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    Home » Vegan Mexican Recipes » How to Make the Perfect Vegan Tres Leches Cake

    How to Make the Perfect Vegan Tres Leches Cake

    Published: Jun 2, 2023 by Dora S. · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Indulge in the irresistible sweetness of this classic Mexican dessert with a plant-based twist, vegan tres leches cake, a sweet vanilla cake soaked in a combination of three dairy-free kinds of milk, covered in silky coconut whipped cream, then topped with juicy strawberry slices. 

    slice of tres leches cake with strawberries

    This recipe was edited in October 2021. If you are looking for the old recipe you can download it here.

    Jump to:
    • What Makes This Recipe Great
    • What Is Tres Leches Cake?
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Vegan Tres Leches Cake
    • How to Make the Three Milk-Soaking Liquid
    • To Assemble
    • Expert Tricks and Tips 
    • Serving
    • Storing
    • FAQ
    • More Vegan Dessert Recipes 
    • Vegan Tres Leches Cake

    What Makes This Recipe Great

    This delicious dessert recipe leaves me full of nostalgia for my childhood birthday parties and our weekly family meals. It has been one of my favorite cakes for decades, closely followed by the Chocoflan, and Carlota de Limon. It is completely vegan, egg-free, and dairy-free, and will impress both vegans and non-vegans alike.

    What Is Tres Leches Cake?

    Traditional tres leches cake is a very popular cake in Latin America. The recipe varies according to the country you are in, but in Mexico, it is a vanilla sponge cake soaked in condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy cream (media crema). It is then topped with whipped cream, fresh berries or assorted fruit, and sometimes cinnamon. On occasion, rum or rompope (a sort of Mexican eggnog) is added to the milk mixture. 

    three milk cake in a red casserole dish

    Ingredients

    Dairy-Free Whipped Topping: This can be store-bought or you can easily make it yourself. If you plan on buying it, check your local grocery store for options. If you plan to make it I recommend this recipe made with coconut cream.

    Aquafaba: This is the liquid from a can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans). The protein in the cooking liquid makes it act as an egg replacement and binder, and it can even be beaten to make meringue, like egg whites. 

    Soy condensed milk: I purchased my soy condensed milk at HEB, my local grocery store. You can purchase coconut or oat milk condensed milk online if you can't find it. Alternatively, you can make it yourself. 

    Soy evaporated milk: I purchased my soy evaporated milk at HEB, my local grocery store. If you can’t find it you can purchase coconut evaporated milk online. 

    How to Make Vegan Tres Leches Cake

    vinegar added to a bowl of soy milk

    In a small bowl combine the wet ingredients: soy milk and apple cider vinegar. Let it sit for 5 minutes.

    flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda in a glass bowl

    In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. 

    wet ingredients being added to the dry ingredients in glass bowl

    Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk together. 

    whipped aquafaba added to the bowl with the batter

    In a medium bowl beat the aquafaba until it forms soft peaks. Fold in the whipped aquafaba into the batter. 

    batter added to cake pan

    Pour into a cake pan and bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes.

    top of cake being cut off

    Let the cake cool, then cut off the top of the cake. 

    How to Make the Three Milk-Soaking Liquid

    1. There are two ways to make this. The first one is to simply combine the condensed oat milk, evaporated soy milk, and condensed soy milk.
    2. The second (find instruction in recipe notes) is to combine 1 cup of almond milk, 1 1/2 cups oat milk, 1 1/2 of soy milk, and 1/2 cup of sugar and simmer for 30 minutes (this is so the milk thickens slightly), then let it cool completely in the fridge. Either way will work.

    To Assemble

    fork poking holes in a cake

    Poke holes in the cake.

    milk being poured on cake

    Pour in the three milk syrup. Let it sit in the fridge overnight.

    When you are ready to serve it top it with whipped cream and fresh sliced strawberries. 

    Expert Tricks and Tips 

    When pouring the milk on the cake start from the center then pour to the sides. This will ensure that the cake soaks all the way through. 

    fork cutting into cake

    Serving

    Serve topped with fresh fruit with acidity in it like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and mango. 

    Storing

    If you have any leftovers they will keep for only one day in the fridge. 

    a slice of tres leches cake

    FAQ

    What is tres leches called in English?

    Tres leches cake is very similar to a poke cake. Which is basically a cake that you poke holes in after baking and soak in a liquid. A poke cake is very popular in the southern United States.

    Why do they call it tres leches cake?

    The word "Tres leches" translates to "three milks". It is aptly named because you use a combination of three milks to soak the cake.

    Is tres leches supposed to be wet??

    Yes!!! Tres leches is supposed to be a moist cake, but it should not be soggy, and it should still hold its shape.  

