Fluffy Dream-Filled Tres Leches Cupcakes Recipe

Decadent and moist, these tres leches cupcakes will transport you to a world of creamy indulgence.

Every soft bite of this traditional Mexican dessert bursts with sweet, milky goodness.

The recipe combines classic baking techniques with a luscious tres leches soaking method that guarantees an irresistible treat.

Rich vanilla cake becomes extraordinary when drenched in three types of milk, creating a dessert that melts in your mouth.

Each cupcake promises a velvety texture that balances delicate sweetness with pure comfort.

Topped with billowy whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, these cupcakes are a celebration of flavor that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 230 kcal

Servings: 12

Ingredients for Soft Tres Leches Cupcakes

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the sturdy base for cupcake structure, choose unbleached flour for better texture.
• Baking Powder: Helps cupcakes rise and become light and fluffy, ensure it's fresh for maximum lift.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness, use fine table salt for even distribution.

• Eggs: Creates richness and helps bind the ingredients, select fresh room-temperature eggs for smoother mixing.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create tender crumb, granulated white sugar works best.
• Whole Milk: Contributes moisture and richness, use full-fat milk for maximum flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides deep, aromatic flavor, opt for pure vanilla extract over artificial versions.

• Cupcake Liners: Prevents sticking and creates neat presentation, choose high-quality grease-resistant liners.

Tools to Help You Bake Tres Leches Cupcakes Right

• Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: Essential for beating eggs and sugar to a fluffy consistency and mixing batter smoothly.
• Medium Bowl: Perfect for whisking dry ingredients together.
• Large Bowl: Needed for mixing wet ingredients and creating cupcake batter.
• Muffin Tin: 12-cup tin for baking cupcakes evenly.
• Cupcake Liners: Helps prevent sticking and makes serving easier.
• Whisk: Great for combining flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Toothpick: Used to check cupcake doneness by inserting into center.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Critical for accurate ingredient measurements.

How to Make Moist Tres Leches Cupcakes

• Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to 350F and line a muffin tin with cozy paper liners. Get ready for some delicious baking magic.

• Create the Dry Base

Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl until they’re perfectly blended and smooth.

• Whip Up the Fluffy Foundation

Grab your mixer and beat eggs and sugar until they transform into a light, airy cloud. The mixture should look pale and feel extra puffy.

• Blend the Wet Elements

Lower the mixer speed and gently fold in vanilla and milk. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients, mixing just until everything comes together smoothly.

• Bake and Cool

Pour the batter into the lined cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Slide the tin into the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely before moving to the next stage.

• Soak in Milk Mixture

Poke small holes across the top of each cooled cupcake. Slowly drench them with a mixture of three different milks, allowing each cake to absorb the creamy liquid.

• Top and Serve

Finish with a generous swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon. Chill until ready to serve these decadent treats.

Flavor Upgrades for Tres Leches Cupcakes

• Milk Soak Magic: Pierce cooled cupcakes with a fork or toothpick before pouring three-milk mixture to help them absorb the liquid more evenly and deeply.
• Make-Ahead Miracle: Prepare cupcakes a day in advance and refrigerate after soaking in milk mixture for richer flavor development and easier serving.
• Dairy-Free Delight: Swap traditional milk blend with coconut milk or almond milk for a lactose-free version that maintains the cupcakes' signature moist texture.
• Topping Transformation: Experiment with garnishes like toasted coconut flakes, fresh berries, or chocolate shavings to add extra visual appeal and flavor complexity.
• Gluten-Free Option: Replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend and add xanthan gum to ensure proper texture and structure for those with wheat sensitivities.

Present Tres Leches Cupcakes Like a Pro

• Party Platter Paradise: Arrange cupcakes on a festive multi-tiered serving stand, garnished with fresh mint leaves and a light dusting of ground cinnamon for an elegant dessert display.
• Sweet Brunch Companion: Pair these cupcakes with strong Colombian coffee or Mexican hot chocolate, creating a delightful morning or mid-afternoon treat that celebrates Latin American flavors.
• Fiesta Topping Bar: Set up a small station with extra condensed milk, whipped cream, fresh berries, and toasted coconut flakes, allowing guests to customize their tres leches cupcake experience with personal flair.
• Dessert Gift Packaging: Wrap individual cupcakes in clear cellophane with a colorful ribbon, making perfect take-home treats for dinner parties or special celebrations that guests will love.

Save Leftovers of Tres Leches Cupcakes Easily

• Smart Storage Strategies: Cool cupcakes completely before storing in an airtight container at room temperature for 12 hours maximum.
• Milk Mixture Magic: Refrigerate the tres leches liquid separately in a sealed container up to 3 days before soaking cupcakes.
• Freezing Friendly: Wrap unfrosted, unsaturated cupcakes individually in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags for up to 3 weeks. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before serving.
• Serving Savvy: Keep decorated cupcakes chilled and consume within 24 hours for optimal taste and texture. Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before enjoying to soften cream topping.

Dreamy Tres Leches Cupcakes Recipe

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4.7 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Mexican dessert Tres Leches Cupcakes offer a sweet journey through creamy milky layers. Delicate sponge cake soaked in condensed, evaporated, and whole milk creates a luscious treat you cannot resist.

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Ingredients

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• 3 large eggs (room temperature)
• ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240 ml) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsps baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ⅓ cup (80 ml) whole milk
• ½ cup (120 ml) sweetened condensed milk
• ½ cup (120 ml) evaporated milk
• ¼ cup (60 ml) whole milk
• 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream (cold)
• 2 tbsps powdered sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Ground cinnamon
• Fresh berries
• Chocolate shavings

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Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Calibrate oven to 350F (175C) and line a standard muffin tin with cupcake liners.
2. Dry Ingredient Integration: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until uniformly combined, eliminating potential clumping.
3. Egg Transformation: Employ an electric mixer to whip eggs and sugar at high velocity, creating a voluminous, pale cream-like emulsion.
4. Liquid Incorporation: Reduce mixer speed, gently introducing vanilla extract and whole milk into the egg mixture, maintaining its delicate structure.
5. Batter Composition: Delicately fold dry ingredients into wet components, minimizing stirring to preserve the batter’s ethereal texture.
6. Baking Process: Distribute batter evenly among cupcake liners, filling each approximately two-thirds full, then transfer to preheated oven.
7. Cooling and Preparation: Bake for 18-20 minutes, verifying doneness with a toothpick test, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.

Notes

• Whip Eggs Carefully: Beat eggs and sugar at high speed until light and fluffy, creating an airy base that ensures a soft, delicate cupcake texture.
• Minimal Mixing Strategy: Fold dry ingredients gently into wet mixture to prevent overmixing, which can result in dense, tough cupcakes with less volume.
• Precise Filling Technique: Fill cupcake liners only two-thirds full to allow proper rising and prevent overflow during baking, ensuring uniform and attractive cupcakes.
• Temperature Monitoring: Use a toothpick test to check doneness, inserting it into the center of a cupcake – if it comes out clean, the cupcakes are perfectly baked and ready to cool.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 265
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 140 mg
• Fat: 13 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg