Nowadays when my hubby goes out for business lunch, he will also try to take pictures of dishes just like a restaurant reviewer. I think my blogging bug is affecting him too, he is also curious to learn more about the dishes and bring back some feedback on them. For one of his lunch he was served tres leches cake as dessert. He showed me the picture of it and asked me to make it. I decide to try this Tres leches pastel con sabor a café /Coffee Flavored Tres Leches Cake as our dessert.
On goggling I came to know that Tres leches cake/ pastel de tres leches means three milk cake in Spanish. It is usually a sponge cake soaked with condensed milk, evaporated milk and heavy cream or whole milk and then topped with whipped icing. They need a fork to consume. They are soft and moist but not soggy I like that part. This cake is Latin American favorite however second to flan, and is included birthday parties, weddings, quinceañeras and all manner of celebratory family gatherings.
Even though there is not much clear evidence about its origin some argue that it is from Mexico, but some say it is from Nicaragua, where the European tradition of soaked cakes (Italian tiramisu) was made popular with the production of condensed and evaporated milk in the mid to late 1800s. By the way who cares for the origin, when taste is the key I am right.
I was first reluctant to make this cake, as it has sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk, along with topping and contain extra sugar. Since it is a calorie rich one it was strictly no for one part of my mind. But my other part of mind is not letting go, so I saw lot of recipes. Then this Christmas I had got a booklet from our local grocery store HEB, while going through the book lot of colorful pictures and recipes I saw this one. On one page there is Tresh leches cake recipe from Nestle Classic. I decided to give it a try as it has ½ cup sugar less than the other recipe. I halved the recipe too and made a small loaf. However I end up taking inspiration from this recipe also.
First I made cake with 2 eggs, flour, milk and ¼ cup sugar.
Then next in my list is to make soaking liquid. By accident I didn’t decrease the coffee amount to half in the soaking fluid, so even with condensed and evaporated milk and heavy cream it was really rich coffee taste. I poured that into the cake and soaked for overnight. Next morning about 90 % of soaking liquid was absorbed by the cake. If you want you can keep the rest, but I throw it out as it is difficult to transfer from one to another.
I whipped the heavy cream with little powdered sugar into stiff peaks, and then frosted the cake. However I didn’t add any extra coffee on the frosting thinking that it will be too much. I decorated with chocolate shaving and maraschino cherries, and next come the tasting part; I was so afraid that whether my coffee addition will do any damage. But in reality it made beautiful marble design in the cake and cake was full of coffee flavor. When I am doing research my boss used to say that accidents in the lab can cause wonders. Yes my extra addition of coffee made this cake delicious.
If you are coffee lover like me, and loves coffee ice cream, and tirasmisu, then go for it. This cake got finished within two days. My princess was all over the cake, she was even ready to open refrigerator door to get this cake out.
I am going to make full recipe next time. So why wait, try it yourself.
TRES LECHES PASTEL CON SABOR A CAFÉ /COFFEE FLAVORED TRES LECHES CAKE
Delicious coffee flavored Tres Leches cake made with coffee, milk, condensed milk, evaporated milk and topped with whipped cream and cherries.
Servings: 6
Calories: 369kcal
Ingredients
- CAKE
- 2 egg whites I used jumbo large
- ¼ cup granulated sugar divided
- 2 egg yolks I used Jumbo large
- ½ cup all-purpose flour sifted
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder I used Aluminum free one
- CREAM
- ½ cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
- ¼ cup Heavy cream
- ¼ cup Evaporated Milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon Instant coffee ( granules dissolved in 2 tablespoon hot water )
- TOPPING
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 11/2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Decorations
- 1 oz dark chocolate shaved
- Maraschino Cherries
Instructions
- FOR CAKE:PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Butter 1 1.2 quarts loaf pan 3.2 " H x 11.5 " W x 5.0 " D Sift the flour, baking powder into a medium bowl and set aside.
- Separate the eggs, putting the whites in a medium bowl and the yolks in a large bowl. With an electric mixer, beat the yolks with 2 tablespoons of the sugar on medium speed until the mixture is pale and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the milk and vanilla and beat until combined, 1 minute more.
