The Latin American Way to Make Boxed Cake Mix 10x Better
- Tres leches cake is a moist vanilla cake soaked in a mixture of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy cream, popular in many parts of the world including the United States.
If you've ever been to a party where tres leches was served, you know just how irresistible it can be. The cake, though not the easiest to make from scratch, is rich and decadent while simultaneously light and tender. While I love to nerd out over a super involved cooking project , I will never pass up an easy solution when it comes to homemade dessert . That's why tres leches cake made with boxed cake mixand only a handful of additional ingredients changed the game for me.
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What is Tres Leches Cake?
Tres leches, which translates to "three milks" in Spanish is a moist vanilla cake soaked in a mixture of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and heavy cream. It's delicately sweet with a subtle vanilla flavor and incredibly moist, thanks to the triple threat of milks, yet the cake remains surprisingly light and spongy. Topping the cake off with fresh whipped cream or fluffy frosting is "of utmost necessity," according to Mexican cookbook author, Pati Jinich .
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As with so many classic dishes, the origins of tres leches cake are somewhat blurry. Some claim tres leches hails from Central America while others such as Jinich are certain the dish is rooted in Mexico. No matter what, tres leches is immensely popular in many parts of the world, including here in the United States. It's so popular here, in fact, that there was a huge public outcry when Duncan Hines discontinued their tres leches cake mix back in June 2022. Even beloved grocery store Costco carries its own tres leches cake as a seasonal treat.
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Why You Should Make Tres Leches Cake with Boxed Cake Mix
Boxed cake mixes are a game-changer when it comes to easy baking. We've tried and come up with so many boxed cake mix hacks and they've all rendered incredible results. But the idea of turning things on its head can warrant a remix in and of itself. In the case of boxed cake mix hacking , sometimes it's not about what you put in boxed cake to make it better. Rather, it's what you put on top that takes it over the top.
Tres leches cake made with boxed cake mix doubles down on everything dessert people love about the classic cake. People won't believe you used a shortcut!
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How to Make Tres Leches Cake with Boxed Cake Mix
To start, you'll need a box of yellow cake mix, like Betty Crocker Super Moist Yellow Cake Mix. Prepare the cake batter according to the package instructions, pour the batter into a cake pan and bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
While the cake is in the oven, whisk together sweetened condensed milk , whole milk and heavy whipping cream . Let the baked cake stand for 5 minutes. Use a fork to poke holes every 1/2 inch across the top of the cake. Slowly pour the milk mixture evenly over the top of the cake, ensuring the liquid fills each hole. Refrigerate the cake for about 2 hours, or until chilled. Spread a can of frosting over the chilled cake and serve in big slices.
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