Keto Tres Leches Cake

The first time I tried a traditional Tres Leches Cake at a Cuban restaurant I fell in love. A sponge cake soaked with sweetened milk and topped with whipped cream? It sounded like a dream to me and it tasted like one too. This easy keto tres leches cake recipe is also low carb, gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and Trim Healthy Mama friendly. 

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Tres Leche Cake is also called three milk cake. Either way, this lightened up tres leches cake recipe will be a perfect treat to break up your work week. A sponge cake that is soaked in sweetened milk, and topped with whipped cream. Trust me, this recipe is easy to make, and after the first bite, I guarantee it will become an instant favorite.

The first time I tried Tres Leches Cake at a Cuban restaurant I fell in love. I knew after that first bite I had to learn how to make tres leches cake at home, so I could have it whenever I felt the craving.

With company coming for dinner last night and a sincere desire to recreate this fantastic cake I got to work. A couple of years ago, soon after the Cuban restaurant, I made a traditional flour/sugar Tres Leches Cake. It was perfect.

I went back and used that recipe to inspire this one. This is loosely based on The Pioneer Woman’s Tres Leches Cake, but my keto tres leches cake is low carb, grain & gluten-free, sugar-free, and a THM S.

The recipe turned out amazing, and it is now a cake that gets requested here and there in our home. Whether it be for holidays, birthday parties, or just a treat to serve up to guests, this is my go-to cake. I hope you agree it is the best keto tres leches cake recipe out there!

Cake Ingredients

Almond Flour - Almond flour has a mild flavor making it a go-to flour when low carb baking.

Coconut Flour - I like to use coconut flour in conjunction with almond flour to balance the natural oiliness of the almonds.

Ground Golden Flax (optional) - When I first started baking I would ⅓ each almond coconut and golden flax. More recently, I prefer just using almond and coconut. This works with the flax or with additional almond flour.

Sweetener - I use a blend of stevia, xylitol, and erythritol in my recipes but offer substitutions in the recipe carb.

Almond Milk - Unsweetened carton almond milk or coconut milk both work well.

Eggs - This recipe uses a lot of large eggs. This helps to get the spongy texture of cake needed for a keto tres leches cake.

Vanilla Extract - Vanilla enhances the flavor of the cake.

Baking Powder - Always check that your baking powder is fresh or the cake will not rise.

Salt - Just a bit of salt enhances the other flavors.

Topping Ingredients

Heavy Cream - You need cream in both the homemade condensed milk and for the whipped topping.

Butter - Butter is used in the sugar free sweetened condensed milk. I use salted butter.

Sweetener - I use my blend of sweeteners in this as well.

Egg - Egg yolks help to thicken the keto condensed milk.

How to Make a Keto Tres Leches Cake

This is an upgraded version of a poke cake. You have the gluten free vanilla cake that has a sweet milk base that is poured all over the cake and then topped with some of the most incredible whipped cream I have ever had. It is one scrumptious cake. I guarantee it will be one of the best low carb recipes you've ever had.

Step One: Mix the batter in a medium bowl or large bowl according to the instructions in the recipe card, pour into a baking dish, and bake the cake. Let it cool.

Step Two: Meanwhile, make the condensed milk topping. In a small bowl whisk it well to make sure it is smooth. Once the cake has cooled poke holes in it with a fork or toothpick and pour the milk over it.

Step Three: Make the whipped cream. Spread it on top of the cake. Top the keto tres leches cake with ground cinnamon, caramel sauce, fresh berries, or chocolate shavings if desired. Store the keto tres leches cake in the refrigerator.

How Do You Make Keto Condensed Milk?

Check out my sugar-free sweetened keto condensed milk recipe. I have found that this recipe works great in the recipe, and any other recipe you might need that requires sweetened condensed milk. This helps to keep it low carb, which I love.

Tip for Making Whipped Cream

One trick I recommend is freezing the bowl you are going to use to whip your cream. Freeze the pan for around 30 minutes to an hour. This will give you a nice and icy bowl, which will offer a more stable whipped cream for the result. 

