A Southern Grace: tres leches? tres bien.

September 12, 2010

tres leches? tres bien.

Yum

That's right, folks. I have a masterful command of not one, not two, but THREE languages. Four, if you count Pig Latin. Pretty impressive, right?


Okay, so maybe masterful is the wrong word. Maybe I only know a few phrases here and there. I'm the most familiar with Spanish, having taken it throughout high school and college. Party days in those classes almost always involved tres leches cake, and that was awesome. I enjoy the unique, uber-moist and squishy texture of the stuff. That said, when I saw Mel's version flavoring it with my beloved coconut, I marked it down.

I loved this cake. I'm a fan of how it dissolved in my mouth and flooded my taste buds with coconut flavor; however, I can understand why some people might not particularly enjoy the mouthfeel of a tres leches cake. It is fairly weird. This would be a good dessert to make for someone who, say, recently had their wisdom teeth removed. I'd describe it as walking the line between cake and pudding, which is no mean feat!


It's geshmak and rumptious-scay. Sláinte!

Pastel de Tres Leches y Coco
(based on this recipe)

Cake:
1 box of yellow cake mix or homemade yellow cake recipe

Milk Syrup:
1 can (15 ounces) cream of coconut
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract

Garnishes:
1 12-oz container of Cool Whip
1-2 cups sweetened flaked coconut, toasted

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and aside. Prepare the cake mix according to box or recipe instructions and allow to cool completely.
Meanwhile, make the milk syrup by mixing the cream of coconut, evaporated milk, milk, and extracts until smooth.
Pierce the cooled cake all over the top with the tines of a fork or a thin wooden skewer. Poke it good--the more pokes, the more the syrup will soak into the cake. Using a large spoon or ladle, spoon some of the milk syrup over the cake. Let the syrup soak into the cake, then continue spooning the syrup on top until all of it has been used up. When you have finished, not all of the syrup will be completely absorbed and might be pooling on the top but that’s okay--it'll absorb eventually. Cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until all of the syrup is absorbed, 2 hours. Before serving, spread the Cool Whip across the top and sprinkle with the toasted coconut, if desired. Note: This is one of those cakes that just gets better with time--pace yourself.

67 comments:

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I want to try a tres leche cake in Mexico or Nicaragua, but in the menatime I could go for coconut.

Angie's Recipes said...

Could I have a bite? :-) Love the addition of coconut!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE tres leche cake. I made it for the first time a few months ago. I wish I had added coconut though. Looks delicious!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

That is a divine cake!

Cheers,

Rosa

♥peachkins♥ said...

*drool* That is the most amazing thing I've seen since this morning!

Anonymous said...

this is so mouth-watering! i'd like some in the mail, please!

FOODESSA said...

Grace...this is absolutely scrumptious. I, too am a fan of any dessert melting in my mouth. Tummy happy...Mommy happy ;o)

Ciao for now,
Claudia

shaz said...

Bravo! C'est Délicieux. Ok, pretty much exhausted all phrases now :) I've never tasted milk cake Grace, definitely going to try it out very soon, espcially because there's coconut involved!

Barbara said...

It's really a lovely cake, Grace. I've made Tres Leches several times from a recipe given to me by a Cuban friend which I was sold on mainly because one of the milks used was condensed milk (I feel the same way about that as you do cinnamon!).
But I really think adding coconut and coconut extract would be merveilleux, maravillosa and just plain perfect in any language.

lisa is cooking said...

It looks divine! I've never made a tres leche cake, but I think that will change soon. The coconut on top looks amazing too.

Gloria Baker said...

YOU ALWAY AMAZING ME GRACE!!This Tres Leches is absolutely amazing and delicious!! look wonderful and Im sure that is! Delicious! I love tres leches, xxx gloria

Julie said...

Geshmak? hehe Looks moist and wonderful. Makes me want to get my wisdom teeth pulled :D

Seglare said...

What a beautiful cake! If you can believe it, I have never heard of tres leche cake before - but now you got me really interested in it. ;)

tasteofbeirut said...

I have a beach party to go to tomorrow and I just realized this would be so perfect and everyone would love it ! I am gonna make it!

José Manuel said...

Delicioso este postre, se ve magnífico.

Saludos

Anonymous said...

This cake sounds simply divine with coconut!

oneordinaryday said...

Totally loving that second photo. Looks delicious!

Char said...

Ahhh, so yummy, right? I had tres leches cake for my wedding. I tried making it a few months ago and it turned out okay, but I better try this one!

Pam said...

Why oh why can't you be my neighbor? This cake looks muy bien!!!

CC11 said...

You made a traditional cake even better once again, bravo :)

vanillasugarblog said...

ok then. You took this cake and kicked it up a NOTCH! ^5 momma!

Mary @Delightful Bitefuls said...

Absolutely divine!

Great blog! Happy I found you!

Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls

Kerstin said...

I'm both a big pudding and cake fan so I think I'd really enjoy the texture - what a unique cake!

scrambledhenfruit said...

This cake looks amazing- the coconut is fabulous! I could really go for a cake like this right now. :)

Mimi said...

We love tres leches cake and my son would be all over a coconut one.
Mimi

Lucie said...

I have never ever had a tres leches cake / I now need a tres leches cake very very badly

That was my daily poem. Thank you for the inspiration ;)

TKW said...

