Pastel de Tres Leches de Cajeta (Cajeta Tres Leches Cake)
The classic milk cake given a glossy cajeta caramel topping and a spoon of cream.
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 £0.46 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 two thirds of the cake and keep the rest.
- 2
Warm the cajeta with the milk in a small bowl over hot water until pourable. Cool for 5 minutes.
- 3
Whip the cream with the icing sugar to soft peaks.
- 4
Spoon the cajeta in ribbons over the cake, then add the cream. Drag a knife through for a marbled swirl.
- 5
Sprinkle with flaky salt. Chill 20 minutes and cut into 8 squares.
Tips
- Warm cajeta only until runny; very hot caramel will melt the cream.
- A pinch of flaky salt balances the sweetness.
- Thick dulce de leche works as well and is easy to find in UK supermarkets.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 3 days covered in the fridge.
Questions
What is cajeta?
A Mexican goat milk caramel with a slight tang. Dulce de leche is the cow milk equivalent and works as a swap.
Is this very sweet?
Yes, it is a rich, sweet dessert, so serve small squares with strong coffee or unsweetened tea.
Can I freeze it?
Freeze the plain soaked cake before topping, wrapped well, for up to a month. Top it after thawing.
More made with tres leches sponge and soak
Pastel de Tres Leches con Cerezas (Tres Leches Cake with Cherries)
NFVNOGPastel de Tres Leches de Fresa (Strawberry Tres Leches Cake)
NFVNOGTres Leches con Piña Asada (Grilled Pineapple Tres Leches)
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.