    More Vegan Dessert Recipes 

    • Vegan arroz con leche in a glass goblet with a golden spoon inserted into the cup.
      Vegan Arroz con Leche
    • a close up of the vegan flan covered in caramel
      Vegan Flan
    • chocolate tamal topped with chocolate sauce and shaved chocolate
      Chocolate Tamales
    • Vegan cajeta envinada in a small dish with a spoon dipping into it
      Vegan Cajeta Envinada
    vegan tres leches cake on a white plate
    Save Recipe Go to Recipe Box
    4.61 from 41 votes

    Vegan Tres Leches Cake

    Indulge in the irresistible sweetness of this classic Mexican dessert with a plant-based twist, vegan tres leches cake, a sweet vanilla cake soaked in a combination of three dairy-free kinds of milk, covered in silky coconut whipped cream, then topped with juicy strawberry slices. 
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    Resting Time10 hours hrs
    Total Time2 hours hrs
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Diet: Vegan
    Servings: 10 Servings
    Calories: 299kcal
    Author: Dora S.

    Ingredients

    Cake:

    • 1 ¼ cups Soy milk, unsweetened
    • 2 teaspoons Apple cider vinegar
    • 1 ¾ cups All-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons Baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon Baking soda
    • ½ cup Sugar
    • ¼ cup Vegetable oil
    • 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
    • 6 tablespoons Aquafaba

    Milk Syrup:

    • 1 ½ cups Oatmilk, unsweetened
    • 1 ½ cups Soy condensed milk (11.2 oz)
    • 1 ½ cups Soy evaporated milk (11.2 oz)

    Whipped Topping:

    • 2 cans Reddi-whip Coconut Whipped Topping
    • 1 pint Strawberries, hulled and sliced
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    To make the cake

    • Preheat oven to 350F and line an 8 x 13 " baking pan with parchment paper, and spray lightly with oil.
    • In a small bowl, combine the soy milk and apple cider vinegar. Mix to combine.
    • In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Mix well.
    • Add the milk-vinegar mixture to the bowl with the flour mixture, add the oil, and vanilla, and whisk to combine. Set aside.
    • In a large bowl, pour in the aquafaba and using a stand mixer with the whiks attachementor a hand-held mixer whip at medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 4 minutes.
    • Pour the whipped aquafaba into the bowl with the cake batter, and fold it in with a spatula until it has completely incorporated into the cake batter.
    • Pour the batter into the baking dish and bake in the middle rack of the oven, for 25-30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
    • Remove from oven. Let cake cool for 10 min, and remove from baking dish. Remove parchment paper and let cake cool completely on a rack.

    To make the milk syrup

    • In a bowl, combine the oatmilk, condensed milk, and evaporated milk. Whisk and set aside.

    Assembly

    • Using a serrated knife, gently cut off the top of your cake. Place your cake inside of the baking dish and poke the surface of the cake with a fork. Be sure to press the fork all the way down through the cake.
    • Start pouring the milk over the cake starting from the center. Contine pouring until the cake is soaked all over. There might be some liquid that hasn't been absorbed on the sides of the cake, but that's ok. Place in your fridge and let the cake soak overnight.
    • When you’re ready to serve, top the cake with the coconut whipped topping and spread with a spatula. (Don’t add the whipped topping to the cake unless you’re ready to serve it.)
    • Arrange the sliced strawberries on top of the whipped topping and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    • This recipe was edited in October 2021. If you're looking for the old recipe you can download it here. 
    • It's very important to make the cake the day before so you can let it soak in the fridge overnight.
    • If you can't find plant-based condensed or evaporated milk combine 1 cup of almond milk, 1 1/2 cups oat milk, 1 1/2 of soymilk, and 1/2 cup of sugar. Simmer for 30 minutes (this is so the milk thickens slightly), and let it cool completely in the fridge. This will be your tres leches. You can use your favorite plant milks.
    • Top with strawberries or assorted berries. The acid in the berries cuts the sweetness of the cake.
    • If you want to make your own whipped topping I recommend this recipe.
    • If you're looking for whipped topping without coconut check out all these options.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 306mg | Potassium: 114mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 27.8mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 1.7mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @dorastable or tag #mexicangonevegan!

    Although dorastable.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates.

    « Jalapeños en Escabeche (Mexican Pickled Vegetables)
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vanessa

      February 19, 2023 at 9:25 pm

      I tried this recipe twice now and it’s not turning out well. Both times the cakes were pretty flat and gummy. Neither would soak up the liquid well. Not sure what happened- I got soft peaks both times and took care not to overmix. Comparing this to other recipes though, the dry to liquid ratio seems low.

      Reply
    2. Kimberly

      February 10, 2023 at 10:39 pm

      Hi Dora, I love Tres Leches cake and appreciate this vegan version. Thank you! Can I substitute Almond Milk for Soy in this recipe? Also, wondering if you have substituted vegan egg replacers for aquafaba for this? Thanks again.

      Reply
      • Dora S.

        February 13, 2023 at 9:55 am

        Yes, you can use any plant milk. I have never tried it with egg replacer so I can't say.

