5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Tres Leches Cake

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5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Tres Leches

This recipe uses a “pudding-in-the-mix” shortcut to ensure the cake remains structurally sound even after being soaked.

CategoryDetails
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time2–3 hours (on Low)
Total Time3 hours + Chilling
Yield8–10 servings

🍴 Ingredients

  • The Sponge:
    1. 1 box (15.25 oz) White or Yellow Cake Mix (prepared with water/oil/eggs as per box)
  • The “Three Milks” (Tres Leches):2. 1 can (14 oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk3. 1 can (12 oz) Evaporated Milk4. 1 cup Whole Milk (or heavy cream for extra richness)
  • The Topping:5. 1 tub (8 oz) Whipped Topping (like Cool Whip) or sweetened whipped cream

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. The Slow Rise

  • Grease the inside of your slow cooker generously with butter or cooking spray.
  • Prepare the cake mix according to the box instructions. Pour the batter into the slow cooker.
  • The Wick Hack: Place two paper towels over the top of the pot, then secure the lid. Cook on Low for 2 to 3 hours. Start checking at 2 hours—a toothpick should come out clean.

2. The “Acupuncture” Step

  • Once the cake is done, turn off the slow cooker and remove the lid.
  • While the cake is still warm, use a fork or a skewer to poke holes all over the top, going about 3/4 of the way down.

3. The Milk Marriage

  • In a pitcher, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk.
  • Slowly pour the mixture over the warm cake. It will look like a lake at first, but the cake will absorb it like a sponge within minutes.

4. The Cold Cure

  • Lift the ceramic insert out of the slow cooker (or leave it in) and let it cool to room temperature.
  • Crucial: Refrigerate the cake for at least 4 hours (overnight is best). Tres Leches must be served cold for the flavors to truly sing.

5. The Cloud Finish

  • Just before serving, spread the whipped topping over the cold cake. Sprinkle with a little cinnamon if you’re feeling fancy.

The “Dulce” Twist: For recipe 453.5, you can replace the whole milk with ½ cup of Caramel sauce. This transforms it into a Cuatro Leches (Four Milks) cake with a deep, toffee-like undertone.

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