This tres leches cake recipe is easy to make with a moist vanilla cake mix and a three different milks! It’s perfectly light and refreshing with the best sweet flavor.
Love Mexican inspired recipes? Other desserts we love include homemade churros, sopapillas and churro cupcakes!
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Easy Tres Leches Cake with Cake Mix
This tres leches cake recipe with cake mix is SO much easier than making a vanilla cake from scratch yet just as delicious. It has the best sweet flavor, is super light, moist and the homemade whipped topping really makes the dessert recipe!
Ground cinnamon is the typical topping for a tres leches cake, but I also love to serve mine with fresh berries or toasted coconut on top. It’s so light and fresh and makes the perfect treat for spring or summer. This tres leches cake recipe with vanilla cake mix turns out beautiful and easy thanks to a boxed cake mix recipe.
Recipe Ingredients
This tres leches cake recipe is made from mostly pantry staples, including a cake mix, a filling made with 3 different milks (that the cake soaks up) and whipped topping.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Cake: I love to make this tres leches cake recipe with a French vanilla cake mix (I used Betty Crocker Super Moist) and then mixing it with eggs, vegetable oil, water and sour cream. A yellow cake mix can be used as well.
- Three milks: The cake gets its name from three different types of milk (tres leches) being soaked into the crumb of the cake. This recipe uses sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and heavy cream.
- Topping: The rich and creamy topping is made from whipping heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract for the best homemade whipped cream that really makes this dessert!
Favorite Toppings
Although this cake tastes delicious as is, adding a few extra toppings really takes it to the next level. Any of the below ideas would taste amazing!
- A sprinkle of ground cinnamon
- Toasted coconut
- Pecans
- Freshly sliced strawberries or fresh raspberries
- A drizzle of salted caramel sauce
- Maraschino cherries
How to Make Tres Leches Cake with Cake Mix
This easy tres leches cake recipe with cake mix is a snap to make and only requires a little bit of patience while it chills.
- Bake the cake. In an electric mixer, mix together the cake mix, eggs, oil and water 2 to 3 minutes on medium speed. Fold in the sour cream. Add cake batter to baking dish and bake. Cool 10 to 20 minutes.
- Poke the cake. Whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy cream. Poke the top of the cake with a fork, about every inch or so. Pour the sweet milk mixture slowly and evenly over the top. Chill at least 1 hour, or preferably overnight to allow the milk to soak into the cake.
- Make the topping. Beat together the cream, sugar, and vanilla on high speed until a stiff peak forms. Once the topping has thickened, spread over the cooled cake.
- Serve. Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top, if using. Serve with fresh strawberries, maraschino cherries, or toasted coconut, if desired.
Helpful Tips
This is the best tres leches cake recipe with a box mix and would be perfect to serve at a Cinco De Mayo party.
- Let cool. It’s important to let the cake cool for about 10 to 20 minutes before adding the milk mixture. You don’t want to pour it over while it’s still super hot.
- Soak. Similar to jello poke cake, you’ll poke holes throughout the cake and then pour the milk on top to soak in. It should then soak in the refrigerator for at least an hour, but preferably overnight. The longer it soaks, the more moist and flavorful it will be.
- Freeze beaters. Before making the whipped topping, place your bowl and beaters in the freezer for about 15 minutes to help the peak form faster.
- Sturdier whipped topping. You can make a stabilized whipped cream with the simple addition of gelatin. The stabilized version will hold it’s shape a bit longer.
- Homemade version. If you’re looking to make this cake from scratch, try The Pioneer Woman Tres Leches Cake. I’ve made it and if you have time it’s great.
Recipe FAQs
Tres leches means “three milks,” which is how the dessert got its name. It soaks in a mixture of 3 different milks: evaporated milk, condensed milk and heavy cream. It’s a traditional Latin American dessert just like arroz con leche.
It has a light, spongy texture and is typically topped with a whipped cream topping. You may also hear it referred to as a “milk cake” or even a “Mexican cake.”
This cake recipe is ideal for making in advance, as it needs to soak in the fridge for awhile. If making the day beforehand, wait to add the whipped topping until right before serving. It can deflate if you add the topping too far in advance. This way it will taste super fresh and delicious!
Yes, this cake is a chilled dessert that should be refrigerated and served cold. due to the amount of milk used in it. Store leftover uncut cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Yes and no! You can make the cake, cool it completely and freeze it. I would not add the milk mixture before freezing. Once your cake is thawed you can proceed with adding the milk mixture, chilling and then serving with whipped cream.
Love easy cake recipes? Try this gooey butter cake recipe, lemon poke cake or chocolate poke cake recipe next!
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Tres Leches Cake Recipe
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Ingredients
Cake
- 1 (15-ounce) box French vanilla cake or yellow mix (I used Betty Crocker Super Moist)
- 4 large eggs
- 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 ¼ cups water
- ½ cup sour cream
Milk Mixture
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- dash of vanilla
Topping
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 Tablespoons powdered or granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon , optional
Optional for serving: Fresh strawberries, Maraschino cherries, or Toasted coconut
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Cake
- In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the cake mix, eggs, oil and water 2 to 3 minutes on medium speed. Fold in the sour cream. Pour into the baking dish. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool 15 to 20 minutes.
Milk Mixture
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy cream. Add a dash of vanilla. Poke the top of the cake with a fork, about every inch or so. Pour about half the milk mixture slowly and evenly over the top. Allow it to soak in and then slowly pour the rest over the top of the cake.
- Refrigerate at least 1-2 hours, or preferably overnight to allow the milk to soak into the cake.
Topping
- Place the beaters and bowl from a stand mixer in the freezer for a few minutes to help the whipped cream form peaks faster. Beat together the cream, sugar, and vanilla on high speed until a stiff peak forms. Once the topping has thickened, spread over the cooled cake.
- Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top, if using. Serve with fresh strawberries, maraschino cherries, or toasted coconut, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Cake + Cupcakes, Cinco De Mayo, Desserts, Kid-Friendly, Mexican
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
My husband loved it, but it’s too wet in my opinion.
Wonderful and easy to make. The French vanilla cake mix tastes better with the cream (tres leches) sauce in our family’s opinion. But both good. A hit with the family and friends. Requested to be a regular on the dessert rotation. :-)
Yay! Always love to hear a regular rotation. Glad that you love this tres leches cake.
Made this yesterday for my birthday! It was so delicious! Everyone loved it
Happy birthday to you! Glad that you enjoyed it and everyone else too!
Taste so good, A++
Made this tres leches cake last easter, it was a crowd favorite!
So glad you enjoyed the tres leches cake!
This is my husband’s favorite cake and it was the first time making it for him. Thank you so much for this amazing recipe, he (and everyone else here) LOVED it!!
Oh snap! This is delicious! Everyone loved it. I need another party so I can make it again. Ha!
I love tres leches cake! Such an easy recipe and it turned out so moist, thanks!
This tres leches cake is so easy and delicious!
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!
So glad to hear it!
My favorite cake! Loved your version with the cake mix! So much easier
This is a great recipe for tres leches! Can’t wait to make it for Cinco de Mayo Love it!!
A huge hit in my house!
wow! mouthwatering cake so delicious
Such a delicious cake…and perfect for Cinco de Mayo!
I love topping it with strawberries! Such a good combo.
Adding strawberries is my favorite too! So good!
I’m Absolutely keeping this recipe this cake Is delicious!!
One of my favorites! Always so tasty!