Lactose Free Classic Tres Leches Cake

Total time5 hr

Prep time30 min

Cook time30 min

This light, airy sponge starts with whipped egg yolks and sugar beaten into thick ribbons, then gets folded together with flour and pillowy beaten egg whites for a cake that bakes up golden and delicately springy. Once cooled slightly, the whole cake gets poked full of holes and slowly soaked through until it's rich, moist, and practically melting on the fork — that's the whole point of a tres leches. A billowy, lightly sweetened topping gets spread over the chilled cake right before serving, finished with a dusting of cinnamon and fresh strawberries or maraschino cherries for a pop of color. It's a make-ahead dessert that only gets better as it chills, letting all that soaked sweetness settle into every square. This version fits neatly into a lactose free spread without losing the classic soaked-cake texture people love tres leches for. Simple, nostalgic, and easy to portion straight from the pan for a crowd.

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Ingredients

12 servings

For the cake

1 cup all-purpose flour
King Arthur Baking Company Unbleached All-Purpose Flour Gold Medal Flour All-Purpose Unbleached - 5 Lb Bob's Red Mill Organic All Purpose Unbleached White Flour - 5 Lb Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Unbleached White Flour - 5 Lb Pillsbury Best Flour All Purpose - 5 Lb
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1 ½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
5 large eggs, separated, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
⅓ cup whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the tres leches soak

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1 cup whole milk

For the whipped cream topping

2 cups heavy cream
Chef's tip
Use unsweetened dairy-free heavy cream in cooked sauces, soups, and ganache. For whipped uses, choose a product labeled whippable.
3 tbsp powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

For serving

ground cinnamon, for dusting (optional)
fresh strawberries or maraschino cherries, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
2
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.

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