Sourdough Tres Leches Cake Recipe

a slice of sourdough tres leches with a strawberry on top

Yield: slices

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 27

Chill Time: 1

Total Time: 1 57

Experience the perfect blend of tangy sourdough and creamy tres leches in this easy-to-make Sourdough Tres Leches Cake. It's a moist masterpiece that's perfect for your Cinco de Mayo or everyday celebrations!

4.50 from 6 votes

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Equipment

Ingredients

Sourdough Tres Leches Cake

140 grams flour 1 cup
8 grams baking powder 2 teaspoons
2 grams salt 1/4 tesapoon
5 eggs seperated
240 grams sugar, divided 1 cup + 3 Tablespoons
100 grams milk 1/3 cup
120 grams sourdough starter discard 1/2 cup
8 grams vanilla extract 2 teaspoons

Milk Syrup

354 grams evaporated milk 12 ounces
397 grams sweetened condensed milk 14 ounces
90 grams heavy whipping cream 1/3 cup

Whipped Cream Frosting

450 grams heavy whipping cream 1 pint
32 grams powdered sugar 4 Tablespoons
2 grams vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon

Instructions

Sourdough Tres Leches Cake

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a glass 9x13 baking dish with butter. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set to the side.
140 grams flour, 8 grams baking powder, 2 grams salt
In a glass measuring cup, whisk together the milk, sourdough discard and vanilla extract. Set aside.
100 grams milk, 120 grams sourdough starter discard, 8 grams vanilla extract
Separate the egg yolks and egg whites between two separate bowls.
5 eggs
With a hand mixer on high speed, beat the egg yolks with 180 grams (3/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons) of the sugar until it is a light, pale yellow (about 1-2 minutes). Stir in the sourdough discard mixture into the egg yolk mixture until combined.
240 grams sugar, divided
Next, beat the egg whites with an electric hand mixer on high speed until soft peaks form (about 1 minute). While the mixer is still running, slowly pour 60 grams (heaping 1/4 cup) of sugar into the soft peaks and continue to beat the egg white mixture until stiff peaks form (1 minute).
Pour the egg yolk mixture into the flour mixture and mix with a spatula until the dry ingredients are just incorporated. Then, gently fold the egg whites into the batter until the whipped whites just disappear.
Gently pour the cake batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 27-30 minutes or until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

3-Milk Syrup

In a large glass measuring cup, whisk together the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and heavy whipping cream. When the cake has cooled, poke holes with the prongs of a fork all over the cake. Slowly pour the milk syrup over the top of the cake and allow it to soak into the crumb.
354 grams evaporated milk, 397 grams sweetened condensed milk, 90 grams heavy whipping cream
Cover the cake with aluminum foil and store it in the fridge for at least 24 hours and up to 48 hours.

Whipped Cream Topping

Pour the cold heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract into the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment.
450 grams heavy whipping cream, 32 grams powdered sugar, 2 grams vanilla extract
Whisk on high for 1-2 minutes until thickened into a spreadable frosting.
Spread over the cake and top with fresh fruit or ground cinnamon, if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

This recipe card was updated on 03/04/26

How to Serve

This creamy cake is delicious when served on its own! But, for a pop of color or extra sweetness, try serving it with one of these delicious options.

Fresh raspberries
Sliced strawberries
Tropical fruits like shredded coconut or crushed pineapple
Drizzle of dulce de leche or caramel sauce
With a scoop of ice cream

How to Store

Store leftover Sourdough Tres Leches Cake in the fridge, covered, for 1-2 days.

FAQs:

Is Sourdough Tres Leches Cake supposed to be soggy?

To ensure that your Sourdough Tres Leches Cake is moist and not soggy, pour the milk syrup slowly over the whole cake. This will help it to be evenly distributed. It is also important to allow the cake to sit for at least 24 hours before serving. During this time, the crumb will soak up all of the milk mixture, which creates a perfectly moist, and not soggy, bite!

Why did my Sourdough Tres Leches Cake collapse?

A collapsed sourdough cake could be the result of a few different factors, but here are the most common culprits.

Overmixing the Batter:

This tres leches cake achieves its height from the egg whites, so it is crucial to not deflate the whipped eggs when mixing them into the batter. Fold the egg whites gently and immediately stop once they are mixed in the batter.

Drastic Temperature Change:

A dramatic temperature drop from the oven to the counter may cause this sourdough cake to collapse. If your kitchen is quite chilly, try turning off your oven and keeping the cake in the oven with the door ajar to allow for a more gradual temperature change.

Overall, even if your cake does collapse, it can easily be hidden by the sweet whipped cream topping and taste just as delicious!

Nutrition

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