This easy Tres Leches Cake with Cake Mix recipe uses boxed cake mix and a sweet three milk mixture, topped with rich whipped cream & cinnamon for the best shortcut dessert you'll find!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This is one of those great fake-out recipes that seems super complicated but is as easy as making a boxed cake and pouring milk over it.
- This cake is insanely decadent, with a rich, sweet milk mixture soaking spongey, buttery yellow cake mix. If you've ever tried a poke cake, it's like that - just richer!
- It's perfect for entertaining (hello, Cinco de Mayo!) or for an easy weeknight dessert. It's actually better to prep this cake the night before serving, making it a great make-ahead recipe!
What is Tres Leches Cake?
Tres Leches Cake is a traditional and very popular Mexican dessert that's made its way stateside over the years. It's a rich cake that you soak in three different kinds of milk (hence tres leches) that come together to form this decadent, sweet milk mixture.
This dessert is kind of a cross between a pudding and a cake. I top mine with homemade whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
But it doesn't have to be complicated to make! Making this cake is just as simple as baking a plain old boxed cake mix (that's revved up a little), mixing a few kinds of milk that are readily available at your nearest grocery store, and pouring it over. Super simple and so incredibly tasty.
My Boxed Cake Mix Secret
That brings me to one of my favorite kitchen hacks (and one of my most popular Instagram posts ever). I shared this a while back and people went nuts over it!
The way I make a boxed cake mix taste homemade is simple: use milk instead of water, butter instead of oil, and add an extra egg. Since originally putting this secret on Instagram, I've also started adding about a teaspoon of vanilla extract into this mix to really enhance the flavor.
In my opinion, this tastes better than trying to make a cake from scratch!
Try Ooey Gooey Butter Cake - another recipe that's perfect for sweet snacking.
Ingredients Needed
(See recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact ingredient measurements.)
For the cake
- yellow cake mix - You can use any cake mix you'd like for this; yellow is just going to give you the most traditional flavor.
- whole milk - Make sure to use whole milk to give your cake a nice, rich flavor!
- butter - This butter needs to be at room temperature before adding to the cake mix. If it's straight from the fridge, it will be really hard to mix.
- vanilla extract
- eggs
Three milk mixture & whipped cream
- heavy cream - If you'd like to lighten your recipe up a bit, you can use half and half.
- evaporated milk - Just used the canned variety!
- sweetened condensed milk - This is also canned; you should be able to find both kinds of milk in the baking section of the store.
- powdered sugar - We'll use this to sweeten the whipped cream that tops the cake. Granulated sugar will make it too lumpy.
- sprinkle of cinnamon
Variations, Additions, & Substitutions
There are so many different ways you could make this recipe your own! It all depends on the type of boxed cake mix you use with this recipe.
You can really adapt this recipe to any flavor you'd like. For example: make a chocolate tres leches cake with a chocolate cake mix and chocolate milk mixture, or strawberry tres leches with a strawberry cake mix and strawberry milk mixture.
Different Topping Ideas
You don't have to top your shortcut tres leches cake with cinnamon - try the following instead:
- Strawberries
- Mango
- Kiwi
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Maraschino cherries
- Raspberries
- Pineapple
- Toasted pecans or walnuts
- Mandarin oranges
How to Make Tres Leches Cake with Cake Mix
Step 1: Bake yellow cake.
Spray a large glass baking dish (9x13") with cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together cake mix, whole milk, butter, vanilla extract, and eggs. Pour cake batter into the prepared pan and bake the cake according to package instructions on timing.
Step 2: Make three milk mixture.
While the cake bakes, whisk together half of the heavy cream, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk.
Tip: mix your tres leches mixture in a measuring cup to make for each pouring in the next step.
Step 3: Soak yellow cake in tres leches mixture.
Once the cake is baked and allowed to cool for 20-30 minutes, use a fork to poke holes all over the cake.
A little bit at a time, pour the milk mixture over the cake, allowing it to soak in before pouring additional mix. Continue until all milk is poured and soaked in.
Step 4: Top with whipped cream and cinnamon.
Use the other half of the heavy cream to make whipped cream; mix powdered sugar in slowly as you beat heavy cream in another large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed. Beat until stiff peaks form on beaters.
Spread whipped cream over top of the cake. Sprinkle cinnamon over the top of the whipped cream. Refrigerate the cake for at least an hour before serving.
How-To Video
Leftovers & Storage Tips
If you can resist eating it for this long 😊, this cake can typically last 3-4 days in the fridge. I recommend covering your baking dish (with the cake uncut) in the refrigerator after serving. This is definitely not something you want to store on the kitchen counter - there's lots of milk in this cake!
I also tend to think this cake is better the day after it's made when it's nice and chilled and all of the flavors have had a chance to work together. Don't be afraid to make your cake in advance...the day before you need to serve it would be perfect. Just make sure to cover your baking dish while in the fridge so the whipped cream on top doesn't dry out and deflate.
Can this cake be frozen?
