An easy no-bake dessert with fresh fruit and authentic tres leches flavors
I love baking, but I sometimes run out of time – especially when Iโm hosting! The holidays for me are chaotic, yet splendid. Over the years, Iโve developed a few no-bake desserts that allow me to enjoy the flavors that I love without making a huge mess or spending hours baking.
This Tres Leches Parfait is an easy no-bake dessert with fresh fruit and authentic tres leches flavors. It uses store-bought angel food cake as our base level layer. However, I like to make my own homemade whipped cream and tres leches mixture to elevate this dessert.
Now donโt get wrong, I absolutely prefer making my own cakes from scratch. Iโve spent countless hours in school honing my pastry skills. However, my family is HEAVY on savory dishes. No matter how much I plan, I always end up running out of time to bake whenever Iโm hosting a big dinner or family gathering. And dinner without any kind of homemade dessert is simply out of the question.
As a result, Iโve started making these Tres Leches Parfait, which are fun and easy to make. Theyโre also delightfully bite-sized and my guests also enjoy them. When making this dessert itโs super important that you opt for angel food cake. Youโll notice that most recipes online will call for pound cake, but this is so far from the type of cake thatโs traditionally used for Tres Leches. In my opinion, pound cake is also too heavy of a cake.
Ingredients for No Bake Tres Leches Cake
- Angel Food Cake
- Heavy Cream
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
- Evaporated Milk
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Half & Half
- Fresh Fruit – Strawberries & Raspberries
Whenever I think about a Tres Leches Cake, I think about a light sponge cake that can absorb the deliciously sweet tres leches mixture. In fact, I have a Tres Leches Cake recipe that you can follow if you prefer to make the dessert from scratch. Itโs pretty technical, but I promise youโll end up with the results that you love.
Unlike pound cake, angel food cake is light and spongy. Itโs the perfect cake base to dice into cubes and layer our parfaits.
Another secret to making Tres Leches Cake is also time. Now youโre probably thinking, huh? Zee, I thought we were saving time with this dessert! Yes, we are, but you still need time to let everything chill and set. This will allow for flavors to settle. Trust me, thereโs a big difference in a tres leches cake that has been allowed to sit and absorb the tres leches mixture.
Tips & Tricks To Making No Bake Tres Leches Cake
In fact, I make this dessert so often, here are a few tips and tricks that will set you up for success:
- Tip #1: If youโre using store bought cake, opt for Angel Food Cake instead of Pound Cake. Angel Food Cake is spongier and will absorb the tres leches mixture easier
- Tip #2: If possible, make your own whipped cream. Itโs easier and hands down tastier than anything youโll find in the store
- Tip #3: If youโre making homemade whipped cream, chill your bowl and whisk attachments before mixing. This will bring your whipped cream together in no time
- Tip #4: When making your Tres Leches mixture, always use evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk. These milks are unmatched in their flavor and creaminess. For the 3rd milk, feel free to use heavy cream or half & half.
- Tip #5: When flavoring your tres leches mixture, always use a good quality vanilla extract. This can make or break your dessert. You also add cinnamon if you like as well
Tip #6: Lastly, chill your tres leches parfait for at least an hour before serving
This no-bake Tres Leches Parfait will surely impress your guests. Even though weโre using a store bought angel food cake in this recipe, I highly recommend that you make the whipped cream from scratch. Itโs simple and only takes 3 ingredients. The trick is to make sure that the bowl, heavy cream, and whisk attachments are all cold beforehand. Simply place everything in the freezer for a few minutes before whisking everything together.ย
How Do You Make The Milk Mixture for Tres Leches Cake?
Lastly, the tres leches mixture is the make or break of this dessert. Itโs the star of the show! My number one advice is to use both evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk. The third milk that you choose to use is your decision. Like any baked good, use good quality vanilla extract. Remember, the milk mixture is what gives this dessert so much flavor. Messing this up is the difference between making a good tres leches, and a phenomenal tres leches that your friends and family will beg your for. Bonus, you can also add cinnamon for another level of flavor.
If you love classic and easy to make desserts, make sure to try my Traditional Flan Recipe and my Cuban Guava and Cheese Pastelitos! They won’t disappoint!
Recommended Tools for Making The Best No Bake Tres Leches Cake Parfait
Ingredients
- 1 Large Angel Food Cake (32oz)
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 ยฝ cup Evaporated Milk
- 1 ยฝ cup Sweet Condensed Milk
- ยฝ cup Heavy Cream or Half & Half
- 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
- ยฝ cup Confectioners Sugar
- ยฝ tsp Cinnamon Powder *optional
Instructions
- Chill large mixing bowl and whisks in the fridge or freezer
- Gather angel food cake and cut into ยฝ inch cubes. Set asideย
- Remove bowl and whisks from the fridge or freezer. Add 1 cup of heavy whipping cream, 1 tsp of vanilla extract and ยฝ cup of confectioners sugar. Whisk on low speed for 1 minute and increase to medium speed. After 2 minutes, increase to high speed and continue to whisk until you form stiff peaks. Feel free to reduce speed if cream begins to create a mess on the counter. Once you finish making whipped cream, set aside in the refrigeratorย
- In a small or medium pitcher, combine evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream or half and half, and vanilla extract. Feel free to add cinnamon if youโd like. Set aside
- In a medium or large cup, add 1 layer of cubed angel food cake. Then add tres leches mixtures, berries, and whipped cream. Continue to build layers until the cup is full. Build all of the parfaits and chill in the fridge for 1 hour before serving