• Post Cinco de Mayo

  Filed under dessert - cakes/cupcakes
  May 7
  
  I know, I know – Cinco de Mayo was 2 days ago. But let’s face it – my family just uses it as an excuse to get together and stuff ourselves with Mexican (and New Mexican!) food. And really, Mexican food can be enjoyed no matter what the date!!

  Let me just explain that when my family gets together, there is always food involved. A lot of food. Way too much food. That’s just the way it is. I’m very lucky to have a family that loves food and loves to cook. You should have seen how much food there was – the photo collage above doesn’t even show all of it!! But that’s what we do, and we sure do have a good time doing it. In fact, I’m still feeling the effects of over-eating today – 2 days later!!
  
  There were enchiladas, taquitos, empanadas, lots of dips and salsas, and virgin margaritas. (Just to name some!) I wish I had all of the recipes for you, but all of this wonderful food was made by my sisters, SIL, and mom. My contribution to the party? Tres Leches Cake.
  I had a tres leches cake a few weeks ago from a local restaurant. Ever since, I have been craving it. So when my sister said that we were getting together, I volunteered to make dessert, knowing that this would be the chance I needed to satisfy my craving. I looked through all of my cookbooks, only to come up with one recipe. I almost made it, but it was a little more complex and involved than I was feeling. So I went to the internet. I found a recipe on the Food Network website by Emeril. It was the kind of recipe I was looking for, so I decided to use it.

  Sunday night I went to make the cake. All was going well, until I looked into the oven when the cake was almost finished baking. The cake had risen very high – I was afraid it was going to jump right out of the pan. It didn’t, and when the cake was done, I took it out of the oven. After a few minutes, the cake had fallen in the middle. The middle was probably only about half an inch deep. So when I poured on the milk mixture, it completely turned to mush. I’m guessing I either over or under beat the eggs – I’m not quite sure.

  I knew I couldn’t bring that cake, and knowing that I was the only one bringing dessert, I decided to give it another try. This time, I went with a recipe from allrecipes. I hadn’t make anything from allrecipes in awhile – I’m not sure why, because I usually have really good luck with the highly rated recipes. Well, with some small alterations, this cake was the one!! The cake baked up perfectly, and the milks were the perfect amount of moisture. After I made the whipped cream for the topping, I was afraid that it was going to be too sweet, but it actually worked very well with the cake.

  I’m surprised we even got to the cake because we all had eaten so much already, but it received praises from my family. And it also received praises from me!

  Tres Leches Cake
  adapted from allrecipes

  5 eggs
  1 teaspoon baking powder
  2 cups white sugar, divided
  1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  1/2 cup unsalted butter
  1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
  2 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9×13 inch baking pan.

  Sift flour and baking powder together and set aside.

  Cream butter and 1 cup of the sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs and 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla extract, beat well.

  Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture 2 tablespoons at a time, mix until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.

  Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Pierce cake several times with a fork.

  Combine 1 cup of the cream, evaporated milk, and condensed milk together. Pour over the top of the cooled cake.

  Refrigerate cake for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.
  Whip whipping cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 cup of the sugar together until thick. Spread over the top of cake. Keep cake refrigerated until serving.
  

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  42 Comments

42 Responses to “Post Cinco de Mayo”

1. 

   Sarah said on May 7th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

   I just had someone ask me to make a tres leches cake the other day. I don’t have a recipe, so I will have to try this one. Thanks!

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2. 

   Elle said on May 7th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

   That sounds like so much fun…and the cake sounds sweet but delish! Great to get together with family, too.

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3. 

   glamah16 said on May 7th, 2008 at 4:19 pm

   I love Tres Leches.

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4. 

   Augustina said on May 7th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

   I like your “collage” of Mexican dishes! and your cake looks so good!! i’ve never had a tres leches cake before but now i’m eager to give this recipe a try.

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5. 

   Gloria said on May 7th, 2008 at 7:06 pm

   THis dessert is so yummy, I love tres leches!!xxGloria

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6. 

   Maddy said on May 7th, 2008 at 7:16 pm

   Yum! I had tres leches cake a short while ago as well, and it was sadly, not as good as I had hoped. I can’t wait to try this recipe and satisfy my lingering craving

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7. 

   Sylvie said on May 7th, 2008 at 8:01 pm

   I’ve been meaning to make a Tres Leches Cake since I had one in a Cuban restaurant in NYC. Yummy.

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8. 

   Indigo said on May 7th, 2008 at 8:39 pm

   I’ve never had a tres leches cake! (I just tried to type ‘leaches’ then; I’ve never had that either o__O). Ridiculous, for someone who loves cake like I do. This looks great!

   And I love photo collages ^__^

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9. 

   tapsfe said on May 7th, 2008 at 10:38 pm

   That cake looks delicious thanks for the recipe

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10. 

    Erinn said on May 7th, 2008 at 10:53 pm

    Mexican, New Mexican, any kind of Mexican food and I’m in. This tres leches cake looks delicious and I bet it tasted good too! Just started reading your blog recently and I love your photos and recipes.

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11. 

    Susan from Food Blogga said on May 7th, 2008 at 11:03 pm

    I never need an excuse to stuff my face with Mexican. Now if I could also follow my fish tacos tonight with a hunk of your cake, life would really be good.

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12. 

    My Sweet & Saucy said on May 7th, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    Boy do I wish I was at your party for Cinco de Mayo…looks like you had some great food there!

