This easy gluten free tres leches cake recipe is a delicious dessert that you will want to make again and again. It is perfect for Cinco de Mayo or anytime you want a creamy easy dessert recipe!
Creamy and full of flavor, you will want to make this simple three milk cake again and again! You can check out my favorite Cinco de Mayo recipes for even more ideas :-).
Have you tried tres leches cake before? This gluten free coconut tres leches cake recipe is worth making!
This Spanish cake is similar in making to tiramisu cake. You soak the cake in three different kinds of milk, making it rich and very creamy.
If you have wondered how to make a tres leches cake, you will find this recipe from Chef Kzaz is very easy to follow.
*Note: Former Executive, Chef Tony Kzaz, from the Level Two Steakhouse in the Oakland Marriott, created this dish with his gluten free diners in mind. I was sad to hear that this chef no longer works for Level Two because he was so innovative in his gluten free recipe creation.
Why is this cake called Tres Leches Cake?
Tres Leches cake is a Mexican dessert that means three milks. I guess you could call this cake a 3 milk cake. This gluten free milk cake recipe is a delicious cake to make any time, though many make this cake in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. This recipe makes individual cakes like in this recipe, or you can make one large cake for a crowd.
This cake is perfect for Cinco de Mayo celebrations, birthday parties, or anytime you would enjoy a festive cake. You can also try this delicious Gluten Free Vanilla Cake or this easy Turkish Fig Yogurt Cake.
Many tres leches cakes are baked with rum. This gluten free tres leches cake recipe is made without rum, so there is no alcohol in this recipe.
How long should this cake soak?
The recipe Chef Kzaz created for us soaks overnight in the refrigerator. This allows all of the flavors to blend and soak in before baking it.
How long will this tres leches cake keep?
This tres leches cake will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. I highly recommend keeping it in an airtight container so that the cake doesn't get soggy! Even better if you store the individual ingredients for the cake then assemble it when you are ready to serve it.
More Fun Gluten Free Recipes to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo With:
Tools:
- This gluten free flour blend.
- These mini springform pans would be great to make this recipe in so you can get them out of the molds easily.
📖 Recipe
Coconut Tres Leches
Ingredients
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon baking powder sifted
- 1 cup gluten free flour blend *see note
- gluten free cooking spray
- 15 ounce can cream of coconut
- 14 ounce can coconut milk
- 14 ounce heavy manufacturing cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F degrees.
- Heat sweetened coconut milk until melted. Add coconut milk and heavy cream and heat until simmering (do not boil). Set aside until ready to use.
- For the cake batter, place eggs, sugar, vanilla and water in the bowl of electric mixer fitted with a whip attachment. Whip on high speed until tripled in volume or ribbon stage. Sift flour and baking powder together. Using a whip, fold flour mixture into egg mixture until smooth.
- Wrap the bottom of each ring mold with a piece of aluminum foil and spray with nonstick spray. Fill each mold ¾ full and bake on a sheet pan at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. Cakes should rise and fall when cooked. Using a fork, poke a few holes in the top of each cake then ladle 6 to 8 ounces of coconut milk on top of each cake cake should absorb all the milk add more milk if necessary . Refrigerate overnight or at least 3 hours.
- When ready to plate, carefully remove foil while tilting cake slightly sideways without letting it slide out. Slide it onto a plate and remove the ring mold garnish with whipped cream, toasted coconut and your favorite fruit sauce with berries. Makes five to six individual cakes.
Notes
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- This cake will keep up to 3 days in an air-tight container.
- You can make one large cake by using a springform pan.
- To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the donut. If the toothpick comes out clean, it is done baking. If you see batter or crumbs, the donuts need to bake longer.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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Dianne
I'd like to use an 8" spring form pan--how long would you recommend I bake it?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Dianne, I haven't baked it as one big cake, so you may want to bake 30 minutes and check it. Please come back and let us know how long you baked it.
Dana DeVolk
I have never made tres leches cake, I can't wait to try it now! Thanks so much!
Sandi Gaertner
I hope you like it as much as we did Dana 🙂
Sues
I actually have never made a tres leches cake before, but this one looks seriously awesome and like a great first one to make! I love all the coconut and he fact that I can serve it to my GF friends!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you like it Sues 🙂
Dawn
I like finding new fun gluten free recipes.
Sandi Gaertner
This one is fun because the chef's mom is gluten free. He made this recipe up for her.
Misty
I don't like coconut, but I think if I exclude that this will be amazing!
Sandi Gaertner
Let me know how it turns out 🙂