Tres Leches Cake is a delicious milk cake that has a moist texture and is popular in Spanish speaking populations. How long is Tres Leches Cake good for? We’ll help you determine how long it can be stored as well as the best storage method.
What is Tres Leches Cake?
Tres Leches Cake, also known as three milk cake, is just what it sounds like. This recipe is a cake that is made with three different types of milk in a sauce drizzled on top of it. This is a classic recipe in Latin American countries.
Our recipe is made as a light sponge cake to be a copycat version of what the Chuy restaurant sells. To know how long is Tres Leches Cake good for, please see the information below.
How to Store Tres Leches Cake
As is true with most any foods, how it’s stored will determine how long it lasts. Food storage and handling is important because it keeps you safe and from getting potential food poisoning.
The best way to store a fluffy sponge cake such is to use plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil. You can then store the cake in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you’re storing cake in the freezer, you’ll want to place the wrapped cake in a zipped freezer bag and label it with the date and contents.
When storing cake, you can store the entire cake or as small of a portion as a slice of cake.
How Long is Tres Leches Cake Good For?
The length of time Tres Leches Cake is good for depends on the method of storage used. Following are a breakdown of the estimated shelf life for each one.
Room Temperature
Your milk cake is good for up to 2 hours when stored at a room temperature that’s between 40F – 90F degrees.
When the room temperature is warmer than 90F degrees, the cake is good for up to 1 hour. After that, the cake is considered to have gone bad and should be thrown away.
Refrigerator
Tres Leches cake will last for up to 3-5 days, when covered and stored in the refrigerator. A good refrigerator temperature is one that’s less than 40F degrees and warmer than 32F degrees.
Freezer
Your delicious cake will last in the freezer for up to 3 months, when wrapped properly with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil and then placed in an airtight container or zipped freezer bag.
How to Tell if Tres Leches Cake Has Gone Bad
Chances are if you’ve stored Tres Leches Cake for 4-5 days in the refrigerator, you’ll want to check it for signs of spoilage before you consume it.
Things to look for are a change in appearance, such as discoloration or the presence of mold.
Also, if the taste or smell of the cake seems off, you’ll want to consider it spoiled.
If any key indicators of spoilage are present, throw the cake away and don’t risk eating it.
Different Types of Milk
There are three different kinds of milk that are used to make this cake that’s loved so much by Spanish speaking individuals, thus its name.
Evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk are both dairy products used for the sauce that goes on the cake.
And the third type of milk like substance is heavy whipping cream, used to make the whipped topping garnish for the top of the milk cake.
Tres Leches Cake Recipe
This article mainly focuses on the storage of milk cake, but to see our complete recipe for Copycat Chuy’s Tres Leches Cake, you can get it here.
Equipment
Below is the recommended equipment that you’ll need in order to make this delicious cake.
hand mixer or electric stand mixer
parchment paper
large bowl, such as a mixing bowl
measuring cups
measuring spoons
9×9” baking pan
Summary
To make a Tres Leches cake using our recipe here, you’ll want to have a prepared pan ready for the batter, and then you can begin putting the cake batter together.
We recommend putting the flour mixture or dry ingredients together first and then adding the wet mixture. You’ll also notice the egg whites are used in this cake and the egg yolk mixture gets set aside. You might like to save your egg yolks for another recipe.
When making a cake from scratch we always recommend mixing the cake on low speed otherwise you can create a very heavy and dense cake. Instead, this is intended to be a light, moist cake.
Once the batter has been prepared, pour batter into the prepared baking pan and bake as directed.
After the cake has finished baking, you’ll poke holes in the top of the cake to help the milk-based sauce seep in. If this is your first time making the cake, it’s always good to read all the way through the recipe before beginning to make the cake.
Storing Tres Leches cake is best done in an airtight container in the refrigerator, or you can freeze it for longer storage.
Topping:
Traditional Tres Leches Cake is topped off with a bit of real whipped cream.
Whipped cream is easy to make with heavy cream. Simply pour the desired amount of heavy cream into a mixing bowl and use an electric mixer on medium-high speed to whip the cream until soft peaks begin to form. Whole milk doesn’t work as a substitute for heavy cream. Some folks like to add a bit of vanilla extract to the heavy cream to enhance the flavor.
Once you have soft peaks, it won’t be long until you achieve the desired consistency. Watch the cream closely and continue beating it until stiff peaks begin to form. Once this is achieved, your whipped cream is finished and is ready to go on top of the cake.
Add-ons
If you enjoy eating Tres Leches Cake, you might like to add a varied flavor or beautiful color to the dish, consider adding fresh fruit.
You can simply use berries such as strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Or you can add any favorite fruit for a beautiful appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Following are frequently asked questions that relate to how long is Tres Leches Cake good for. If you have a question that’s not answered here, feel free to drop it to us in the comments box below and we’ll be happy to respond.
How long can Tres Leches Cake stay?
This delicious milk cake will last for up to 3-5 days when stored properly in the refrigerator. Please check out our storage instructions above.
Can you eat week old Tres Leches Cake?
We wouldn’t recommend eating week old cake, unless it was placed in the freezer right after it was prepared. If it was stored in the refrigerator for that length of time, it’s likely gone bad and should be thrown away instead.
How long does milk cake stay fresh for?
Like most baked goods, milk cake is best when eaten fresh. But when it’s necessary to store it, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. If you notice any signs of spoilage, don’t risk eating it and throw it away instead.
Can you eat Tres Leches the next day?
Yes, it’s fine to eat Tres Leches cake the next day, just store it in the refrigerator after it has been baked and has cooled. This will allow it to maintain its status of being safe to eat.
Related Ideas:
Chuys Tres Leches Cake Recipe
Tasty Mexican Tres Leches Pancakes
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