Tres Leches Cupcakes

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Tres Leches Cupcakes, or "three-milk cupcakes", add a visually stunning and tastebud-tingling twist to the classic Mexican tres leches cake! And if that sounds a little over the top, just try them for yourself!

The fluffy and light sponge cake base of these cupcakes is soaked in sweetened condensed milk, adding extra moisture and flavor to these addictive treats.

They're then topped with a buttercream frosting that includes heavy cream for a velvet-like finish, contrasted against the bright pinkish-red of fresh strawberries!  

Whether you are celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a fiesta, or just want a sweet treat, these easy Tres Leches Cupcakes with strawberries are certain to become one of your favorite Desserts.

Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Why This Recipe Works
• What Do I Need To Make Tres Leches Cupcakes
• How To Make Tres Leches Cupcakes
• Pro Recipe Tips
• Variations
• What To Serve With Tres Leches Cupcakes
• FAQs
• More Recipes
• Recipe
• Reviews

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Texture. The Best Tres Leches cupcakes are even more scrumptious and stunning in cupcake form! The smaller cupcakes allow the condensed milk to seep into every inch of that sponge cake base.  
• Party Perfect. Throwing a party for Cinco de Mayo or any reason? It's so much easier to dish out single cupcakes than an entire cake. 
• Flavor. The flavor of these cupcakes is out of this world and if you know how to make a poke cake then you totally got this!

Why This Recipe Works

• Tried and True. This is a tried and tested cupcake recipe, allowing me to guide you through simple and clear recipe instructions with corresponding in-process images so that there's zero guesswork on your part!
• Easy. You only need to dedicate 20 minutes of preparation when making these cupcakes. In fact, you could even make the cupcake bases or the frosting ahead of time.
• Tips Included. Useful tips and frequently asked questions are added in this recipe post for further clarification, making the recipe a breeze to understand and follow. 
• Variation Ideas. I've included a few ways that you could adapt these tres leches cupcakes with simple recipe substitutions and suggestions. If you have any of your own, make sure to share them with me in the comments section!

What Do I Need To Make Tres Leches Cupcakes

Equipment

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• Cupcake Tins or Muffin Tins
• Cupcake Paper Liners
• Electric Hand Mixer
• Mixing Bowl Set

Ingredients

Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don't have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.

• Butter. You'll need butter, preferably unsalted, for both the cupcake batter and the frosting. Butter is best incorporated into the other ingredients for baking when softened so be sure to factor in time for the butter to sit at room temperature prior to use. 
• Sugar.  I use a combination of white granulated sugar and brown sugar in this recipe. The white sugar will provide the cupcakes with the right amount of sweetness while the brown sugar adds a deeper flavor and increases the moisture in the cupcakes.  
• Eggs. It's best to bring the eggs to room temperature when baking. The egg yolks will also need to be separated from the egg whites for the cupcake batter. 
• Vanilla. This ingredient gets added to both the cupcake batter as well as the frosting. I like to use a high-quality vanilla extract in all my sweet treats for the best flavor.
• Milk. You can use whole milk or low fat. The whole milk will add more flavor and moisture to the cupcakes.
• Flour. I've used all-purpose flour for these cupcakes but if you need them to be gluten-free then I suggest using something like King Arthur or Bob's Red Mill gluten-free flour which are both convenient measure-for-measure substitutions. 
• Baking powder and soda. Always check for the expiry date on your baking powder and soda as this can have a direct impact on the outcome of the cupcake bases and how well they rise while baking. 
• Salt – A small amount helps to elevate the flavor in the cupcake bases as well as the frosting.
• Evaporated milk – If you don't have evaporated milk then use equal parts cream and fresh milk.
• Sweetened Condensed milk – Use sweetened condensed milk and make sure not to confuse this with evaporated milk. While both are made through the same process, they are strikingly different end products.
• Heavy Whipping Cream – This adds to the ultra creaminess of the frosting and also creates great flavor and moisture in the cupcake batter.  
• Powdered sugar – Make sure to measure your powdered sugar as too much can cause an overly sweet cupcake frosting and also affect the overall texture since it can dry out the frosting.
• Strawberries – While optional, using fresh strawberries as a garnish for these cupcakes adds a lovely touch of color for presentation. 

How To Make Tres Leches Cupcakes

Make The Cupcakes

1. In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, brown sugar, and egg yolks till whipped and yellow. Add the vanilla and milk and beat until combined.
2. Combine the flour, soda, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl and stir in the flour mixture with the butter mixture.
3. In a separate bowl, using clean and dry beaters, beat the egg whites on high speed until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the cake mix.
4. Make sure the mixture is well combined.
5. Spoon the cake batter into the cupcake liners ¾ full and place them in the oven.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Top The Cupcakes

1. While the cupcakes are baking, combine the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream. When the cupcakes come out of the oven, use a toothpick and poke holes all over the cupcakes.
2. Slowly pour the sweetened milk over the top of each cupcake, and repeat a few times. Allow the cupcakes to cool.
3. Beat the butter until light and fluffy.
4. Then add the powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and heavy cream.
5. Beat until combined.
6. When the cupcakes have cooled, use a piping bag or a spatula and ice the cupcakes. Cut the strawberries in half or slices and top the cupcakes with the strawberry pieces.

