This Red Velvet Tres Leches Cake takes a classic cake and turns it red velvet! Perfect for holidays, or for any time you’re craving a sweet treat.
If you want even more red velvet cake, try this Red Velvet Sheet Cake with Cookies and Cream Frosting!

I’m a huge fan of tres leches cake, so I knew I’d love a red velvet version. And while a traditional tres leches cake has a whipped cream topping, I wanted to add in the cheesecake element somewhere, so the topping on this is a little heavier, but still extremely delicious. And since this starts off with a boxed cake mix, it’s super easy to make.
I think this cake would be the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert!!
Ingredients
- Red Velvet Cake Mix: You need the mix, as well as the ingredients it calls for on the box to make the cake. I know the size of cake mixes keeps shrinking over the years, but any 13×9-inch cake mix should work.
- Evaporated Milk: This is unsweetened. Make sure you are using evaporated milk.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: This is the thicker, sweetened canned milk. Both evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk are usually by each other at the grocery store.
- Cream: You want to use heavy whipping cream.
- Nondairy Topping: This is topping like Cool Whip. You can use a generic brand. I have seen some healthier brands hit the market, but have not tested any of them.
- Cream Cheese: You will want to use a brick of cream cheese, not the kind that comes in a tub. I have only tested this with full fat cream cheese.
- Powdered Sugar: This adds some stabilizations, as well as sweetness.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: These are optional, but add a great touch to the topping.
Tips and Tricks
You will want to keep this cake refrigerated. It is also best served cold.
You can always make it a little easier and just use the cool whip alone for the topping, or you could whip some heavy cream.
Make sure the cake is fully cooled before adding the topping.

More Red Velvet Desserts
Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
XL Red Velvet Cookie Recipe
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Red Velvet Tres Leches Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box Red Velvet Cake mix, plus ingredients called for on the box
- 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup cream
- 1 (16 oz) container nondairy topping (such as Cool Whip)
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- mini chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Prepare cake according to the box directions.1 box Red Velvet Cake mix, plus ingredients called for on the box
- In a bowl, combine the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and cream. While the cake is still warm, poke holes through the cake. Pour the milk mixture over the cake and allow the liquid to soak into the cake. Cool completely.1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk, 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 cup cream
- To prepare the frosting, beat together the topping, cream cheese and powdered sugar. Spread over the top of the cooled cake. Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips, if desired.1 (16 oz) container nondairy topping (such as Cool Whip), 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, mini chocolate chips








Chels R. says
Gorgeous Picture! I’ve never had a tres leche cake before, but I feel like I’ve been missing out!
carrian says
You rock. Our neighborhood is going to make it!
Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos says
Love, love, love!!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Oh my goodness – I could devour the entire thing right now! I obviously haven’t had lunch yet but this is perfectly acceptable lunch food, right? 🙂
Amanda says
Beautiful cake!
a farmer in the dell says
oh man, things are getting better and better. I need this cake right now!!!
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance says
It seems like the kitchen failure turned into something greater! This looks amazing!!
Bree {Skinny Mommy} says
I used to live in Mexico and so tres leches is my favorite cake in the world! I love the addition of the red velvet.
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says
HOLY MOLY. I want this cake to be my Valentine.
Jersey Girl Cooks says
LOVE this! I want a piece for breakfast!
Jennifer @ Mother Thyme says
Incredible! Such a pretty and festive cake for Valentine’s Day!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet says
This looks so fabulous! And great for Valentine’s Day!
Jen @ Savory Simple says
How perfect for Valentine’s Day
Colleen @ What's Baking in the Barbershop?! says
Awesome! The addition of a cream cheese frosting sounds perfect for the flavors of this cake. It’s so pretty! 🙂
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
It must be something about a cake like this…I had one fail recently too! I’m glad you tried again because this looks awesome! I love the cream cheese topping!!!
Rosa says
Divine! A cake I’d love to taste.
Cheers,
Rosa