Tasty Mexican Tres Leches Pancakes

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Mexican Tres Leches Pancakes

Mexican Tres Leches pancakes are easy to make and delicious to enjoy. These three milk pancakes are drizzled in a sauce that is so delicious, you will be coming back for more. Check out the step-by-step instructions below and how you can easily make this delicious pancake recipe anytime anywhere. 

Mexican Tres Leche pancakes top down

Ihop mexican tres leches pancakes

Ihop is one of several restaurants that serve Mexican Tres leches pancakes. Today we are excited to show you how you can make your own version of Mexican Tres leches pancakes at home.

These pancakes can easily be made from scratch or using a box mix, then adding a few delicious ingredients to make them into Mexican Tres leches pancakes.

Although this recipe is not an exact copycat for what you would find at a restaurant, we will help you discover how you can easily make some delicious pancakes at home to enjoy your own version of Mexican trace leches pancakes that can rival any restaurant’s version of them. 

Tres Leche Pancakes

Tres Leche pancakes get their name because they are typically made using three different types of milk, which is what Tres Leche means, three milk.

Trace Leche pancakes can be made in a variety of ways, some are made with the three types of milk included in the pancake batter, some have the three different types of milk in a sauce that is drizzled on top.

Either way, both are delicious, and the three kinds of milk add a delicious flavor to your pancakes that makes them unlike anything else. 

Why This Recipe Works

The recipe is a combination of light and fluffy pancakes that are topped with a drizzle of Tres Leche sauce making them unlike your typical pancakes, they are so much better. With the Tres Leche sauce, there is no need for any kind of syrup to be added to them, as this provides a delicious balance of sweetness, to your light and fluffy pancakes.

This recipe works well because the pancakes are so delicious, then topped with the Tres Leche sauce, making them the ultimate pancake recipe. Not only is this recipe so delicious, and makes the ultimate pancakes but is also easy to make, you have just got to try it to see how good it is. 

Mexican Tres Leche pancakes

Tres Leches Ingredients

To make these delicious pancakes, you will need the following ingredients to have on hand.

Flour. All-purpose flour is used as the best for these delicious pancakes. If you have allergy needs you can substitute other flours for your average all-purpose flour.

Sugar. To make the pancake batter, we included a little bit of granulated sugar. Using granulated sugar is highly recommended, you may use brown sugar, or powdered sugar, however, it will change the texture of your pancakes.

Baking Powder. Using baking powder in your pancakes is an essential ingredient. This is what helps the pancakes become puffy.

Salt. Your average salt can be used for this recipe, you may also use kosher salt or sea salt if desired. 

Milk. Typically, we prefer to use the three different types of milk in the sauce, and only include whole or 2% milk in the pancakes.

Eggs. Eggs are a necessity for this recipe to help make your pancakes the best that they can be.

Butter. For the best flavor of these pancakes, we like to use melted butter that has been salted for this recipe. Although you may use unsalted if you wish, however it will change the overall flavor of your pancakes.

Vanilla. Using vanilla extract in this recipe helps to enhance the flavor of your pancakes. 

Tres Leches Syrup

Evaporated milk. This is one of the three types of milk we like to use when making the sauce.

Sweetened condensed milk. Using sweetened condensed milk adds a hint of sweetness to your sauce, which will help the overall taste of your dish.

Heavy cream. We recommend using heavy whipping cream as the third milk in your sauce. This may be substituted for half-and-half or regular milk, however the best results we find that heavy cream is the best option.

Substitute Options 

Flour – we recommend using all-purpose flour for this recipe. For gluten-free variation, we recommend an all-purpose gluten-free flour. For other allergies, you may be able to substitute all-purpose flour with a different kind of flower that will fit your dietary needs. 

Milks – There are several different types of milk that you can use. One of the main preferences to use include sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, heavy cream, and regular milk, you may also substitute this if needed. For vegan options or other dietary options that are needed, you can use coconut milk or another equivalent substitute for these kinds of milk. 

Vegan Dairy Free Modifications 

To make Mexican Tres Leche pancakes that are vegan dairy-free, there are a couple of modifications you can use. You can substitute the evaporated and sweetened condensed milk, with sweetened condensed coconut milk, and evaporated coconut milk. Then substitute heavy cream for heavy coconut cream. For the milk inside the batter, simply use your favorite coconut or almond milk substitutes. 