You actually can freeze tres leches cake! Just don't add the milk mixture or whipped cream topping before freezing. Bake the cake and cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil. When you're ready to serve, thaw completely in the refrigerator, pour milk mixture over the top, and top with whipped cream and cinnamon.
What to Serve With Tres Leches Cake
Make a whole Mexican feast! This Tres Leches cake would be perfect with any of these recipes:
- Copycat Mexican Restaurant Salsa
- Rotel Sausage Dip
- Mexican Street Corn Casserole
- Instant Pot Mexican Rice
- Easy 7-Can Taco Soup
More Must-Know Tips & Tricks
- This cake is best served cold. I like to refrigerate mine for at least an hour, but if you can make it the day before serving I'd recommend it. This lets the cake soak up all of that yummy milk mixture.
- Just mix the cake batter until it's completely blended. Don't overmix - this makes the cake too dense and unable to soak up the milk mixture.
- When storing in the refrigerator, don't slice the cake until right before serving. The cake tends to dry out if sliced.
- Substitute any variety of cake mix to change up your cake's flavor. Chocolate, strawberry, or even lemon cake mixes are delicious with this recipe.
Tres Leches Cake Mix FAQs
Make this one for Cinco de Mayo - it's going to be a hit! If you love this cake, make sure to rate ⭐️ and review it below. You can also tag me with your pictures 📸 on social media (@lambertslately).
Easy Tres Leches Cake With Cake Mix
Affiliate links used in this recipe card.
Ingredients
For the cake...
- 15.25 oz boxed yellow cake mix
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 stick butter room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
For the milk mixture and whipped cream...
- 16 oz heavy cream
- 12 oz canned evaporated milk
- 14 oz canned sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- cinnamon
Instructions
- Spray a large baking dish (9x13") with cooking spray. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together cake mix, whole milk, butter, vanilla extract, and eggs. Pour cake batter into the prepared pan and bake cake according to package instructions.
- While yellow cake bakes, whisk together half of the heavy cream, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk.
- Once cake is baked and allowed to cool for at least 20-30 minutes, use a fork to poke holes all over the cake. A little bit at a time, pour milk mixture over the cake, allowing it to soak in before pouring additional mix. Continue until all milk is poured and soaked in.
- Use other half of the heavy cream to make whipped cream; mix powdered sugar in slowly as you beat heavy cream in another large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed. Beat until soft peaks form on beaters.
- Spread whipped cream over top of the cake. Sprinkle cinnamon to over the top of the whipped cream. Refrigerate cake for about an hour before serving.
Notes
- This cake is best served cold. I like to refrigerate mine for at least an hour, but if you can make it the day before serving I'd recommend it. This lets the cake soak up all of that yummy milk mixture.
- Just mix the cake batter until it's completely blended. Don't overmix - this makes the cake too dense and unable to soak up the milk mixture.
- When storing in the refrigerator, don't slice the cake until right before serving. The cake tends to dry out if sliced.
- Substitute any variety of cake mix to change up your cake's flavor. Chocolate, strawberry, or even lemon cake mixes are delicious with this recipe.
- You can also serve topped with fresh fruits, like strawberries, raspberries, or sliced kiwi.
Nutrition Facts
Leslie Lambert is a lifestyle writer and content creator specializing in home organization, family recipes, and intentional living. With 16 years of experience in blogging and digital storytelling, she helps busy women create calm, purposeful homes they love.
Looks great
Thanks, Maria!
Hello! Planning to make this for my Granddaughter’s Birthday. Can the cake be be made a day ahead and refrigerated? Thanks in advance for your help!
Absolutely! I'd wait until the day you serve it to add the whipped cream, but there's no problem with making the rest in advance.
I just wanted to clarify...use half of the heavy whipping cream, but all of the condensed milk and evaporated milk...is that correct?
Correct; you'll use 8oz of heavy cream to pour over the cake (with the evaporated and condensed milk) and 8oz to whip as a topping for the cake.
I have a question, can I add whipping cream to the cake a day before and place it in the fridge? Also would substituting the whipping cream with cool whip work as well? I'm in the process of making this cake for my daughter's birthday.
Thanks
I'd wait until the day you're serving to add the whipped cream to the top - everything else can be done the day before. And yes, you could totally sub Cool Whip!
So easy!!! So Good!!! Thank You for a great recipe!!!!
Would I be able to divide the milks into two for two 9 in cakes? So 14+12+8=34 so half would 17, would it still be good enough or would be too dry? Does that make sense?
That should be fine! I would make sure it takes a little while to soak in; if not, you might want to just add a little bit more milk after the fact.
I cannot wait to make this. But, can I make this in a ‘cupcake’ pan for individual cakes instead? Thanks!
I think you could! Of course, adjust bake time as needed.
Be sure to use foil cupcake liners or your paper will just be wet!
Tres Leches is a favorite around here. I'll have to give this a try!
I love, love, love this Tres Leche cake. My coworkers always ask me to make it for their birthdays using strawberries between the cake and whipped cream. I've even tried a skinny version using low fat and they can't tell the difference. Thanks so much for this!
