Gingerbread Tres Leches Cake Recipe | The Feedfeed (2024)

Recipe Intro From cynthiajordan

Ilove Tres Leches Cake in all of its soggy glory. This cake was Inspired by the popular Latin American dessert, asponge cake soaked in three different kinds of milk-typically sweetened condensed, evaporated, and whole milk. If you have never tried it, you really should because it's one of my favorites. The first time I ever made one was for an ex's 21st birthday. I was told by a friend that I wouldn't be ableto execute it properly (in hindsight she was kinda a lousy friend!!) and I, being me, needed to prove her totally wrong. I like to believe I did. I ended up making thatsame recipe 10years (!)later into a massive cake for a Christmas party at a commissary kitchen in the Bronx.

This year I was feeling in the gingerbread spirit- I wanted to do aholiday spin using agingerbread sponge cake and decided toinfuse the three kinds of milk with cinnamon and fresh ginger. The topping is a cream cheese whipped cream, to add just the right amount of tang.

Jump to Section

  • Recipe Card

Prep time 45mins

Cook time 45mins

Recipe Card

Gingerbread Sponge Cake

ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups cake flour
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon cloves
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
  • Zest from 1 lemon
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seed oil (or neutral oil)
  • 3/4 cup unsulphured molasses (preferably Grandma’s)
  • 2 eggs, yolks and whites separated
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup warm coffee (or warm water, black or ginger tea)

Soak

ingredients

  • 1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 can (12 ounce) evaporated milk
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 small knob peeled fresh ginger (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Whipped Cream

ingredients

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounces (1/2 block) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup confectioners sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Homemade or store bought gingerbread cookies, for decorating

To make the cake:

Method

  • Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350* and grease a 13x9 inch baking dish.

  • Step 2

    Sift together cake flour, cocoa, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

  • Step 3

    In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the ¾ cup of sugar and lemon zest. Run mixer on low until combined.

  • Step 4

    In a glass measuring cup combine oil, molasses, yolks, and vanilla. Stream into low running mixer. Turn mixer speed up to medium and mix until completely combined.

  • Step 5

    Turn speed back down to low and add ⅓ of the dry mixture followed by half of the warm coffee. Scrape down bowl, and repeat until ending with the dry. Increase speed to medium until combined thoroughly.

  • Step 6

    Transfer batter to a large clean bowl. Wash mixing bowl and dry completely before whipping egg whites.

  • Step 7

    Using the whisk attachment, whip egg whites on low speed, gradually sprinkle in the remaining two tablespoons of sugar. Once egg whites begin to froth up, increase speed to medium. Whip until medium soft peaks form. About 5-6 minutes.

  • Step 8

    Gently fold egg whites into batter and transfer to the prepared baking dish. Bake for 40-45 minutes rotating halfway through.

  • Step 9

    While cake is baking, make the soaking liquid by combining sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, cinnamon stick and vanilla extract into a small pot. Turn heat to medium.

  • Step 10

    Whisk together well until completely warmed through, about 8 minutes. Turn off heat and cover with a lid until ready to use.

  • Step 11

    Remove cake from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before using a skewer to poke holes all over the cake.

  • Step 12

    Remove the cinnamon stick and ginger (if using) from the milk mixture and evenly distribute across the surface of the cake making sure it is absorbing. [Note: Do this slowly. Be sure not to rush so the cake has time to absorb.]

  • Step 13

    Allow cake to cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate until ready to top.

  • Step 14

    To make the topping, whip heavy cream to medium soft peaks. Transfer to a medium bowl and set aside in the refrigerator.

  • Step 15

    Using the same mixing bowl (no need to wash) and whisk attachment, combine cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar, and vanilla. Beat until completely smooth.

  • Step 16

    Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture using a spatula until combined and smooth.

  • Step 17

    Spread over top of cake and garnish with pomegranate seeds, zest, and cinnamon if desired. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Gingerbread Tres Leches Cake Recipe | The Feedfeed (2024)

FAQs

Why is tres leches not soggy? ›

Sponge cake is the cake for the job because it will absorb the large quantity of milk poured over it without breaking down into a soggy mess.

Why is my tres leches cake too dense? ›

If it is in fact dry after you've poured the liquid over the top, there's probably a problem with your cake. This sponge cake does a very good job of absorbing liquid because it's light and, well, spongey. However, if you over mix the batter, it can cause the cake to lose its airiness and come out dense.

