This delicious tres leches cake is inspired by the flavors of a London fog: Earl Grey tea, milk, and vanilla.
Cook Time
30 minutes
Total Time
5 hr 30 min
Yield
10 servings
Ingredients
Cake
nonstick cooking spray, or unsalted butter, for greasing
4 large eggs, room temperature, yolks and whites separated
½ cup granulated sugar (100 g), divided
¼ cup vegetable oil (60 mL)
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
¾ cup all-purpose flour (95 g)
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
Tres Leches Mixture
12 oz evaporated milk (345 g)
4 bags earl grey tea
14 oz sweetened condensed milk (400 g)
8 oz media crema (225 g), table cream
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, or vanilla extract
Whipped Cream
1 cup heavy cream (240 mL)
¼ cup powdered sugar (25 g)
½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste, or vanilla extract
For Garnish (Optional)
cacao powder
½ orange, zested
dark chocolate shaving
How to Make It
1. Step
Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 1½-quart loaf pan or 9-inch round cake pan or with nonstick spray or butter.
2. Step
In a large bowl, combine the egg yolks, ¼ cup granulated sugar, the vegetable oil, and vanilla. Using an electric hand mixer, mix on high speed until the mixture turns pale yellow in color, 2–3 minutes. Clean and dry the beaters.
3. Step
In a separate large bowl, whip the egg whites with the electric hand mixer on high speed for about 1 minute. Add the cream of tartar, then continue whipping until the egg whites are thick and foamy, 2–3 minutes. Gradually add the remaining ¼ cup of granulated sugar and continue to mix until the whites form soft peaks, 2–3 minutes more.
4. Step
Add about a third of the egg whites at a time to the yolk mixture and gently fold with a rubber spatula to incorporate; do not overmix.
5. Step
Sift the flour and baking powder into the egg mixture and fold gently with the spatula. Be careful not to overmix.
6. Step
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
7. Step
Bake the cake for 30 minutes, or until firm. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 30 minutes.
8. Step
While the cake is cooling, make the tres leches mixture: pour the evaporated milk into a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 2 minutes, until warm. Add the Earl Grey tea bags and let steep for about 20 minutes. Remove the tea bags from the evaporated milk, squeezing out any liquid.
9. Step
Add the sweetened condensed milk, media crema, and vanilla to the evaporated milk mixture and stir until smooth.
10. Step
Once the cake has cooled, pierce all over with a fork, then pour the tres leches mixture evenly over the cake. Cover the cake and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
11. Step
Make the whipped cream: In a medium bowl, whip the cream with an electric hand mixer on medium-high speed for 2–3 minutes, or until it begins to thicken.. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and continue to mix until the cream is thick and forms stiff peaks, 2–3 minutes.
12. Step
Evenly spread the whipped cream over the cake. If desired, dust cacao powder over the top to cover the entire surface. Grate the orange zest and shave dark chocolate on top.