        Reply
    3. Kathleen

      February 10, 2023 at 9:36 pm

      I don’t use soy milk so can I substitute other plant milk?

      Reply
      • Dora S.

        February 13, 2023 at 9:54 am

        Any other plant milk will work

        Reply
    4. Alina

      July 12, 2022 at 2:57 pm

      Hi Dora,

      Thank you for all your wonderful recipes. I was wondering, could this recipe be used for cupcakes?

      Reply
      • Dora S.

        July 21, 2022 at 8:53 am

        Yes, I just made this into cupcakes for mini tres leches. I cut off the top of the cupcakes and put into tiny mason jars. If you want to soak the this in cupcake wrappers you will need very resistant cupcake wrappers!

        Reply
    5. Lee

      May 18, 2022 at 4:08 pm

      I really want to try this but can’t find Aquababa in my local stores. Can I drain cans of chickpeas until I have the right amount needed for the recipe?

      Reply
      • Dora S.

        July 21, 2022 at 9:01 am

        Yes!! That's how I get my aquafaba. I will add note to the recipe.

        Reply
    6. Asha

      April 07, 2022 at 10:24 am

      5 stars
      This cake so SOOOOOO good- thank you Dora! I used to use another recipe for the vegan cake but decided to try yours and it’s my new recipe now. Only thing I did differently was to add 1/4 cup sugar to the whipped aquafaba and then continue whipping until it was glossy. So I used 3/4c total sugar for the cake. I also used a Can of coconut milk instead of the evaporated milk. Amazing. 👏🏼

      Reply
    7. Atikah

      January 06, 2022 at 4:00 am

      Can I used canned coconut milk to replace one the the 3 milks?

      Reply
      • Dora S.

        January 06, 2022 at 9:17 pm

        Yes

        Reply
    8. Caroline

      December 17, 2021 at 10:04 am

      5 stars
      Definitely the best vegan cake I've made, thank you, Dora!

      Reply
    9. Sorai

      November 23, 2021 at 8:24 am

      5 stars
      This was fantastic! I haven’t had tres leches since I was a child. It was DELICIOUS and so easy to make! Even my non-vegan family gobbled it up. Thank you Dora!

      Reply
    10. Ana

      November 08, 2021 at 1:30 pm

      What can I do if I don’t have Aquafaba?

      Reply
      • Dora S.

        November 13, 2021 at 3:55 pm

        Aquafaba is the liquid from a can of chickpeas, it's super easy to find. You can try another egg substitute.

        Reply
    11. Ellie

      September 28, 2021 at 3:36 am

      Is there a way access the old recipe? I bought all the ingredients for that one already and then the receipt changed when I went to bake the next day. The old recipe was recommended by a fellow dairy allergy friend.

      Reply
      • Dora S.

        September 30, 2021 at 1:25 pm

        Hi Ellie, I'm going to email to you.

        Reply
        • Liz

          October 11, 2021 at 4:34 pm

          Can you please email me too! I love the old recipe!

        • Dora S.

          November 07, 2021 at 7:31 am

          Sending it now

        • Avi

          November 06, 2021 at 11:28 am

          Hi Dora, I also came back to remake this based on the old recipe. May I also get a version of the old recipe emailed? Thanks!!

        • Dora S.

          November 07, 2021 at 7:33 am

          Just sent it to you.

    12. Janice Steinberg

      June 18, 2021 at 5:52 am

      Hi.My cake came out very flat, not at all like your picture. Did I do something wrong? I'm assuming it'll still taste good, but will it get too soggy when I add the milks?

      Reply
      • Dora S.

        June 20, 2021 at 5:55 pm

        Hi Janice, the cake doesn't rise too much. Once you add the milk it will expand in size with all the milk

        Reply
    13. Katelyn

      May 10, 2021 at 9:47 pm

      Hi there! If I double this recipe in one pan will it cooke to make a thicker slice of cake? As in a taller cake?

      Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Dora S.

        June 20, 2021 at 6:07 pm

        I haven't tried it yet, but I think it will.

        Reply
    14. Lucia

      January 27, 2021 at 3:06 pm

      Hi Dora,

      Would I be able to use Gluten Free flour. Thank you.

      Reply
      • LUCIA

        January 27, 2021 at 3:26 pm

        Hi, I just saw the comments on using Gluten Free AP flour.

        Thanks.

        Reply
      • Dora S.

        January 28, 2021 at 8:51 am

        I've never tried it with gluten-free flour so I'm not sure

        Reply
        • Maureen

          February 05, 2021 at 3:52 pm

          Hi. I just made it w gluten free flour. It looks way too thin to cut off the top. Maybe ill just poke plenty of holes and not cut the top... im
          in the process of baking one w regular flour, ill keep you posted om the comparisons.

        • Dora S.

          February 13, 2021 at 6:14 pm

          Keep us posted

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    slice of tres leches cake with strawberries