- Clean and dry the beaters and then beat the egg whites, gradually increasing the speed to high, until they reach soft peaks, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the remaining sugar in a stream, continuing to beat on high, until you reach firm but not dry peaks, 1 to 2 minutes more. Whisk a third of the dry ingredients into the yolk mixture until thoroughly combined. Gently fold in a third of the egg whites with a rubber spatula. Fold in the remaining dry ingredients and egg whites, alternately, in two more batches each, until fully incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared dish or pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 28 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then invert the cake onto the rack, remove the parchment, and let cool completely.
- Return the cake to the baking dish or pan (the cake will soak up more of the liquid if returned to the pan it was baked in), or invert it onto a rimmed platter.
- Soak the cake:In a small bowl stir together the condensed milk, evaporated milk, heavy cream, coffee, until the condensed milk is well blended. With a toothpick/fork, prick the cake to the bottom in ½-inch intervals. Pour the soaking liquid slowly over the cake, starting at the edges and pausing to let it soak in before adding more. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the cake is well chilled, at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
- Top the cake: In a large bowl add cream and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed. When it begins to thicken, slowly add the sugar and vanilla and continue to beat just until it holds firm peaks, 3 to 4 minutes (be careful not to over beat). Spread the whipped cream all over the top of the cake, sprinkle the chocolate shaving and maraschino cherries and serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 369kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 225mg | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 820IU | Vitamin C: 1.1mg | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 0.6mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @nidhinikhil or tag #zestysouthindiankitchenrecipes!
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This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
It is so funny that our blogging bug affects the whole family! Love this cake and it is a great one for summer gatherings.
Gunjan says
Whoa! I am drooling over this cake. I wish to dig into it right now.
Priya Yallapantula says
Can I come to get a piece please? It is simply irresistible.
Priya Sahasranaman says
I love Tres Leches cakes, and with coffee in it - I gotta gotta have it!!
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Suja Manoj says
I am a big fan of this cake,looks stunning,absolutely yum
Vimitha Anand says
Super duper cake... Looks so inviting
Sanoli Ghosh says
Love this combo and amazing cake Swathi. Wish I could be near to you dear.....absolutely delicious.
today's post:
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♥LOVE2COOK MALAYSIA♥ says
Mind blowing cake dear! How lovely...I would love a piece right now 😉
Janaki Garcia says
I'm a coffee lover so this recipe is super thumbs up for me 🙂
Premalatha Aravindhan says
wow yummy cake dear, loved the presentation...
Jay says
this is delicious...this is in my to do list..
Tasty Appetite
Saraswathi Tharagaram says
Looks delicious and love to have slice of it Swathi..
Gheza e shiriin says
Wow.too inviting.whenever i thought to try out tres leches i worried it will be a soggy cake . But now will definitely try it out.
mjskit says
Oh YUM! I love Tres Lechas and added coffee certainly isn't going to hurt it - only enhance it even more. Great recipe!
Shabbu says
Really delicious and yummy..
Gajus kitchen says
Wonderful cake and well presented with step by step instructions. I heard about this cake from ny sister before but I have the interest to try it after seeing your recipe now.
Amy says
What a beautiful cake and you did a wonderful job decorating it. I don't like desserts that are too sweet and I love that you picked a recipe with less sugar in it. 🙂 So gorgeous and I can't wait to try it.
Nivedhanams Sowmya says
wow super cake!!! so sinfully delicious!!!
Sowmya
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Reeni Pisano says
What a beautiful and delicious sounding cake Swathi! I have heard of this before but never was lucky enough to taste it. I'm inspired to make one now! Bet it was really good with coffee flavor and the 3 milks.
Akila says
Wow such a yummy cake... Perfectly done...
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Julie says
wow,such a beautiful piece..love to have it,saw this cake video in you tube sometime back..looks scrumptious!!
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Zoe says
Hi Swathi,
We are going to bake Tres leches cake for our bake-along soon. Yours look great!
Zoe
blueberrykitchen says
Yum, this looks absolutely delicious!
