Tres leches layer cake filled with peaches and whipped cream

The tres leches cake is a wonderful recipe, very delicious and juicy. In Venezuela, where I am from, it is made in the same container where it is going to be served and covered with meringue, usually Swiss or Italian. However, recently I discovered that in other Latin American countries they make a version filled with fruit and covered with whipped cream, which also does not go in a mold but is presented as a regular layer cake.

For me this was a revelation, since I thought that the amount of liquid in a tres leches cake would make it impossible to present it like this. Not only that, I found out that there are also versions of the cake that are made with different fillings, and I just had to try it.

I did a couple of experiments, I read many recipes, I watched many videos and finally I ended up with the recipe I share with you today. I am more than happy and satisfied with the end result.

Details to be considered:

This is a long recipe that takes several steps and processes (it is all worth it, I promise). The first process is to make the sponge cakes for the layers. I have made a cake with 3 layers and 20cm (8 inches) in diameter. I have baked each layer separately to later be able to bathe them in the milk also separately and not have to cut the layers of a full tall cake already with the liquid. It also seemed to me that in this way the distribution of the milk is more uniform.

Now, regarding the process of making a sponge cake or “bizcochuelo” (as we say in Venezuela) I must say that the most important ingredient is eggs. They are the ones that provide the structure and height of the sponge. My recommendations: use eggs as fresh as possible and beat them at room temperature. I always buy the eggs for a sponge cake the same day I’m going to bake it. I have observed in my own experience how eggs that I have had for days do not rise as much or maintain their structure as much or as well as fresh eggs. I know a lot is said about using a very clean container without a drop of fat or impurities, beating whites and yolks separately because in theory the yolks prevent the whites from rising enough, but the truth is that the only determining factor that I have observed by which my eggs rise less is when I use days old eggs at home. In fact, I don’t separate the eggs. The procedure I do for the sponge is inspired by the recipe for the Genoise sponge cake, with the difference that this sponge cake does not contain added fat as the Genoise sponge frequently does.

I always add a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar and a pinch of salt to the eggs when beating them. Not only does this help stabilize them so they rise higher, but it also neutralizes their flavor, so the end result won’t have a very pungent egg flavor. It also helps to add ingredients that give the aroma and flavor that we want for the recipe. This time I added vanilla extract and lemon zest. If you have access to cream of tartar, you can use a quarter teaspoon of this ingredient instead of lemon juice or vinegar, since being an acidic ingredient it serves the same purpose.

The importance of eggs in the sponge cake recipe also explains the absence of baking powder or other leavening agents. The main idea is that the eggs are the ones that give the cake fluffiness and structure. And for this same reason it is very important to beat them long enough to not only generate air in the mix but also to keep that aerated structure stable. Thus the egg mixture must be beaten at high speed for at least 10 minutes, sometimes up to 15. The final mixture must have increased at least 3 times its volume, it should be very thick, has reached what is called in Spanish “the letter point” (which means that when making a shape or letter with the whisk on top of the mixture it takes a few seconds for it to disappear) and it should have a much lighter color than it had when we started to whisk it.

The next step is to incorporate the flours. I use a mixture of all-purpose wheat flour and cornstarch. You can omit the cornstarch if you use pastry or cake flour, since it is a special flour for pastries, that is low in protein, so that it does not generate too much gluten and the cake is soft and fluffy. I do not recommend making it only with cornstarch, as it gives it a different flavor and texture. To incorporate the flours, it is important to do it by hand and use enveloping movements, from the bottom up, so as not to damage the structure achieved during the beating of the eggs and to ensure that the flours are being incorporated well and that there are no deposits of unmixed flour left in the base. of the container. If you should omit the cornstarch, you need to add that same amount by weight on additional cake flour.

To bake these cakes, I recommend using the top and bottom heating option of the oven WITHOUT a fan. My oven at 170°C/338°F bakes them to the right doneness, but each oven is different and, in some cases, it may take longer to bake or it will require a higher temperature. If your oven only heats from the bottom, the temperature should be raised to 180°C/350°F and of course you must watch the cakes as the baking times will vary. DO NOT open the oven door during baking. If the cakes puff up well in the oven but collapse completely when you take them out, it may be that they needed more baking time or a higher temperature. Important: if the cakes do not turn out well, it is not worth continuing with the rest of the recipe. It is preferable to start over and do the sponges again.

As soon as the cakes come out of the oven, they are bathed with the milk mixture, ensuring that each layer receives the same amount of liquid. Although the recipe is called “tres leches” I use a combination of four dairy products: evaporated milk, condensed milk, heavy cream (also known as whipping cream) and whole milk. In total, one liter of this mixture is made. If you don’t want to use whole milk, you can do it by mixing the other three milks in greater quantity until you get 1 liter or four cups in total.

The cakes are then left to rest until they have cooled completely. They are covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated (not frozen) until the next day.

The next day the cream is prepared to cover the cake. In this procedure there are also important things to consider. First, we are going to use Philadelphia cream cheese to help stabilize the cream. Also, the heavy cream (or whipping cream) should be cold from the fridge. If possible and if you have space, you can place the mixer bowl and the whisk attachment in the fridge for half an hour to 1 hour before whipping the cream. I also add a powdered “cream stabilizer” that I buy under that name here in Germany, the brand is San-Apart. But if it is not possible for you to get it, you can omit it or substitute 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. However, some brands in the US already come with some stabilizing agents in their ingredients, so you can check the ingredient list of your heavy cream before having to search for San-Apart.

And once the cream is has reached firm peaks, we can proceed to assemble the cake. For this, I highly recommend watching the video of the recipe (linked below), so that you can see the process step by step and also take into account that the decoration is only a suggestion, you can vary it to your liking.

So now, the recipe:

https://youtu.be/X415i16XQuM

Once the 4 hours have passed (at least) this delicious dessert will be ready to enjoy and share. It is a fresh and delicious dessert option. It is important that it is always kept refrigerated and that it is placed, if possible, on a concave plate or base that does not allow the milk that seeps under the cake to spill.

I hope you liked this recipe and are encouraged to prepare it. I loved experimenting with it and really getting a taste of this tres leches delight. It should be noted that it can be filled with other types of fruit, for example strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or a combination of them. It can also be made with kiwis, or with a fruit cocktail.

If you manage to prepare this delicious stuffed tres leches cake, you can send me photos on Facebook or Instagram, my username is always @poramoralhorno. It always makes me so happy to see your photos.

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope to see you in the next recipe.

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