Pro Recipe Tips

• Don’t Overmix. As with any other cupcake recipe, over-mixing the cupcake batter will result in crumbly (and possibly rubbery) cupcakes. You only need to stir just until the flour is incorporated, no more. 
• Gluten-Free. If you've opted to make these tres leches cupcakes gluten-free with your choice of gluten-free flour, just be aware that it's normal for the cupcakes to require additional baking time than what's called for in this recipe. You can always test the cupcakes for doneness by inserting a toothpick into them which should come out clean if cooked through.  
• Stand Mixer. An easy way to ensure a smooth consistency to the frosting is to use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. While you could make the frosting by mixing by hand, it won't have a velvet-smooth finish and will definitely require additional arm work!
• Room Temp. These cupcakes can be enjoyed at room temperature or chilled, straight from refrigeration storage. I've tried both options and love them either way!
• Cool Completely. Wait for the cupcakes to completely cool before even attempting to frost them otherwise you will ruin the frosting and end up with a melted mess. 
• Make-Ahead. If you'd like to make these cupcakes in advance, consider baking the cupcakes ahead of time, pouring the condensed milk over them, and then storing them in an airtight container in the fridge. The cupcakes will absorb the condensed milk while they sit which gives these cupcakes even more flavor. You can then frost the cupcakes just prior to serving.

Variations

• Gluten-Free. I've only ever tested these tres leches cupcakes with all-purpose flour since it's my choice of sturdy flour for baking. From my experience of making gluten-free baked goods, I believe that these cupcakes will still turn out beautifully when using gluten-free blends such as King Arthur or Bob's Red Mill.
• Quick and Easy. For added convenience, make these tres leches cupcakes with a cupcake box mix. 
• Change Flavor. Change the base flavor of these tres leches cupcakes by adding in cocoa powder for chocolate tres leches cupcakes, strawberry food flavoring for strawberry tres leches cupcakes or some espresso powder for coffee tres leches cupcakes. You could also flavor the buttercream with these options. 
• Caramel. Are you a caramel lover? Then make your tres leches cupcakes with Dule De Leche buttercream frosting. Super yummy!
• Keto Version. Make keto-friendly tres leches cupcakes by using ingredients such as coconut flour, almond flour, sugar-free sweetened condensed milk, erythritol, and unsweetened milk.
• Vegan Tres Leches. Vegan tres leches cupcakes can easily be made with plant-based flour, milk, dairy-free condensed milk, and coconut milk.
• Pumpkin Tres Leches Cake.  A rum-infused cream sauce poured over a pumpkin cake and topped with a homemade whipped topping.

What To Serve With Tres Leches Cupcakes

These cupcakes are so incredibly addictive, that I have a hard time imagining that they need to be paired with anything else. 

While the fresh strawberry garnish is optional, I suggest that you don't skip it. They add a beautiful burst of color and natural sweetness.

If you are serving as a party dessert tray, some other Mexican desserts that you might include on the tray are:

• Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars
• Churro Cheesecake
• Mexican Wedding Cookies
• Mexican Caramel Flan
• Cajeta Empanadas
• Churro Muffins

FAQs

WHAT DOES "TRES LECHES" MEAN? 

"Tres Leches" is Spanish for "three milks". You'll usually find tres leches recipes for whole cakes but as this baking technique has grown in popularity in Mexico and Latin America, so has the numerous tres leches dessert variations. 

Tres leches desserts call for at least three different types of milk. In these cupcakes, I've used regular dairy milk, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed, and heavy cream, so perhaps these are cuatro leches cupcakes!!

Similar to a poke cake, once the cupcakes are baked, holes are poked into them with sweetened condensed milk poured over them. This technique helps to add sweetness and creamy flavor throughout the cupcake base. 

HOW SHOULD I STORE THESE TRES LECHES CUPCAKES?

These tres leches cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

While you can serve these cupcakes at room temperature or chilled, I always store leftover cupcakes in the refrigerator, especially these cupcakes which contain a large amount of dairy-based ingredients.

CAN I MAKE THESE TRES LECHES CUPCAKES AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes! In fact, this recipe lends itself well to being made ahead of time. Allowing the baked cupcakes to sit in the refrigerator for a couple of hours after the condensed milk has been poured over them intensifies the sweet and creamy flavor in the cupcake bases. 

WHAT WORKS BEST FOR POURING THE CONDENSED MILK OVER THE CUPCAKES?

You can use a spoon to carefully pour the sweetened condensed milk over these cupcakes, otherwise, consider using a piping bag or cutting off the corner of a plastic sandwich bag. The latter options should give you greater control of the condensed milk.

More Recipes

• Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes
• Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting
• Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

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