Helen Prabha says
Oh my God.....its gorgeous.... Lovely, super delicious cake....:-)
Rafeeda A. Raheem says
ayyo swathi... u r really killing me... that looks absolutely delicious and amazing... i wish i could have that full plate... 🙂
Vidhya Viju Govind says
this is lovely swathi - coffee flavor is a family favorite..........i will try this soon,havent baked a cake in a while 🙂
Lena Rashmin Raj says
wowww....this looks amazing..treat to eyes..cake speaks everything 🙂 beautiful :)following you..
Sona S says
delicious and tempting cake, pics are lovely and inviting..
Rosita Vargas says
Tiene un aspecto muy bueno me encanta esta torta tres leche es muy famosa aquí en Chile hugs,hugs.
Savitha Ganesan says
Melting with the cake.Looks delish.
Candace says
I love it that your husband takes photos of his food. That's awesome. I have had Tres Leches cake although I've always thought that it sounded delicious. Your coffee flavored one sounds like something that I would enjoy even more. Yum!
Chelsea Marrs says
Love your blog! Must try that cake.
Please follow back if you can 🙂
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Chels
Guru Uru says
Your decoration of this tres leches cake is brilliant my friend and it looks so moist 😀
Cheers
CCU
laavys kitchen says
They look incredibly delicious 🙂
Srimathi says
Swathi, Its nice when your family is involved in what you enjoy doing. Its so nice of your husband to give you such suggestions. The cake looks delicious. I am a big fan of Tres Leches. I remember watching Alton Brown's show Good Eats have a episode on Tres Leches. it was time consuming. Good job in baking this cake.
Marisa says
When I've seen the title of your recipe in Spanish and that this pastel is one of my favourites, I've come in a rush. Delicious cake and with the coffee flavor, it must have a special taste. Cheers from Valencia
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Archana Potdar says
Ho wow. I love this. What is evaporated milk? same as Khava or mawa?
Navaneetham Krishnan says
I am a big fan of coffee, thus coffee falvoured cake is certainly pleasing to my taste. As usual, you come up with stunning desserts and praises to that.
Hari Chandana P says
Wowww.. looks super tempting and inviting.. awesome pictures too.. thanks for the wonderful recipe dear 😀
Marlys Folly says
YUM! I think I am coming to your house for coffee....
Swathi Iyer says
You are welcome.
kausers kitchen says
OMG, that looks irresistible, wud luv to have a slice, yum yum.
Poornima Porchelvan says
yummy cake.
Latha Madhusudhan says
coffee flavored cake looks sinful. Well made.
Sangeetha Priya says
So delicious and love the coffee flavor much 🙂
Jeya Jemini says
tempting superb moist,soft cake....
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Gayathri Ramanan says
wow..looks moist and yummy..lovely clicks
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fabieri says
wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww beautifullllllllll
thanks so much!
Rani's gourmet says
wow!!!!!!!! feel like to grab that slice 🙂
divya says
Wow!!! Such a tempting cake. I would love to have a generous slice of this cake. Absolutely mouthwatering.
Arthy Suman says
Superb yummy cake love the taste n aroma....
spusht says
that's a lot of work!!! and if you can do this with the 2 kids around you, then i think anyone else can get inspired to make! 😀
great job.
Rita Bose says
Yummy cake! Superb presentation! Lovely snaps.
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Veena Theagarajan says
super yummy cake! love to hv a piece!
Leena says
Looks scumptuious....yum
Shree Kanneppady says
Swathi, Can i get a parcel ?
I'm really very very proud to follow your blog 🙂
Swathi Iyer says
Yes you can get it
Amrita Vishal says
Lovely cake Swathi and are we glad you went overboard with coffee!!Loved the marbled effect.
Divya Shivaraman says
oh mine - can i give you my address, got to have a slice of that baby
Swathi Iyer says
Sure
Priya says
Wish i live near you to enjoy atleast a huge slice of this cake, marvellous.
Swathi Iyer says
You can visit me any time Priya. You are welcome.
Priya R says
Delicious cake Swathi... i am loving the combinations 🙂 yummm
Subhie Arun says
Wow that was perfect cake.. Lov to hv apiece...