Dessert · Latin American · Caribbean ·

Luscious Puerto Rican Tres Leches Cake with Rum Glaze

Name: Luscious Puerto Rican Tres Leches Cake with Rum Glaze
Prep time: 62 min
Cook time: 185 min
Total time: 247 min
Yield: 10 servings
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: All-purpose flour, 1 cup; Baking powder, 1 ½ teaspoons; Salt, ¼ teaspoon; Large eggs, 5, separated; Granulated sugar, 1 cup, divided; Whole milk, ⅓ cup; Vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon; Evaporated milk, 1 cup; Sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup; Whole milk, ½ cup; Heavy cream, ½ cup; Butter, 2 tablespoons; Dark rum, ¼ cup; Powdered sugar, 1 cup; Heavy cream, 1 cup; Powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons; Vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon

This rich and indulgent Tres Leches Cake is elevated with a hint of rum in the glaze, offering a perfect balance of sweetness and warmth that's irresistible.

4.5(339 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 27, 2025

Luscious Puerto Rican Tres Leches Cake with Rum Glaze — Dessert served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h 2 min

Cook

3 h 5 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Cake

For the Milk Mixture

For the Rum Glaze

For the Topping

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 522 kcal
Protein: 10 g
Carbs: 65 g
Fat: 23 g
Fiber: 0 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 5215 kcal
Protein: 101 g
Carbs: 653 g
Fat: 230 g
Fiber: 3 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
All-purpose flour 1 cup	455	13	95	1	3
Baking powder 1 ½ teaspoons	2	0	1	0	0
Salt ¼ teaspoon	0	0	0	0	0
Large eggs 5, separated	350	30	2	25	0
Granulated sugar 1 cup, divided	774	0	200	0	0
Whole milk ⅓ cup	52	3	5	3	0
Vanilla extract 1 teaspoon	12	0	1	0	0
Evaporated milk 1 cup	338	17	25	19	0
Sweetened condensed milk 1 cup	982	25	166	27	0
Whole milk ½ cup	75	4	6	4	0
Heavy cream ½ cup	410	3	3	43	0
Butter 2 tablespoons	204	0	0	23	0
Dark rum ¼ cup	180	0	0	0	0
Powdered sugar 1 cup	467	0	120	0	0
Heavy cream 1 cup	820	6	6	85	0
Powdered sugar 3 tablespoons	88	0	23	0	0
Vanilla extract ½ teaspoon	6	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Making the Cake

1
Preheat and prepare pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2
Sift dry ingredients
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
3
Beat egg yolks
Beat the egg yolks with ¾ cup sugar on high speed until pale yellow. Stir in the ⅓ cup milk and vanilla.

Beating the Egg Whites

1
Whisk egg whites to soft peaks
In another bowl, whisk the egg whites on high until soft peaks form.
2
Add remaining sugar
Gradually add remaining ¼ cup sugar and beat until firm peaks form.
3
Fold egg whites into yolk mixture
Gently fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture, then fold in the flour mixture.
Tip: Important: Do not over-mix the batter to maintain its light and airy texture. Pro Tip: Use a spatula to fold the egg whites into the mixture gently.

Baking & Assembling the Cake

1
Bake the cake
Pour the batter into the prepared dish and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
2
Prepare the milk mixture
Whisk evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and whole milk in a bowl.
3
Soak the cake
Once the cake is done, let it cool, then pierce it all over with a fork and slowly pour the milk mixture over it.
Tip: Chef’s Tip: Allow the cake to cool completely before pouring the milk mixture for maximum absorption.