Boxed Pancake Mix Option:

Of course, instead of making your pancake batter from scratch, you can easily use a boxed pancake mix to make your pancakes. Simply choose your favorite boxed mix, then follow the instructions on the back. Cook them according to your instructions, then top with the Tres Leche sauce. 

Optional Toppings

Caramel sauce. Caramel sauce is another great topping idea for Mexican trace Leche pancakes. Simply warm your caramel sauce, then drizzle it over your prepared pancakes. You can use caramel sauce ice cream topping, or make your own homemade version of caramel sauce. 

Whipped Cream. Whipped cream is another great topping idea. When your pancakes are all prepared, use a can of whipped topping, or make your own whipped cream using heavy cream that is whipped until stiff peaks form, then add powdered sugar and vanilla before placing a dollop on your pancakes. 

Powdered Sugar. Sprinkling powdered sugar on top of your prepared pancakes is another beautiful, and delicious topping idea. 

Cinnamon. Another great topping idea is to sprinkle cinnamon on top of your prepared pancakes before serving. 

Mexican Tres Leche pancakes side view

How To Make Tres Leches Pancakes

The process of making tres leches pancakes is quite simple. To begin, combine your three types of milk in a saucepan, and bring to a boil stirring constantly. Allow to boil for three minutes, then remove from the heat. Allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes before placing it into the fridge.

Then, in a mixing bowl combine dry ingredients for your pancake batter, followed by the wet ingredients. Stir everything together. Next place a pan over medium-low heat to warm. Spray with cooking spray, then scoop your pancakes onto the pan. 

Wait until the pancakes become slightly bubbly around the edge, and you begin to see them puff up. Flip the pancakes and allow them to cook on the other side. After they have baked on both sides, remove them from the burner, and place them onto your plate. Top with a drizzle of your Tres Leche sauce, add caramel if desired, add a dollop of whipped cream if desired, and sprinkle with cinnamon or powdered sugar if desired. Then serve and enjoy. 

Mexican Tres Leches Pancakes Recipe

Ingredients

Pancake Batter

1 ½ cup all-purpose flour

1/8 cup granulated sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

1 ¼ cup milk

1 large egg

2 Tbsp butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla

Tres Leche Sauce

12 oz evaporated milk

14 oz sweetened condensed milk

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Optional Toppings

Whipped Cream

Caramel Sauce

Cinnamon

Powdered sugar

Directions

Steps:

  1. In a saucepan, combine evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy whipping cream. Place over medium-low heat and stir. Bring mixture to a boil, and boil for three minutes. Remove from heat and refrigerator to cool.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine all of your dry ingredients, including flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add in wet ingredients including, milk, eggs, butter, and vanilla. Stir to combine.
  3. Place a skillet over medium-low heat and allow the pan to warm. Spray your pan with cooking spray and add your pancake mix. Allow to cook over medium-low heat, until the edges of your pancake begin to puff up, and you see small bubbles forming. Flip your pancakes and allow them to cook on the other side. 
  4. Store your pancakes in a warm oven, or microwave until ready to serve. Then place your pancakes onto serving plates, drizzle with chilled Tres Leche sauce, add optional caramel, and add a dollop of optional whip cream. Serve pancakes hot and enjoy. 

Notes

Please note that you may substitute a boxed pancake mix for the pancake batter instructed above. To substitute, simply prepare the boxed mix according to the box’s instructions. Another thing to note, is that you may substitute the milk, for the equivalent amount of your Tres Leche sauce to be included in your pancake batter. 

Nutrition Information

We have estimated that the above recipe can make approximately 12 medium-sized pancakes. Therefore, we have estimated the following nutritional facts on the serving size of one pancake. 

Nutrition

We have estimated that one pancake contains approximately 281 calories. We have also estimated that one serving contains 11.7 g total fat, 56 mg cholesterol, 206 mg sodium, 37 g total cholesterol, and 7.7 g protein. 