I love hearing this, thanks for your kind review Connie!
I love deserts. This very easy to make. Can we use any cake mix?
Yes, any flavor cake mix would work!
Super easy!!! Made as cupcakes vs cake for a school function.
How much “milk” did you put on each cupcake?
The tres Le he came was sooo delicious!!! My family loved😋 I will definitely be making it again👍
Best cake!! Followed exactly and everyone loved it! Thanks so much!
Tried this recipe tonight with my daughter. Followed it exactly except for the cinnamon and powdered sugar. IMO it would rival any tres leches I've had in the past in authentic Mexican restaurants. It was excellent! Not soggy or overly sweet. It was perfect!
Can you use the Betty Crocker Super Moist cake mix that has pudding in the mix for the Tres Leches cake?
Sure! Really any cake mix works.
I absolutely love this cake, but I noticed the cake mixes come in a 13 oz box instead of 15.25 oz box and my milk is having trouble soaking up all the liquid
Depending on where you live, you can find 15.25 oz boxes in most bigger grocery stores!
All I can find is a 13.5 oz box of cake mix. How should I adjust the recipe?
That shouldn't require any adjustments!
Thanks for this great shortcut. It looks perfect for my gluten free, lactose intolerant husband. I will use a gluten free yellow cake mix by Krusteaz and lactose free evaporated milk plus found some sweetened condensed coconut milk. I'm going to make it for a family gathering this weekend.
I hope you love the cake, Darla!
I used the end of a wooden spoon to make the holes in the cake and poured the 3 milks in and just noticed that it said to use a fork or skewer but the cake did absorb the cake. Will the cake be ok with the larger holes in it? I didn't put the whip cream on yet but will in the morning.
It should be fine! As long as you're not noticing big pools of milk, the cake will still soak up everything.
Absolutely delicious! It was gone in 10 minutes. Everyone raved about it.🤎🤎🤎
I made this cake for a party and my son requested it for his birthday cake this year. I’m making it the day before so it should be even better than last time.
This is the BEST Tres Leches recipe ever! I’ve tried many but even using a cake box it tastes far better than any other recipe! This is now a staple at our dessert table! Thank you
I absolutely love this cake, I have made it several times, it’s just my husband and I so I share it with a single buddy, he loves it too!
This cake was absolutely horrible!! I made it for New Year's Day dinner and no one liked it!! The cake was absolutely too wet, tasted more like ricotta cheese than a cake. I have deleted this recipe and will never make it again!!
Sounds like it came out perfect and YOU didn't know what tres leche cake was before you made it.
This was delicious. I only did minor variations. I added cinnamon and almond extract to the cake batter and the whipped cream. Everyone LOVED it. 2 of my coworkers have already requested it for their birthdays. Thank you
This cake is so delicious!
It’s been freezing where I live, and I was worried the batter might get over-mixed before my butter, which was a bit too cold, had time to distribute. But no worries— I reverse-creamed the butter into the dry mix before adding the liquids (thank you Rose Levy Berenbaum). Then I baked it in a foil pan to take to a friend’s dinner party. I poured on the milk mixture, let it soak overnight, and frosted it with the whipped cream a few hours before we headed out.
The cake was fluffy, light and loaded with flavor. Everyone came back for a second piece.
TBH, I’ve never been the biggest fan of tres leches cake, but I’m officially converted!
I made this a few times and it always turns out delicious. I've made it as written, but I've also made some changes too. I replaced half the butter with ricotta and it was really great. Also tried using condensed coconut milk and adding toasted coconut. This cake is also amazing crumbled up and added to homemade ice cream. Thanks for this recipe! It's easy, really delicious as written, but also great to change up. Definitely a keeper!
👏Great recipe! Turned out AMAZING! I love Tres Leche cake but it's usually a process to make from scratch. The shortcut with the box mix made this recipe so easy and you couldn't tell it was from a box. It was delicious! Def saving this recipe for future use!❤️
Can I use 2% milk in the cake mix, if I don't have whole milk?
Yes, that's fine! The cake just won't be quite as rich.
Love this recipe! It has become one of my office’s favorite for birthday cakes that I make.
Meh I made this after reading the reviews but I did not think the cake part was good compared to past tres leches cakes I’ve made. The cake part was way too thick and did not turn out as milky as I’d hoped and had past ones turn out. It’s like the cake itself was so dense it just absorbed every drop. I made a different recipe a few yrs ago and I switched the yellow bc cake to a white box cake which I thought was better and it was much more moist with extra milk on the bottom after refrigeration. I had a true tres leches last week not substituting a box cake and it was so good I wanted to make one myself but I was as just disappointed in this and I don’t find it desiring to eat.
Husband asks for it every year for his Birthday cake. Using the cake mix makes it just a little easier and a couple less dishes.
I didn’t realize that I needed heavy cream for the milk mixture. Can I use half and half or whole milk instead? I’m using cool whip for the frosting.
You can, it just might not be as rich as the original recipe. I'd go with half and half over milk!