Tres Leches Cake

Ingredients

Ingredients

• 5 large eggs, whites and yolks separated
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar, divided
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
• 12 oz evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• ground cinnamon for sprinkling, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and spray a 9x13 glass baking dish with baking spray. Set aside.
2. Place egg whites in a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer and use an electric mixer or your stand mixer’s whisk attachment to beat until foamy. Gradually increase mixer speed to medium-high and add just 1 cup (200g) of sugar, adding about 2 Tablespoons at a time and allowing about 10 seconds after each addition. Increase mixer speed to high and beat until egg white mixture is thick and glossy and you achieve stiff peaks (much like you are making a meringue).
3. If you used a stand mixer, scoop egg whites into a separate clean bowl and set aside and carry on using the same bowl for the next step (no need to clean the bowl). If you used an electric hand mixer, just grab a new bowl at this point.
4. Place softened butter and remaining 1 cup (200g) of sugar in bowl. Beat until creamy and well-combined.
5. Add egg yolks, one at a time, stirring after each addition.
6. Stir in vanilla extract.
7. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
8. Using a spatula and stirring by hand, alternate adding milk and flour mixture to your egg yolk mixture (I usually do this in about 4 parts, about ¼ cup of the milk at a time and ¼ of the flour mixture at a time).
9. Once milk and flour have been stirred into egg yolk mixture, grab your egg white meringue from earlier and use a spatula to gently fold meringue into batter. Make sure it is completely combined and no white spots of egg remain, but use a gentle hand to not deflate the egg whites or over-mix the batter or you'll have a dense cake.
10. Spread batter evenly into prepared 9x13 pan and transfer to 350F (175C) oven and bake for 35-40 minutes.
11. Once cake has finished baking, allow to cool for about 30-60 minutes.