cake cooked in a 9×13-inch pan which is then soaked with 3 milks: sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, and heavy cream.

Only a handful of simple ingredients are needed.

Slice of cake on plate with rest of cake in background.

Ingredients

  • Yellow Cake Mix– I use Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker.
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Large Egg
  • Sweetened Condensed Milk– comes in a can. Be sure not to use evaporated milk. They look the same at first glance.
  • Whole Milk
  • Heavy Cream
  • Cool Whip– If you prefer, you can use 3 cups of fresh whipped cream.
Unfrosted cake in 9x13-inch pan.

How To Serve

Tres Leches Cake is typically served cold. The addition of the millk mixture gives the cake a custard-like texture and it tastes really good chilled. I like to serve it with any kind of seasonal fruit. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or peaches are delicious with it. You could even do fresh pineapple or mango for more of a tropical flavor. It makes a great Cinco de Mayo dessert and is also good for a potluck or summer cookout.

Make Ahead

This cake is even better if it is made a day in advance to really give the cake time to soak up all the milk. You can make it 2 days in advance if necessary.

Tres LEches Cake with slice cut away.

Recipe Tips

Be sure to let the cake cool a little before poking holes in it.

Cake should be made at least 2 hours in advance.

For a little extra flavor, sprinkle a little ground cinnamon on top.

You can add half a teaspoon of almond extract to the batter for extra flavor.

How To Store Easy Tres Leches Cake

Cover well with plastic wrap and it will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days.

Slice of cake with fresh strawberries.

More Tres Leches Cake Recipes

Easy Tres Leches Cake

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 12
Easy Tres Leches Cake is a delicious doctored cake mix recipe with a creamy whipped topping. This ultra moist cake is just the thing to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
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Ingredients

  • 1 (regular-size) box Yellow Cake Mix
  • cups water
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 12 ounces Cool Whip
  • fresh fruit for serving

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, use a hand-held electric mixer to beat cake mix, water, oil, and eggs on LOW speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute.
    Pour batter into pan. Bake for 28 to 34 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Let cake cool 5 minutes and then use a fork to poke holes all over the top.
  • In a large bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, and heavy cream Slowly pour over cake.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  • Spread whipped cream on top and serve with fresh fruit.

Notes

For extra flavor, sprinkle cinnamon on top.
Nutritional info is provided as an estimate only and will vary based on brands of products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 363mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 42g | Vitamin A: 524IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 238mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Recipe adpated from Betty Crocker.

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