Carbs in Mexican Tres Leches Pancakes

Based upon the above recipe, we have estimated that one pancake contains approximately 37 g total carbohydrates, .5 g dietary fiber, and 24.2 g total sugars. 

Calorie Burn Time

We have calculated the following activities based upon how long it would take to burn 281 calories for a person that weighs 200 pounds. 

Bicycling, general – 23 minutes

Running (5mph) – 23 minutes

Walking (3mph) – 55 minutes

Swimming, slow/mod – 26 minutes

Tips & Variations

Now, let us turn our attention to different tips for this recipe, as well as variations to make a slightly different recipe than the above. First, let’s look at some recipe tips. 

Expert Tips

Tip 1. One very important tip is to make your Tres Leche sauce ahead of time. This will allow it plenty of time to cool so that it begins to thicken up, and can be drizzled over the top of your pancakes easier.

Tip 2. The second tip comes into play when you are cooking your pancakes on your stovetop. For the longest time, I struggled to know when to flip them, and it’s actually a very easy one to figure it out. Watch the edges of your pancakes, you should begin to see little bubbles form around the edge, and they should begin to rise. When you see this, go ahead, and flip them. 

Variations

There are a few delicious recipe variations for Mexican Tres Leche pancakes. Below are three of the best ones. 

Tres Leches Banana Pancakes

If you like bananas, then you can try making the above recipe as banana pancakes. To do this, you can make the above recipe for your pancake batter, only add one very ripe mashed banana to your pancake batter. Otherwise, drizzle with your Tres Leche sauce, and other optional toppings. 

Mexican Cornmeal Tres Leches Pancakes

To make Tres Leche pancakes that are Mexican cornmeal Tres Leche pancake, you can simply change up the flour included in the recipe above. To make Mexican cornmeal Tres Leche pancakes, simply substitute half of the above all-purpose flour with finely ground cornmeal. Otherwise, prepare as instructed above.

Mexican Chocolate Pancakes with Dulce de Leche

Mexican chocolate pancakes with Dulce de Leche sauce is another delicious recipe variation for the above pancakes. Mexican chocolate pancakes are simply pancakes that are prepared with chocolate in them, then topped with Dulce de Leche sauce. This simply means a version of caramelized milk that is used to top your chocolate pancakes. 

To make these pancakes, simply prepare the above recipe, and add approximately 2 tablespoons of unsweetened baking cocoa to your pancake batter. Then, drizzle with a cup of prepared Dulce de Leche sauce, and top with whipping cream. Serve and enjoy. 

Mexican Tres Leche pancakes stacked pancakes

FAQ and Expert Tips

What is tres leches cake?

Tres Leches Cake is a type of sponge cake or butter cake that is soaked in three different types of milk. 

Are these pancakes similar to IHOP Tres Leches pancakes and Denny’s Tres Leches pancakes?

Yes, this recipe for pancakes is very similar to IHOP, or Denny’s pancakes. However, this recipe is not the same, as neither restaurant will give out their secret recipes. 

Is this the best Tres Leches pancakes recipe?

Of course, we think that this is the best Tres Leches pancake recipe, however, you will have to judge for yourself. 

What is Tres Leches?

Tres Leches literally means three kinds of milk. What makes these pancakes unique is that they are covered in a three-milk sauce, making them absolutely delicious. Of course, you may also include a mixture of these three kinds of milk inside the pancake batter as well. 

Where can I eat Mexican Tres Leches Pancakes?

Restaurants such as IHOP and Denny’s sometimes serve Mexican Tres Leches pancakes. Of course, now with a recipe, you can easily make these delicious pancakes right at home, and get to enjoy them anytime you wish. 

What Else Can I Make With Tres Leches?

Tres Leches cake is the most common food to use Tres Leches in. However, you may also enjoy your Tres Leches sauce drizzled on top of pancakes, crepes, or even on top of cinnamon rolls. 

Mexican Tres Leches Pancakes

Mexican Tres Leches pancakes are unlike any other type of pancakes. This ultimate recipe will help you make easy and delicious pancakes that everyone will enjoy. Give this recipe a try today, and see for yourself just how good they are! 

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Faith
Faith Has been cooking and baking for many years! she loves to share her recipes with the world, and hopes you will enjoy them too!

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