Daring Bakers' Challenge: Tres Leches or Three Milk Cake

Inma of la Galletika was our Sept. 2013 Daring Bakers' hostess and WOW did she bring us something decadent and delicious!  Pastel de Tres Leches or Three Milk Cake, creamy yet airy, super moist but not soggy...just plain delish!



Traditionally, this recipe call for a sponge cake that is cut in half and drenched in a combination of evaporated milk, condensed milk and heavy cream.  Then, one side is coated with a layer of whipped cream and fruit before it's topped with the other half of the cake.

My vegan version of Tres Leches involves 3 types of coconut milk; canned full fat coconut milk, coconut milk creamer and coconut milk beverage.  I made an eggless sponge cake and substituted whipped cream with Soyatoo whipped topping for the filling,  I added a layer of sliced banana and topped the whole thing with toasted coconut. It's really a very tasty cake!

If I made this again, I would probably fill the center with fresh pineapple.   I do love the combination of coconut and pineapple together.  This is a wonderful summer cake, light and creamy.  Refrigerate any leftovers.

Coconut Tres Leches Cake
1 8" cake - Use organic ingredients whenever possible


For the Sponge Cake:
1 cup coconut milk beverage (or rice milk)
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 1/3 cup cake flour
1/4 cup corn flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup sunflower oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or coconut extract)

Preheat your oven to 350˚
Line the bottom of a 8" spring form pan with parchment.
Grease or spray the pan, sides and bottom.
Mix the coconut milk together with the vinegar and set aside.
Mix together the cake flour, corn flour, sugar, baking powder and soda.
Add the oil and extract to the coconut milk mixture.
Pour the liquids into the flour mixture and stir to conbine.
Do not beat.
Pour the batter into the pan.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until done.
Cool the cake for 15 minutes and remove from pan.

For the Tres Leches and filling:
1 15 oz can unsweetened coconut milk
6 oz coconut milk creamer (So Delicious brand)
4 oz sweetened coconut milk beverage (So Delicious brand)
1 cinnamon stick
1 box Soyatoo non dairy whipped cream
2 bananas or 2 cups pineapple chunks
2 cups large chip coconut 

Combine all three coconut milks in a heavy sauce pan. 
Add the cinnamon stick 
Simmer over a medium heat for 5 minutes.
Allow to cool.

To Assemble:
Cut the sponge cake in half like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHyGSrCm8c8
Paint each half of the cake and sides with the coconut milk combination until it's all absorbed.
Put the coconut in a frying pan over medium low heat.
Stir continuously until lightly toasted.
Remove from heat
Whip the Soyatoo according to the directions on the box.
Spread half of the whipped Soyatoo on one half of the cake.
Top with banana or pineapple chunks
Top this with the other half of the cake.
Spread the remaining Soyatoo on top of the cake.
Top the whipped cream with the toasted coconut.