Oh, the addition of coconut is inspired! Looks heavenly.

Mel said...

You crack me up. Have I mentioned that? I was just trying to teach pig latin to my six-year old yesterday convincing him it would make him the coolest kid in 1st grade. He didn't buy it and instead just shot me weird looks while I was saying "AcksonJay EanClay OurYay OomRay!"

Love that you loved this cake and I will forevermore refer to it as the "Wisdom Teeth" cake.

Jannett said...

This recipe looks delicious.... :)

pigpigscorner said...

muy bien indeed!

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

I LOVE this cake. Had it for the first time in a restaurant and have been wanting to try my hand at it since. Thanks for posting this!

The Blonde Duck said...

I love tres leche!

Tia said...

this looks too easy NOT to make :)

Megan said...

Looks delicious! I can never turn down a good cake recipe, this looks and sounds great!

Nic said...

I haven't made one of these in ages and wouldn't have thought to use coconut milk - it sounds darn right outrageously fantastic!

Hungry Dog said...

WHat a fun cake! I'm not the biggest fan of coconut but I would most definitely give this a try! So pretty!

maybelle's mom said...

when i said something about how we need to make sure our girls are bilingual as I am, he said lets be proud when the little one even masters one. (she is one year old.)

I love tres leches cake and I can't begin to say that in pig latin.

ovenhaven said...

I've never seen anything quite like this! It sounds and looks absolutely delightful *wipes drool*

LilSis said...

Not only have a never made one of these cakes, but I've never even tasted one... It does look like it would literally melt in your mouth! Divine!

Maria said...

I LOVE that you added coconut!

Von said...

Nevermind that I've never heard of tres leche cake before- this looks delicious and I want a slice now!!! =)

Love the coconut!! I'm definitely trying this one out soon!!

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Hehe that's exactly how I would describe it too Grace. This cake could almost make you fluent in 14 languages it's so delish :D

Joanne said...

Seeing as how I love cake AND pudding...why not combine the two! Oh I love tres leches. All the better with coconut on top. No matter what language you serve it in.

Heidi - Apples Under My Bed said...

oui oui! tres bien indeed. this looks yummy. i love coconut.
Heidi xo

Jennifer said...

I have got to make this, just looking at it makes me swoon!

Nutmeg Nanny said...

Wow what an awesome looking dessert! I have heard so many good things about tres leches cake but I'm just scared it will be to soggy for my liking. I'm really weird about soggy stuff. Also I took four years of Spanish in HS and still do not know enough to get me through a conversation. I should have paid more attention to the lessons instead of daydreaming.... :)

Juliana said...

Oh! I love tres leche cake...but neve had it with coconut milk...have to try this one...the cake sounds so moist and rich...SO GOOD!

Marjie said...

Hubs and kiddos are linguistically challenged. So, to "translate" something into German, they say "Der ___ful". Spanish is always "El ____o". As for me? Well, if I think long enough, I might remember some high school French. More likely not.

If I learn to say "Tres Leche," can I have some of this cake?

Deborah said...

I am a tres leches lover, and this looks so so so good!!

Chef Fresco said...

Yum! Seriously a bien looking tres leches! And so moist too.

Lori said...

I ovelay restay echelay akecay.

Amanda said...

Have often dreamed of making this... yours looks amazing!

eatme_delicious said...

Oh pig latin!! I-ay orgot-fay about-ay at-thay. I remember speaking it to my mom when I was in elementary school and I thought she was so cool for understanding it haha. I am loving this tres leches cake! I've made it once before but this coconut version sounds even better!

Carolyn Jung said...

Moist and super creamy. What more could you want in a cake? ;)

Kaitlin said...

Looks out of this world! I have such a weakness for cake!

Robin said...

Hi Grace! I am finally sitting down! I have been on a whirl-wind since school has started which has taken me from reading all my favorite blogs. Now this is a great cake. And way yes to all that coconut and coconut cream! Have a great day!

Cocina Savant said...

Mushy melt-in-your-mouth cake, count me in. This looks fantastic. And thanks for always making me laugh when I visit your page. The opening line was thoroughly enjoyed.

VINTAGE FORWARD said...

omg so stoked this blog exists.

www.vintageforward.blogspot.com

cookies and cups said...

yum yum yum!!
this sounds awesome, i love that you added coconut to tres leches !

Ingrid_3Bs said...

I've made the regular version of this and it was okay..I'll have to try your kicked up coconut one.
~ingrid

Heather said...

Yum! Sounds so yummy right now!

Lisa said...

The delicious addition of coconut really makes this cake perfect!

marla {family fresh cooking} said...

coconut everything & anything-I am a total coco-nutty fan. this cake looks amazing!!

Erica said...

This is my favorite cake!!!! I can eat a whole cake by myself :) I love the idea of "coconut 3 leches"

Kate Morgan Jackson said...

Oh man...this looks AMAZING!! Definitely going on my to-make list. YUM!

foodhoe said...

dang girl, that cake looks so good!

Jeanne @ CookSister! said...

Ah, I love travel. It gives me the chance to rape a complete stranger's language and grate on their eardrums with my screwed up tenses and flailing genders ;-) The recipe looks awesome - the coconut does it for me too!