Cinco de Mayo Tres Leches (Printable)

Fluffy cupcakes soaked in a blend of three milks with whipped cream topping and festive garnishes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cupcake Batter

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 0.25 teaspoon salt
04 - 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 3 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - 0.5 cup whole milk

→ Tres Leches Soak

09 - 0.5 cup sweetened condensed milk
10 - 0.5 cup evaporated milk
11 - 0.5 cup whole milk

→ Whipped Cream Topping

12 - 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
13 - 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
14 - 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Optional Garnish

15 - Ground cinnamon
16 - Fresh berries or maraschino cherries
17 - Lime zest

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract until fully combined.
05 - Add half the flour mixture to the egg mixture, then add the milk, followed by the remaining flour mixture. Mix gently just until combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly among the prepared liners, filling each approximately two-thirds full.
07 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
08 - Whisk together sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk in a small bowl until combined.
09 - Once cupcakes are cool but still slightly warm, poke several holes in each using a skewer or fork.
10 - Spoon or slowly pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of the tres leches mixture over each cupcake. Allow to soak for 30 minutes.
11 - Whip heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
12 - Pipe or spread whipped cream onto each cupcake. Garnish with cinnamon, fresh berries, or lime zest as desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The three-milk soak keeps these impossibly moist for days without becoming soggy.
  • They're individual servings, so you can actually freeze extras or bring them to parties without the serving drama of a whole cake.
  • The whipped cream topping comes together in under a minute and feels fancy enough for celebrations.
02 -
  • Don't skip poking holes in warm cupcakes—room temperature cupcakes won't absorb the milk soak properly, and you'll end up with dry cake underneath.
  • The milk mixture needs to sit for at least 30 minutes, but overnight soaking makes them even more luxurious (refrigerate covered if doing this).
03 -
  • Room temperature eggs and softened butter are non-negotiable—they emulsify smoothly and create a tender crumb.
  • Pour the milk soak slowly and let each batch absorb fully rather than drowning the cupcakes at once, which keeps them structured and perfect.
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