Pastel de Tres Leches de Chocolate (Chocolate Tres Leches Cake)
Soaked milk cake under a glossy dark chocolate ganache and a swirl of cream, rich and cool.
Made with Tres leches sponge and soak. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min plus chilling
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.50 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 for at least 4 hours (see the base recipe), so it is cold and fully soaked.
- 2
Heat 200 ml of the cream until just steaming, pour over the chocolate and leave 2 minutes. Stir to a smooth ganache and cool for 10 minutes until thick but spreadable.
10 min - 3
Pour the ganache over the cake and spread to the edges. Chill for 30 minutes to set.
30 min - 4
Whip the remaining cream with icing sugar and cinnamon to soft peaks.
- 5
Cut into 12 squares and add a spoon of cream to each.
Tips
- Check the chocolate label for nut traces; the dish is only nut free if every ingredient is.
- Pour the ganache onto a fully chilled cake, or it will sink into the sponge.
- Heat the knife under hot water for clean slices through the set ganache.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 3 days covered in the fridge. Bring out 10 minutes before serving so the ganache softens.
Questions
Can I use milk chocolate?
Yes, but the ganache will be sweeter and softer. Use 250 g milk chocolate for the same set.
Why did my ganache split?
The cream was too hot or it was overstirred. Cool the cream slightly and stir gently from the centre.
Is it very sweet?
The condensed milk soak is sweet; the dark chocolate balances it.
More made with tres leches sponge and soak
Pastel de Tres Leches de Café (Coffee Tres Leches Cake)
NFVNOGVasitos de Tres Leches con Frutos Rojos (Tres Leches Cups with Berries)
NFVNOGPastel de Tres Leches con Coco (Coconut Tres Leches Cake)
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.