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13. 

    My Sweet & Saucy said on May 7th, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    Boy do I wish I was at your party for Cinco de Mayo…looks like you had some great food there!

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14. 

    Elle said on May 8th, 2008 at 12:30 am

    Look at all of that food! What a great feast–and your cake is beautiful. Deborah!

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15. 

    Katie said on May 8th, 2008 at 1:46 am

    WOW! WHAT a spread of food! And that cake looks FANTASTIC!

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16. 

    Kristen said on May 8th, 2008 at 1:54 am

    IT looks like ya’ll enjoyed quite the feast. What a great way to celebrate… and that cake. Mmmmm! I love Tres Leches.

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17. 

    Kate / Kajal said on May 8th, 2008 at 2:00 am

    C’mon u gotta invite me over the next time u having a mexican feast. I adore that stuff, but yet never make enough of it myself.
    A cake with condensed milk and evaporated milk …hmm should taste divine

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18. 

    Jenny said on May 8th, 2008 at 2:14 am

    I love all of the cinco de mayo recipes going around. Your little cake looks so yummy! Great post!

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19. 

    Kelly Mahoney said on May 8th, 2008 at 2:16 am

    I’ve heard that more people go out for Cinco de Mayo than St. Patrick’s Day.

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20. 

    PheMom said on May 8th, 2008 at 3:20 am

    Oh yum!!! I love party food – especially mexican!

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21. 

    nicole said on May 8th, 2008 at 4:38 am

    Looks good!I love when there is an excuse for people to get together and eat good food.

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22. 

    Ginny said on May 8th, 2008 at 4:42 am

    I’ve honestly never had it but everyone always raves about it…mmm…going on the list!

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23. 

    Grace said on May 8th, 2008 at 9:17 am

    “when my family gets together, there is always food involved. a lot of food. way too much food.”

    i hear ya. sometimes i overlook how lucky i am to be part of a food-loving family, and that’s just wrong.

    oh, and your tres leches cake is tres bien. (yep, i used french and spanish in the same sentence, how ’bout that!)

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24. 

    Patricia Scarpin said on May 8th, 2008 at 12:49 pm

    Deb, I have read and heard so much about tres leches cake but haven’t tried it yet. Yours looks so tender and yummy!

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25. 

    Cate said on May 8th, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    My mouth is totally watering – everything looks so good!

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26. 

    tapsfe said on May 8th, 2008 at 2:38 pm

    coool!!

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27. 

    chou said on May 8th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    The first time I had tres leches I wasn’t thrilled–but then someone brought a homemade version to a party and I decided to rewrite my mental hard drive to “love it”.

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28. 

    Gabi said on May 8th, 2008 at 5:15 pm

    You are lucky to have a family that comes together with such great food! Tres Leches cake is definitely one not to miss!

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29. 

    Shari said on May 8th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

    You’re lucky to have a family who loves food as much as you do! That cake looks delicious, even if it did sink! Your collage of pictures at the beginning is great!

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30. 

    Madam Chow said on May 8th, 2008 at 6:01 pm

    Thanks for the recipe – I’ve been thinking of trying a tres leches cake, but didn’t know which recipe to use!

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31. 

    Emiline said on May 8th, 2008 at 8:30 pm

    I’m so glad this recipe worked for you.
    I wouldn’t doubt that the Emeril recipe wasn’t any good. I’ve had bad luck with his recipes.
    The cake looks great! I love Mexican food, I really really do.

    The whoopie pies look good also. I’ve never been to a Costco before. Can you believe that? We don’t have them here.

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32. 

    Jessy and her dog Winnie said on May 8th, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    All that mexican food looks amazing!

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33. 

    kat said on May 8th, 2008 at 10:47 pm

    Oh I’m glad you were able to make it work. We had Tres Leches cake for our birthdays the other night, so yummy!

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34. 

    Kevin said on May 8th, 2008 at 11:48 pm

    That looks like an amazing feast!! I like the sound of that cake. I have not used condensed milk or evaporated milk all that much.

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35. 

    RecipeGirl said on May 9th, 2008 at 3:27 am

    What a bummer that you had to try two recipes to get it all to work out. Thankfully you got a good result in the end. I never think to look on Allrecipes.

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36. 

    Suzana said on May 9th, 2008 at 9:51 am

    Tres Leches Cake has been on my baking list for a while – can’t wait to give it a go. Thanks for the recipe, Deborah!

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37. 

    Veron said on May 9th, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    When my family gets together there is always a lot of eating too. That cake looks delicious and is made more appetizing by that strawberry and cream!

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38. 

    Bellini Valli said on May 9th, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    I would have bought a cake from the store after the first mishap. Glad we have the second recipe that is a sure fire winner to go with the Mexican theme.

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39. 

    Ann said on May 9th, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    I have never made this cake but always wanted to. It goes on The List.

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40. 

    Ruth Elkin said on May 9th, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    What a great cake to bring to the feast! Sorry the first recipe didn’t work out though.

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41. 

    Kelly-Jane said on May 11th, 2008 at 2:53 pm

    I’ve had this on my to try list for ages, as long as the red velvet – more even. I’m really pleased to hear how well it went down, and it looks great!

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42. 

    Rosie said on May 11th, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    Can I be your neighbour I could nip in for cake oops I mean sugar!!

    Lovely sounding cake – yummy

    Rosie x

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