Turkish Coffee Tres Leches
If you’re a fan of both Tres Leches cake and coffee, then you’ll love this Turkish Coffee Tres Leches. A cardamom spiced sponge cake soaked in sweet milk and the bold, nostalgic flavors of Turkish coffee, all topped with a coffee infused whipped cream. This cake features a unique blend of flavors that perfectly complement each other, so gather your ingredients and get ready to bake— you won’t be disappointed!
Why you’ll love this recipe
Tres leches cake is known for its moist, sponge-like texture soaked in a mixture of three types of milk—evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and whole milk. On the other hand, Turkish Coffee is known for its strong, rich flavor. It’s made from finely ground coffee beans and cardamom. By combining these two iconic elements, Turkish Coffee Tres Leches not only elevates the traditional tres leches cake but also infuses it with a deep, aromatic cardamom coffee flavor.
The Breakdown
01. Cardamom Sponge Cake
Growing up, we often watched our mom add cardamom to her Turkish coffee, and that inspired the flavors in this cake. We incorporated ground cardamom into the sponge cake which enhances the cake’s delicate sweetness with its warm, aromatic spice.
02. Tres Leches Soak
Tres Leches soak is a rich mixture made from three kinds of milk— evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and whole milk. We’ve enhanced this soak with Turkish coffee, adding an extra layer of flavor. Once poured over the sponge cake, the soak seeps into the cake, making it moist and indulgent.
03. Turkish Coffee Whipped Cream
With finely ground Turkish coffee mixed in, this smooth and creamy whipped cream adds the perfect touch to the cake.
04. Garnish
When ready to serve, garnish your cake with a sprinkle of cocoa powder, a few coffee beans, or chocolate shavings!
Recipe Tips
Do not over mix: When combining the dry ingredients with the wet batter, fold gently to maintain the airiness of the batter. Overmixing can lead to a dense cake.
Cool the cake completely: Allow the cake to cool completely before soaking. If the soak is added while the cake is still warm, it will become too soggy.
Allow the cake to soak overnight: Let the cake sit in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. This allows the cake to fully absorb the milk mixture and become moist.
Serve Chilled: Tres leches cake is best served cold. This helps the cake maintain its texture and enhances the flavors.
Watch how we made it:
Turkish Coffee Tres Leches
Ingredients
Cardamom Sponge Cake
- 5 eggs separated
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp salt
Tres Leches Soak
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup strongly brewed Turkish coffee
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
Coffee Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tbsp ground Turkish coffee
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, cardamom, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, vanilla, and sugar until creamy. Add in the milk and mix well. Fold in the dry ingredients.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff and glossy. Add the egg whites to the batter and fold until no more streaks remain.
- Pour the cake into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Meanwhile, make the soak by whisking together the whole milk, Turkish coffee, sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk.
- Allow the cake to cool completely, then poke holes on top of the cake using a fork. Pour the milk mixture over the cake. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- When ready to serve, make the whipped cream by whisking together the heavy cream, sugar, and ground coffee until stiff peaks. Spread over the cake, garnish, and enjoy!
