Chocolate Tres Leches Recipe
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Certain dishes demand to be spotlighted in vibrant, attention-grabbing Vegas neon lights. The mere mention of their names fills you with anticipation for the culinary delight that awaits. Enter the realm of indulgence with our irresistible creation: this Chocolate Tres Leches recipe. Moist, decadent, chocolate, and infused with espresso flavor, this tres leches cake is sure to be the hit at your next party.
Why You’ll Love Chocolate Tres Leches Recipe
- Chocolate Lover’s Dream: This cake is a chocolate lover’s paradise, with rich cocoa flavor in both the cake and the topping.
- Easy and Impressive: This dessert looks impressive but is surprisingly simple to make, perfect for entertaining or a special occasion.
- Moist and Fluffy: The tres leches soaking creates a moist and tender cake that melts in your mouth.
- Customizable: Feel free to experiment with different toppings or flavors to make this cake your own.
- Satisfyingly Sweet: This cake is the perfect balance of sweet and rich, satisfying your dessert cravings without being overly indulgent.
Ingredients Needed To Make Chocolate Tres Leches Recipe
Make sure you scroll down to the recipe card to see the full list of ingredients needed for this recipe.
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Cocoa powder
- Kosher salt
- Espresso powder
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Milk
- Evaporated milk
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Lite coconut milk
- Whipped topping
- Cocoa powder
Substitutions + Alternatives
Can I use All-Purpose Flour?
Yes, All-Purpose Flour can be used. Use the same amount that is listed in the ingredients, but swap with all purpose.
Can I use regular dairy?
Feel free to make this recipe your own. I use dairy-free milk, but feel welcome to choose your preferred dairy option without any recipe adjustments. Unless specified otherwise, you have the flexibility to use the milk of your choice for the recipe.
Get all the best baking tips!
Wondering how in the world to get the BEST bake every time? We’ve laid it all out for you.
Note: While almond milk is an option, it is less preferred due to its liquid consistency. Consider opting for a milk alternative with a thicker texture.
Oven Temperatures
Oven temperatures can vary significantly from one oven to another. To achieve consistent results, it’s crucial to know the exact temperature inside your oven. The safest and most accurate way to determine this is by using an oven thermometer. This simple tool can help you avoid underbaking or overbaking your treats.
How To Make Chocolate Tres Leches Recipe
- Prep the Cake: Mix together the dry ingredients. Beat the egg whites and then the egg yolks and sugar. Combine wet and dry ingredients, then gently fold in the egg whites. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- Make the Tres Leches Mixture: Mix together the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and coconut milk. Pour over the cooled cake. Refrigerate.
- Top It Off: Before serving, top with whipped cream and cocoa powder.
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I Use a Different Type of Chocolate?
Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with different types of chocolate for the cake and the topping. You can use dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or even white chocolate for a unique twist.
What If I Don’t Have Espresso Powder?
Don’t worry, you can omit the espresso powder if you don’t have it on hand. The cake will still be delicious without it.However, espresso powder adds a subtle depth of flavor that complements the chocolate.
Can I Make This Recipe Ahead of Time?
Yes, this cake is perfect for making ahead of time. It’s best to make it a day in advance so that the flavors have time to meld. Store the cake covered in the refrigerator.
How Do I Prevent the Cake From Drying Out?
To prevent the cake from drying out, make sure to cover it tightly with plastic wrap before refrigerating. You can also add a small amount of extra tres leches mixture before serving if the cake seems too dry.
How Should I Store Leftover Tres Leches?
Leftover tres leches should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 3 days. Before serving, let the cake come to room temperature for about 30 minutes.
Chocolate Tres Leches Recipe
Equipment
- toothpick
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ cups 1.1 GF flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp espresso powder
Wet Ingredients
- 5 eggs separated
- 1 ⅛ cups sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup milk
Tres Leches Topping
- 12 oz can of evaporated milk
- 11.25 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 12 oz can lite coconut milk unsweetened
- 8 oz whipped topping
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick baking spray.
- Prepare Egg Whites: In a mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, beat the sugar and egg yolks on high for 2-3 minutes until light yellow. Add the espresso powder, vanilla extract, and milk, and mix well.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Gently fold in the beaten egg whites.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely. Use a toothpick to poke holes all over the cake.
- Prepare Tres Leches Mixture: In a large bowl, mix the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and lite coconut milk together. Pour this mixture evenly over the cooled cake, making sure it seeps into the holes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Serve: Before serving, spread the whipped topping over the cake and dust with cocoa powder. Enjoy!
Nutrition
This Chocolate Tres Leches cake is pure decadence! The moist cake soaked in a creamy milk mixture is a match made in dessert heaven. It’s the perfect way to impress your guests or treat yourself to a special indulgence.
The recipe didn’t seem to use the coconut oil that’s listed in the ingredients. When should that go in?
Hello Rachel, It should go in on step 4. Add the yogurt, oil, vanilla, and salt. Stir to combine. Thank you.
Thanks. I made this and it was delicious! And everyone was amazed it was dairy free!
What can you use in place of the cold brew? Can any rum be used? And should you do a shot of espresso if not using the cold brew run?
Hello, I would recommend a cold brew coffee. Thank you!
Curious on your recipes can you use in regular flour etc etc instead of gluten free . Same for non dairy products in your recipes ? Thanks
Hello, All recipes can be made with full dairy and full gluten products with no measurement changes needed. Thank you!
This is one of my very favorite cakes; I look forward to making the chocolate version. Saw a reference somewhere while copying the recipe to ‘rum’ and I wonder if some rum would add significantly to it? Chocolate, rum and cream ……. yum, sounds so good!
Hi Marie,
Yes, you can add rum! Danielle recommends to stir 2–3 tablespoons into the tres leches mixture before pouring it over the cake—this lets the flavor soak in without affecting the texture.