Pastel de Tres Leches de Café (Coffee Tres Leches Cake)
A grown-up soaked cake with a coffee-scented cream and a dusting of cocoa, like a cappuccino in cake form.
Made with Tres leches sponge and soak. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time20 min plus chilling
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.51 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). Cut the chilled cake in half and use one half. Cover and keep or freeze the other half.
- 2
Brush the cooled strong coffee over the top of your half cake and let it sink in.
- 3
Dissolve the instant coffee in 1 tbsp hot water and cool. Whip with the cream and icing sugar to soft peaks.
- 4
Spread the coffee cream over the cake and dust generously with cocoa through a sieve.
- 5
Chill 30 minutes, cut into 6 squares and serve.
Tips
- Use decaf coffee if serving in the evening or to children.
- Sift the cocoa from a height for an even, fine dusting.
- Add a splash of coffee liqueur to the cream for a very adult finish.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 3 days covered in the fridge. The leftover half cake keeps 3 days in the fridge or 1 month wrapped in the freezer.
Questions
Can I freeze the spare half?
Yes. Wrap it tightly and freeze for up to a month; thaw overnight in the fridge before topping.
How strong is the coffee?
It is a gentle coffee flavour. Add another teaspoon of coffee to the cream for more.
Is it caffeine free?
No. Use decaf coffee granules and brewed decaf if you need to avoid caffeine.
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)
NFVNOGPastel de Tres Leches con Coco (Coconut Tres Leches Cake)
NFVNOGPastel de Tres Leches con Cerezas (Tres Leches Cake with Cherries)
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.