By being more stable, that means it won't break down and turn watery over time like you can have happened. I just toss my mixing bowl in the freezer when I start working on the cake, and then pull it out and start whipping up when I am ready to apply to the keto cake. 

Give this incredible keto tres leches cake a try for your next bbq, or family get-together. We love making this cake as a weekday treat, and I think you will too! 

Common Questions

Why is it called Tres Leches Cake?

Tres leches cake means three kinds of milk. It has a sponge cake that is very light and airy, that uses three kinds of milk within the recipe. Heavy whipping cream, evaporated milk, and condensed milk and traditionally used.

How long will Keto Tres Leches Cake keep?

You can expect your tres leches cake to last around 4-5 days in the refrigerator. I do recommend eating your cake within the first two days for the best quality.

How to Store Low Carb Tres Leches Cake 

Put it in your fridge once you are done serving this cake. It will last best refrigerated, because of the whipped topping. If you don't refrigerate, you will end up with a spoiled cake. 

Can You Freeze Tres Leches Cake 

With the keto Tres Leche cake recipe being a poke cake, you run the risk of your cake being a bit soggy as it thaws from the liquids. If you want to make this cake and freeze it, I recommend baking and freezing the cake by itself. Then on the serving day allow your cake to thaw, add the condensed milk mixture, and then top with whipped cream when you are ready to serve. 

That way you don't run into a soggy mess as it thaws. Just bake the cake as directed, and then allow it to cool. Then freeze wrapped up in aluminum foil or plastic wrap in your container. 

When you thaw it out, you have minimal effort left until your keto tres leches cake is ready to serve. 

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📖 Recipe

Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches Cake is rich and moist soaked with sweetened milk and topped with whipped cream. 

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Prep Time: 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Servings: 12

Calories: 275

Author: Taryn

Ingredients

• ▢ 8 whole eggs
• ▢ ½ cup Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
• ▢ 2 teaspoon vanilla
• ▢ ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
• ▢ ½ cup almond flour
• ▢ ½ cup coconut flour
• ▢ ½ cup ground golden flax or additional almond flour
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt

Topping:

• ▢ 1 recipe sugar free sweetened condensed milk https://joyfilledeats.com/sweetened-condensed-milk/
• ▢ ⅓ cup half and half

Icing:

• ▢ 1 pint heavy cream
• ▢ 2 tablespoon Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)

US Customary - Metric

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Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with cooking spray.
• Beat eggs with ½ cup sweetener. Stir in almond milk and vanilla. Add baking mix, baking powder, and salt and mix until just combined. Pour into prepared pan and spread to even out the surface.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden and slightly firm to the touch in the middle. Cool to room temperature.
• Combine condensed milk and half and half in a small measuring cup. When cake is cool, gently pierce the surface with a fork every inch or so. Slowly drizzle on the sweetened condensed milk and half and half mixture.
• Allow the cake to absorb the milk mixture for 30 minutes. Meanwhile whip the cream. When stiff peaks form add the sweetener. Spread over the surface of the cake, after it has absorbed the condensed milk. Store in the fridge.

Notes

Notes on Sweeteners: 

I use my own blend of xylitol, erythritol, and stevia in my recipes. This is twice as sweet as sugar. It is comparable to Trim Healthy Mama Gentle Sweet and Truvia.

To sub in Swerve or Lakanto Monk Fruit use 1.5 times the amount of sweetener called for. 

 

To sub in Pyure or Trim Healthy Mama Super Sweet use half the amount of sweetener called for.

 

Substitutions will work in most recipes. They may not work in candies, such as caramel.

Nutrition

Calories: 275 | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 165mg | Sodium: 134mg | Potassium: 186mg | Fiber: 4g | Vitamin A: 760IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 1.3mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @joyfilledeats or tag #joyfilledeats!

Originally Published April 10, 2016. Revised and Republished February 19, 2019.

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