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A slice of gluten-free tres leches cake topped with fresh strawberries on a white plate

Gluten-Free Tres Leches Cake


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  • Author: Emily Dixon, Sweets & Thank You
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 15-20 Slices 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

This ultra-moist cake has a sweet, creamy flavor with notes of vanilla in every bite. It’s especially great in the spring & summer, but serve it with your Tex-Mex favorites all year long!


Ingredients

Scale

For The Cake:

  • 1 1/3 cups Gluten-Free Flour (160 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 5 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup whole milk

For The Milk Mixture:

  • 2/3 cup Whole Milk
  • 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk

For The Whipped Cream & Topping:

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream (1 pint)
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar (30 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Fresh strawberries & cinnamon

Instructions

First, Bake The Cake:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan. 
  2. Separate Eggs. To start, separate the egg yolks and whites. Place the yolks in a large bowl. Place the whites in a separate large bowl. Make sure there are NO bits of yolk in the egg whites. (Even a tiny drop can prevent them from whipping properly.) 
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together gluten-free flour, baking powder, and salt to combine. Set aside. 
  4. Combine Egg Yolks & Sugar. Add 3/4 cup sugar to the egg yolks. Stir until smooth. Mix in the vanilla and whole milk. 
  5. Whip Egg Whites. Use a hand mixer to blend the eggs until foamy and starting to turn white. Gradually add in the last 1/4 cup sugar and whip until the egg white turn into stiff peaks. (When you lift the beaters out of the mixture, it should hold its shape on the beaters even when you rotate them around.)
  6. Mix Cake Batter. Add dry ingredients to the egg yolk mixture and stir until just combined. Add about half of the whipped egg whites mixture to the batter and use a spatula to gently fold it into the batter. (Don’t stir or you’ll deflate it. Instead, scrape around the edges of the bowl and fold it in on top of itself in the center.) Add the second half of the whites mixture and repeat. 
  7. Bake Cake. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees 28-30 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs (no wet batter). Let the cake cool to room temperature while you prepare the milk mixture. (It may settle a bit while it cools–this is normal!)

Next, Make The Milk Mixture: 

  1. Combine. When the cake has cooled slightly, combine 2/3 cup whole milk, the sweetened condensed milk and the evaporated milk in a large liquid measuring cup. 
  2. Poke The Top Of The Cake with a fork. You want lots of little holes across the whole top of the cake. 
  3. Pour the milk mixture over the entire cake, including the edges. (It will seem like a lot!)
  4. Cover & Chill. Then, cover the top of the pan with plastic wrap and chill the cake in the refrigerator 2-4 hours, up to overnight (8 hours max). 

To Serve, Prepare The Topping:

  1. Make Whipped Topping. When the cake has chilled and you’re ready to serve the cake, prepare the whipped topping. In a large bowl, whip heavy cream until it begins to foam. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and continue to whip until the whipped cream forms soft peaks. 
  2. Frost. Spread the whipped cream over the top of the cake.
  3. Garnish the cake (or individual slices) with sliced strawberries and a sprinkle of cinnamon (if desired). 

Notes

  • Protect The Egg Whites! If you want the signature light, fluffy texture with plenty of air bubbles, the big secret is to whip the egg whites properly. Make sure the bowl and beaters are completely clean (even a little smudge of grease or oil can prevent the whites from whipping), and be sure that there isn’t even a single drop of egg yolk in the whites. (The fat from the yolk will prevent the whites from whipping.) Then, fold in the whipped whites gently. Don’t stir or beat them in, or you’ll deflate the batter. 
  • Gluten-Free Flour. We recommend King Arthur Measure-For-Measure Gluten-Free Flour for this cake. If you use another brand, be sure it contains xanthan gum, and measure carefully! (Almond flour, oat flour, and coconut flour will NOT work in this recipe.)
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: Tex-Mex
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