Pastel de Tres Leches con Coco (Coconut Tres Leches Cake)
Soaked milk cake under whipped coconut-vanilla cream and toasted coconut flakes.
Made with Tres leches sponge and soak. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min plus chilling
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.46 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Make the tres leches sponge and soak the day before and chill it (see the base recipe). Use about two thirds of the cake (cut across the tin) and keep the rest for another day.
- 2
Toast the coconut in a dry pan over a medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, shaking, until pale golden. Tip onto a plate to cool.
4 min - 3
Whip the cream with the icing sugar and coconut extract to soft peaks. Spread over the cake.
- 4
Scatter with the toasted coconut and lime zest. Chill for 20 minutes.
- 5
Cut into 8 squares and serve cold.
Tips
- Coconut is not one of the 14 named UK allergens, but ask your doctor or allergy team if you are unsure, and read labels.
- Watch the coconut closely; it burns in seconds once it starts to colour.
- Use the remaining third of the cake for a second small dessert or freeze it.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 3 days covered in the fridge. Store toasted coconut separately in a jar and add just before serving.
Questions
Can I use coconut cream instead?
Yes, chilled full fat coconut cream whips well and makes this dairy free on top, but the cake base itself contains milk and egg.
Is the cake dairy free?
No. The sponge, soak and cream all contain milk.
Why toast the coconut?
Toasting adds a nutty, caramel flavour and a pleasing crunch against the soft cake.
More made with tres leches sponge and soak
Pastel de Tres Leches de Fresa (Strawberry Tres Leches Cake)
NFVNOGPastel de Tres Leches de Cajeta (Cajeta Tres Leches Cake)
NFVNOGVasitos de Tres Leches con Frutos Rojos (Tres Leches Cups with Berries)
NFVNOGTrifle de Tres Leches con Durazno y Natilla (Peach Tres Leches Trifle)
NFVNOGDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.