Dark Chocolate Swirl Tres Leches Cake: Valentine’s Day Treat

Food Culture: Tres Leches Cake

I love Tres Leches Cake. Translated as “Three Milks Cake”, this dessert is a moist alternative to a standard yellow cake. Because I grew up in Southern California, and my grandparents owned a Hispanic grocery store when I was young, sometimes I have no idea what is typically Cuban or Mexican… it’s a bicultural Latina thing, I guess! I called my Mami (grandmom), who said this recipe is a typical Mexican dessert …. but that we love it too!

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, Walmart asked me try not a new product on the baking shelves: Nestle La Lechera Tres Leches Cake Baking Kit. The kit comes with everything you need (minus whole the whole milk) to make Tres Leches Cake, including the cake mix, condensed mix and evaporated milk. The kit makes one 9-inch cake, which is how Tres Leches Cake is traditionally served. It’s also typical to serve with a whipped cream topping.

I decided to mix it up this Valentine’s Day and add a swirl of dark chocolate to the Tres Leches Cake Kit. It truly took this recipe from typical to totally decadent!

Dark Chocolate Swirl Tres Leches Cake

In addition to the cake kit, you’ll need 1/2 cup chocolate milk (this is usually 1% milk), 8-10 oz of Nestle Dark Chocolate Chips, 1-2 tablespoons of home brewed coffee.

While your cake is baking, heat the chocolate milk in a medium saucepan on low/medium heat. Add the dark chocolate chips and coffee. Melt gradually. Set aside to cool, then add the condensed and evaporated milks. Mix thoroughly.

Once removed and cooled for 5 minutes or so, poke holes all over your cake – being careful not to poke all the way through the bottom – and begin to pour your three milks mixture over the cake. Pour slowly, allowing the mixture to adsorb into the cake. I used a homemade whipped cream frosting recipe, but definitely use Cool Whip too. As a little tip, consider using a springform pan if you want to the perfect presentation. This cake is moist (and delicious!), but difficult to handle.

I literally had to keep the kids back to get these pictures… We had friends over and I couldn’t even finish garnishing or adding pretty touches because our three amigos would have sunk they’re little fingers in there if I turned my back.

I don’t mind. I’m glad they liked it!

Tres Leches Cake is decidedly a traditional Hispanic recipe. It’s rich and warm and filled with the love one feels during Valentine’s Day. Adding a swirl of dark chocolate just seemed right to me 🙂

*Disclosure: As a participant of the Walmart Moms Program, I’ve received product samples and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All opinions are my own.