
Three Milk Cake
At my ranch in Jalisco, three milk cake was served during baptisms, birthdays, or visits that deserved a clean tablecloth. My mother taught me that the secret is not to rush it, but to make a fluffy sponge cake that can hold the milk soak without turning into mush. This version works because we beat the eggs patiently, bake evenly, and mix the milks with a bit of cream to give it body. It turns out moist, sweet just right, and topped with fresh cream, just like those generous three milk cakes shared around the family table.
Prep
35 min
Cook
30 min
Total
65 min
Yield
8 servings
Origin
MX · Jalisco
Ingredients
- Egg· at room temperature5 piece
- White sugar· for the cake150 g
- Wheat flour· sifted160 g
- Baking powder· leveled2 teaspoon
- Salt· fineto taste
- Vanilla extract· divided2 teaspoon
- Butter· soft, for the pan10 g
- Evaporated milk· for the soak350 ml
- Condensed milk· for the soak300 ml
- Whole milk· cold250 ml
- Heavy whipping cream· 120 ml for the soak and 300 ml for the topping, very cold420 ml
- Powdered sugar· for the whipped cream30 g
- Strawberry· washed and sliced200 g
- Ground cinnamon· to finishto taste
Method
- 01
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 23 x 33 cm rectangular pan with butter and line the bottom with parchment paper so the cake comes out evenly.
- 02
Beat the eggs with the white sugar for 6 to 8 minutes, until the mixture looks pale, thick, and falls in ribbons over the bowl.
- 03
Sift the all-purpose flour with the baking powder and salt. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the eggs in 3 batches, and add 1 tsp of vanilla extract without deflating the mixture too much.
- 04
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake at 180°C for 28 to 32 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- 05
Let the cake rest in the pan for 10 minutes. Poke holes all over the surface with a fork or a skewer, reaching almost to the bottom to absorb the soak well.
- 06
In a pitcher, mix the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, 120 ml of heavy cream, and the remaining 1 tsp of vanilla extract until no thick streaks remain.
- 07
Slowly pour the three milk soak over the warm cake, waiting between additions for it to absorb; it should appear moist but not have large puddles at the edges.
- 08
Cover the pan and refrigerate the cake for at least 4 hours, preferably 8, until it is cold and the milks have settled evenly.
- 09
Whip the remaining 300 ml of heavy cream with the powdered sugar for 3 to 5 minutes, until soft peaks form that hold their shape without looking curdled.
- 10
Cover the cold cake with the whipped cream, arrange the sliced strawberries on top, and sprinkle with ground cinnamon just before serving.
Chef tips
- If you don't have strawberries, use sliced peaches or serve it plain with a sprinkle of cinnamon; the three milk cake will still look impressive.
- Do not overbeat the flour: gently fold it in using sweeping motions so that the sponge cake doesn’t become dense.
- Pour the milks slowly; if you add them all at once, they can flow to the edges and leave the center dry.
- Store the cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Serve it well-chilled for the crumb to remain firm and juicy.
Classifications
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