How many days can tres leches cake stay in the fridge? ›

Store Tres Leches Cake in the refrigerator, covered, for 3-5 days. Make Ahead Instructions: You can make Tres leches cake 1-2 days in advance. In fact, I love to make this cake the night before so that the cake has a lot of time to soak up the milk mixture.

Why is tres leches cake popular in Mexico? ›

The Tres Leches cake has a long history that evolved with colonization, and for a certain time was only enjoyed by the uber-rich in Latin America, until the ingredients used to make the cake became cheaper and more accessible.

Can I leave tres leches cake out overnight? ›

Does Tres Leches Cake need to be refrigerated? Yes, Tres Leches Cake should be refrigerated because it is saturated with three types of dairy plus the whipped topping.

Can you skip evaporated milk in tres leches? ›

Virtually all tres leches cakes use sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk as two out of the three milks. Some people choose to use heavy cream, half and half or whole milk as the third milk. Heavy cream will give a richer flavor while whole milk will be lighter–it depends on your preference.

What can I add to make my cake more dense? ›

On their own, boxed cake mixes have a structure that's loose and airy. But if you add ¼ cup flour or half a box of instant pudding mix, the texture of the cake becomes denser and tighter, ideal for a pound-cake-like consistency that will hold the shape of a Bundt pan.

Why did my tres leches cake deflate? ›

This is because too much batter in one cake tin may result in the weight of the batter being too much for the cake to support, causing the cake to collapse and sink in the middle as it bakes. This is especially true for cake recipes which have a more softer, delicate structure to them, which many of my cake recipes do.

How long can tres leches sit? ›

Tres leches cake is good for 3-4 days when stored in the fridge. If you know you won't be eating the cake for a day or two, I recommend waiting to top with the whipped cream until just before serving because if it is not fully whipped it may lose volume over time.

Is it OK to freeze tres leches cake? ›

Yes, you can freeze tres leches cake. However, it's best to add the whipped cream topping after the cake is thawed. Simply wrap the sponge cake in a layer of storage wrap, then in a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to three months.

How much is the tres leches cake at Costco? ›

Caramel tres leches cake: $17.99.

Does tres leches cake need to be refrigerated or frozen? ›

Does Tres Leches Cake Need to be Refrigerated? This is one cake that you'll want to keep in the refrigerator. First of all, it just tastes really good when it's cold. But because of the milks and because of the whipped cream topping, you'll need to keep this cake in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve it.

What is a fun fact about tres leches? ›

FUN FACTS. It is believed that Tres Leches started in Spain after being influenced by the traditional English trifle, though some say that it started in Latin America. Either way, it was at a time when nothing could go to waste, stale bread was soaked in milk to make it more palatable. Yummy and resourceful!

What does tres leches mean in english? ›

Etymology. borrowed from Spanish tres leches "three milks," referring to the three milk products used in the cake.

Which country invented tres leches cake? ›

Tres Leches as we know it is a fixture in all of Latin American cuisine. While there is some lively debate on whether Nicaragua is the birthplace of the milky cake, the general consensus is that Mexico holds the strongest claim to that honor.

Is tres leche cake supposed to be soggy? ›

My Tres Leches Cake is designed to be soft, perfectly moist, and NOT soggy! It's made with a homemade vanilla cake soaked in three milks and topped with whipped cream. You'll be amazed at how incredible this tastes!

How do you fix a dry tres leches cake? ›

Soak your cake in milk or cream.

Simply brush on a few tablespoons of milk or cream to the top of your dry cake or, for a truly indulgent finish, follow recipes like one-bowl tres leches poke cake, baked and soaked in a combination of whole milk, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk.

Why is my leche flan not soft? ›

I like to bake my flan at a lower temperature so that it has time to cook evenly. and if your oven isn't calibrated correctly. it'll end up either under baked or over baked. a perfectly cooked flan should be firm around the edge.

What is special about tres leches? ›

Tres leches is a very light cake, with many air bubbles. This distinct texture is why it does not have a soggy consistency, despite being soaked in a mixture of three types of milk. Its Macedonian variety is Referred to as Trileče.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Fredrick Kertzmann

Last Updated:

Views: 6483

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fredrick Kertzmann

Birthday: 2000-04-29

Address: Apt. 203 613 Huels Gateway, Ralphtown, LA 40204

Phone: +2135150832870

Job: Regional Design Producer

Hobby: Nordic skating, Lacemaking, Mountain biking, Rowing, Gardening, Water sports, role-playing games

Introduction: My name is Fredrick Kertzmann, I am a gleaming, encouraging, inexpensive, thankful, tender, quaint, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.