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Dessert

Tres Leches Cake II

A sponge cake soaked in sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy whipping cream, topped with cool whip.

From the Wikibooks Cookbook · 5 ingredients
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Why it works: Condensed milk and evaporated milk match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 168 recipes. Both carry ethanol, which smells alcoholic, ethereal. The science ↓

Tres Leches Cake II

Time8 hours or overnight

Ingredients

Directions

Prepare the cake

  1. Prepare cake mix as directed on the package.

  2. Transfer the prepared mix to a greased baking dish or cake pan.

  3. Bake the cake per the directions on the cake mix package.

  4. Remove the finished cake from the oven.

Make the milk mixture

  1. While the cake is baking, combine the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy whipping cream to make the milk mixture. Mix the milk mixture well.

Soak and serve

  1. Poke holes all over the top of the cake with a fork.

  2. Pour all of the milk mixture over the cake.

  3. Cover the cake and refrigerate it for 8 hours or overnight.

  4. Immediately before serving, spread the cake with cool whip or as guests prefer.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

200Calories
8 gProtein
13 gFat
12 gCarbs

Counts 2 of 4 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.

What these numbers assume: 2 portions
IngredientPortion assumedkcal
Milk1 cup (244ml) whole149
Cream1 tbsp (15ml) heavy51
Cakenot in our table0
Puddingnot in our table0

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Wikibooks Cookbook.

Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.

Explore the science

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

  1. Condensed milk + evaporated milktop 1% of all pairs
    Smell alikestrong
    Cooked together168 recipes

    Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).

  2. Condensed milk + creamtop 14% of all pairs
    Smell alikemoderate
    Cooked together416 recipes

    Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).

  3. Evaporated milk + creamtop 14% of all pairs
    Smell alikemoderate
    Cooked together202 recipes

    Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

White cake mix
Provides the sponge structure that absorbs the milk mixture and holds its shape.
Sweetened condensed milk
Adds sweetness and richness, and thickens the soaking liquid into a creamy texture.
Evaporated milk
Adds milk solids and body to the soaking liquid, keeping the cake moist and creamy.
Heavy whipping cream
Adds fat for a richer, smoother soak that keeps the cake tender.
Cool whip
Forms a light, sweet topping that adds creaminess and a cool contrast to the cake.

The step that matters

Poking holes and pouring the milk mixture over the warm-to-cool cake. The holes give the milk mixture channels into the crumb. Pouring it over the whole surface lets the sponge soak it evenly, so the cake becomes moist throughout rather than soggy in spots or dry in the centre.

“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.

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