Dessert · Latin American ·

Luscious Mexican Tres Leches Cake with Espresso-Soaked Layers

Name: Luscious Mexican Tres Leches Cake with Espresso-Soaked Layers
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/4 tsp salt; 5 large eggs, separated; 1 cup sugar, divided into two 1/2 cups; 1/3 cup whole milk; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 cup evaporated milk; 1 cup sweetened condensed milk; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1/2 cup freshly brewed espresso; 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream; 2 tbsp sugar; 1/2 tsp vanilla extract; 1/4 cup chocolate shavings; 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

A delightful Mexican dessert with a moist and flavorful coffee-soaked sponge, topped with a silky smooth whipped cream.

4.5(916 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·January 13, 2026

Luscious Mexican Tres Leches Cake with Espresso-Soaked Layers — Dessert served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Sponge Cake

For the Tres Leches Mixture

For the Whipped Cream Topping

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 634 kcal
Protein: 10.06 g
Carbs: 56.2 g
Fat: 41.39 g
Fiber: 0.24 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 5069 kcal
Protein: 80.5 g
Carbs: 449.6 g
Fat: 331.1 g
Fiber: 2 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 cup all-purpose flour	455	13	95	1.2	3.4
1 1/2 tsp baking powder	2	0	1.16	0	0
1/4 tsp salt	0	0	0	0	0
5 large eggs, separated	350	30	2.5	24	0
1 cup sugar, divided into two 1/2 cups	774	0	200	0	0
1/3 cup whole milk	50	2.67	4.8	2.67	0
1 tsp vanilla extract	12	0	0.53	0	0
1 cup evaporated milk	338	17	25	19	0
1 cup sweetened condensed milk	982	24	166	27	0
1/2 cup heavy cream	411	3.37	3.34	43.3	0
1/2 cup freshly brewed espresso	1	0.1	0	0.1	0
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream	1234	10.1	10.4	133	0
2 tbsp sugar	96	0	25	0	0
1/2 tsp vanilla extract	6	0	0.27	0	0
1/4 cup chocolate shavings	180	2	18	12	2
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon	3	0.06	0.6	0.03	0.6

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Sponge Cake

1
Preheat and Prepare Pan
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2
Combine Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3
Mix Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, beat egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar until pale and fluffy. Stir in milk and vanilla extract until combined.

Beating the Egg Whites

1
Beat to Soft Peaks
In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites to soft peaks using an electric mixer.
2
Add Remaining Sugar
Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.
3
Fold Whites into Batter
Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the yolk mixture. Then fold in the flour mixture until fully incorporated.
Tip: ⚠ Do not over-mix the batter to keep the sponge light and airy. 💡 Use a spatula to carefully fold ingredients, maintaining as much air as possible.

How to Make Luscious Mexican Tres Leches Cake with Espresso-Soaked Layers

Total time: 2 h · Yields 8 servings

1
Baking the Sponge
Pour batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
2
Soaking the Cake
Poke holes all over the cake with a fork and slowly pour the espresso-tres leches mixture evenly over the cake.
3
Whipping the Cream
In a chilled bowl, beat the cream, sugar, and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.