This month’s MSC was chosen by Lisa of Smiley’s Sweets and Creations: tres leches cupcakes! I’ve wanted to try my hand at making tres leches cake for a while so this was just the motivation I needed to finally do it and cross it off my list. Tres leches cake generally starts with a simple sponge cake – in this recipe, a little bit of butter was included as well. When the cake (or cupcakes here) comes out of the oven, a skewer is used to poke holes all over the top. Then three milks, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and heavy cream, are combined and brushed (or drizzled) over the top of the cupcakes and the mixture seeps in through the holes you’ve poked. This recipe called for topping the cupcakes with homemade whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon too, though I think maraschino cherries are also a traditional topping.
I made 1/3 of the recipe, which yielded 6 cupcakes. I was careful not to fill the tins too much – you want the top of the cupcakes below the top of the liner so when you drizzle the milk mixture over them it doesn’t pour over the sides of the liner, making a sticky mess. I let the cupcakes sit for a few hours to make sure they absorbed the milks completely, then I whipped some heavy cream and topped each cupcake with a dollop. My biggest concern about the cupcakes was that they would be soggy – it’s quite a bit of liquid that gets incorporated into each one! I tried a cupcake as I suffered through the disappointment of watching the Bruins lose to the Flyers last night and while I wouldn’t go so far as to call it soggy, it was very wet. The texture didn’t appeal to me at all – it reminded me a lot of bread pudding, which I don’t generally like either. Though I haven’t previously tried tres leches cake, I suspect the texture would be the same regardless of what recipe was used so no offense to Martha’s recipe.
Many thanks to Lisa for hosting this month’s selection! We don’t post recipes for this group but you can find it on pages 48-49 of Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes book. I know several of the other members of the group really enjoyed this recipe so don’t let my negativity dissuade you too much!
Lemon Bars
Glazed Grapefruit Cake
Orange Sherbet
Meyer Lemon Pound Cake
Yay, those look wonderful and I guess they taste about the same. Lovely! Have a wonderful weekend. 🙂 Petra
I’ve never had tres leches cakes, and I’ve always wanted to, but it never occurred to me that it might have an unpleasant texture. Now I’m a little hesitant to give it a go…
They’re certainly beautiful, though! I love how you topped them with the whipped cream 🙂
Hmmm I have been meaning to try these for a while and yours look so adorable! I’m sorry you didn’t like the texture…as a bread pudding addict I have a feeling I would love it, but I can see where some people would be turned off.
I love tres leches cake, but I don’t like this recipe by Martha. Don’t give up on Tres Leche yet. It actually has a great texture depending on the recipe. Oddly, enough I’m working on a recipe myself for Tres Leche.
BTW- I love your blog. You are such a talented baker.
Well, I went the making a mess route…LOL. 3 Milk Mixture flowing all over the place around here. Even despite the soggy wrappers, etc., these were not a hit. We are not bread pudding fans, and I think these resemble bread pudding a bit. Somehow your look so different and like they might actually be good, and definitely more dry than mine! Repeat? Probably not. But, it was worth the research to try it all out. I learned a lot from the experience.
Those LOOK perfect. Sorry you didn’t care for them.
And maybe it wasn’t the cupcake, maybe it was the loss of the Bruins…..
Yours are beautiful! Thanks for baking along..great photos!
YUMMY! Looks great! Mine were much to soggy, but yours look nice!
I’m anxious to make these – I love how you topped these off – the look like little hats! Never had tres leche cake either – so it will be a first. Interested to see how they turn out for me – let’s hope they look as nice as yours!
How delightful!
Yours look beautiful. I quit filling them with liquid once I thought they were “full”. I think that helped from making them so soggy.
I’ve eaten and enjoyed tres leches cake but I don’t remember if it was wet or soggy. But then again I love bread pudding, so I’m probably not your best judge anyway. I love the way you’ve photographed this post, Tracey, just beautiful.
I stopped before using up all the liquid, so they had a great texture and taste.
Sorry about the Bruins…I can’t actually believe it! But I’m an Edmonton Oilers fan, so I’m used to disappointment.
Go Canadians Go, is what I’m saying now…
I didn’t put in all the liquid and I thought the texture was pretty good. Maybe that was it? Sorry you didn’t like them.
Sorry these weren’t a hit for you. I really like Tres Leches but I did not like the texture of these. I used all the liquid and thought they were way too wet, so maybe using less would have made them better.
I love the idea of tres leches cupcakes!
These look so moist and delicious. I love tres leches cake!
they look yummy and cute!
So precious. Those look beautiful!
I love tres leches, but wasn’t crazy on this recipe–so I share your feelings! They’re pretty though 😉
I left a post-it on this recipe to make one day! Too bad you didn’t like it, but bread pudding’s up my alley so I might try.
They look pretty, but I’d probably have the same issues with the texture. I’m funny about things getting “soggy”!
I love your peeled wrapper photo! Did you try the cupcake the next day? Mine got much tastier.
I’ve heard so much about tres leches cakes…I wondered too if I would enjoy the texture with all the milk layered into it. I enjoy bread pudding, but not soggy.
Your presentation is goregous on these little cakes…like those elegant cupcake liners!
I think this should be a good version. It’s based off the same recipe! 🙂
http://pinoycook.net/tres-leches-cupcakes/