I used to be a very snobby baker. You’d never catch me using a cake mix or any fat but PURE butter. But as I’ve grown and experienced life, i’ve learnt that every thing has it’s place. Even cake mix and margarine!

These days i’m all about easy recipes! I want ease for all of us so here’s a cake mix hack. Turn your cake mix into any Tres leches flavour you desire! Tres leches is easily customisable because all you need to do really, is change up the milk flavour. You can do this through infusions or mix ins like caramel sauce or chocolate sauce in the milk soak.

Let’s get in to the how!

First up, the cake mix.

I’m using one that was gifted to me by a friend’s mum – Betty Crocker supreme vanilla.

Many-a cake mix hack exists (especially on TikTok). Cake mix can be elevated via a series of swaps/ additions:

• Swap milk for water
• Swap melted butter for oil
• Add an extra egg

An addition of an extra egg also allows for extra moist and fluffy cake!

There are also weird and wonderful things that people do too like add sour cream, more flour or even more sugar! But we want easy. So we’ll stick to the easy ones.

While ingredients play a key role in the final product, technique also has an impact.

So I’ve incorporated a few methods from my favourite from scratch recipes.

1 – The cake

Separate the eggs into 2 bowls. Whip the yolks until its double in size, light and fluffy. Next add in the milk and the melted butter and followed by the cake mix. Make sure the batter is smooth here!

Now the egg whites, whip them until stiff peaks!

Then in 1/3’s, fold in the egg whites into the cake batter. You’ll have a nice smooth and fluffy batter!

Pour the mix into your buttered dish of choice and bake according to the instructions on your box.

2 – The milk soak

The options are truly endless here! An easy start to customisation of any recipe is through infusing the liquid. I’ve chosen to go with Karak tea and specifically Kuwaiti Karak that was also gifted to me by the same friend’s mum (Hi Farah’s mum 😊)! She has a stake in my baking and definitely a stake in this recipe! .

Any lose leaf tea works really well here. I’ve used earl grey before and it was SENSATIONAL. Technically this milk cake is a “Cuatro” leches because over the years, Ive always added a fourth milk to the soak mixture.

• 1 cup of condensed milk
• 1 cup of evaporated milk
• 1/2 cup Whole milk
• 1/2 cup Heavy cream
• 35g of loose leaf tea of choice
• 2 cups of water (for the tea)

If you’d prefer, you can skip the tea and infusions and go for a vanilla version!

If you do choose to go down the tea route, boil the tea and let it steep for 10-20 minutes then strain.

In a large pitcher, add in all the liquids and give it all a good stir and you’re good to go! Chill your milk soak in the fridge until you’re ready to use and don’t be tempted to drink it with a straw!

3 – The topping

• 1 cup or 250ml of whipping cream
• 20g sugar
• vanilla extract

Very easy this one! Add your sugar and vanilla to your cold whipping cream. Carefully whip until soft peaks and you’re done!

4- Assembly!

Once the cake comes out of the oven, allow it to cool. Next, poke holes all over the surface of the cake then pour the soak.

I like to let my cake sit in the fridge overnight at this stage.

The next day, top your cake with the fluffy goodness and if you’re extra like me, you can top your cake with caramel or any other sauce or topping.

And now…. enjoyyy!!!

If you’re a visual learner, then you’ll happy to know that I filmed this for TikTok. At the moment it’s not up, but working on it…. (check for the videos @tmaeats on TikTok).

I did say I was going to get this up on Tuesday but you guys, I am DEEPLY exhausted. Sigh. I do get a lot of joy from writing so here I am 30 minutes to my bed time finishing this up so you have something to make on Eid!

Go forth and be creative geniuses with your Tres Leches! 😊

Byeeeeeee.