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    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Coconut Tres Leches Cupcakes

    Coconut Tres Leches Cupcakes

    Last Updated: Jul 9, 2020

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    coconut tres leches cupcake Pinterest Graphic 2
    coconut tres leches cupcake Pinterest Graphic 3
    coconut tres leches cupcake Pinterest Graphic 1

    You are going to adore these coconut tres leches cupcakes! Delicious sponge cupcakes soaked in a mixture of three kinds of milk and filled with a delicate whipped topping sprinkled with coconut flakes and topped with pineapple chunks.

    Coconut tres leches cupcake with whipped cream filling and topped with coconut flakes and pineapple

    Yum! Yum! Yum! And, did I say Yum?!

    By now, you all probably know that I have a big obsession with cupcakes. A huge one!

    I am constantly looking for new ideas and things I can turn into a cupcake. Many of my attempts have failed (Don't worry, those will not make it to this blog), but this is one cupcake I am very proud of. You have to try it!

    Be sure to check out my almond cupcakes with creme cheese frosting and chocolate tres leches cake.

    What Are Tres Leches Cupcakes?

    Tres leches cake is basically a sponge cake that has been soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk and regular milk or heavy cream.

    The tres leches cake is very popular in Latin American cuisine, however, its origin is highly disputed.

    Many of the Latin American and Caribbean food influences come from an European origin and seen how they created other cakes that use the same method of preparation such as rum cake and tiramisu, I am going to guess that it was probably first conceived by an awesome Ancient European lady who was very curious and wanted to know what happens to a baked cake when you soak it in milk. *Please don't quote me on that.*

    The truth is that I have no idea where this cake came from. I am just happy it was ever made because today I get to introduce to you this delicious adaptation of a traditional tres leches.

    Tres Leches cupcakes ingredients

    Tres Leches Cupcakes Ingredients

    For the sponge

    • Cake flour
    • Baking powder and salt
    • Eggs
    • Sugar
    • Vanilla extract

    For the cream

    • Sweet condensed milk
    • Evaporated milk
    • Whole milk
    • Coconut milk

    For the frosting

    • Whipped cream
    • Coconut flakes
    • Pineapple pieces
    process of making the sponge cake for the tres leches cupcakes

    How To Make Coconut Tres Leches Cupcakes

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Divide the yolks from the egg whites and beat the egg whites until it turns white and has soft peaks. Slowly add the sugar in the form of rain while the egg whites are beating, after reaching the soft peaks point.
    • Separately, beat the egg yolks until they turn pale yellow. Add creamed yolks and vanilla to the egg whites. Finally, add sifted cake flour.
    • Place cupcake cups in a muffin baking pan, pour the mixture into the cupcake cups to fill halfway and bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. I also like to slightly touch the top of the cupcakes and if the top bounces back that means it’s ready.
    • Mix the cream mixture with a hand mixer or in a blender. Pour about ¼ cup of the mixture over each cupcake while still hot. Leave to cool and store in the refrigerator until chilled, about 1 hour.
    • Frost the cupcakes with whipped cream and decorate with coconut flakes and pineapple pieces.
    cupcake batter in muffin pan collage
    mixing the milk mixture for the cupcakes
    pouring the milk mixture into the cupcakes

    Coconut Tres Leches Cake

    For this recipe, I did not use three but four kinds of milk! I guess you could probable call this a four leches cake instead!

    In addition to the traditional three types of milk, I put some coconut milk into the wet mixture that the cake would be soaked in to give it that sweet island coconut taste.

    The cake is spongy, airy and slightly sweet. You don't want to make the cake too sweet because the milk mixture will add extra sweetness from the condensed milk.

    How long do they keep?

    If I'm making these tres leches cupcakes ahead of time I tend to hold off on frosting them so that they are easier to store. Keep them in an air tight container in the fridge and they will be good for up to 3 days.

    coconut tres leches cupcake on a white plate

    The lightest and fluffiest cupcakes!

    Rather than making a whole cake, as it is mostly done, I opted to make individual cupcakes, and oh my gosh they are so good! So moist and fluffy, they for sure are my new love!

    Recipe Notes and Tips

    • After baking the cupcakes, make sure to poke holes into them using a toothpick and pour the mixture over each one while still warm.
    • Place the cupcakes in the fridge for an hour to let them cool off and soak in all that juicy yumminess before frosting them.
    Close up of tres leches cupcake cut in half

    This is really an overly delicious cake. No really, it is ridiculous just how good these coconut tres (four?) leches cupcakes are. Whoever invented the idea of soaking up a cake into all kinds of milk is a genius in my book.

    More Easy Cake Recipes

    • Orange Ricotta Coconut Cake
    • No Bake Dulce Leche Cheesecake
    • Chocolate Molten Lava Cake
    • Strawberry Nutella Cheesecake
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    Coconut Tres Leches Cupcakes

    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Servings: 18 Cupcakes
    Calories: 257kcal
    Print Recipe
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Latin
    Author: Vanessa
    No ratings yet
    coconut tres leches cupcake on a white plate
    Delicious sponge cupcakes soaked in three milks and filled with a delicate whipped topping sprinkled with coconut flakes and topped with pineapple chunks.

    INGREDIENTS

    For the Cupcakes

    • 1 cup cake flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 5 eggs (divided)
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    For the Cream

    • 1 can of sweet condensed milk
    • 1 can of evaporated milk
    • 2 cups whole milk
    • 1 cup canned coconut milk

    For the Frosting

    • Whipped Cream
    • 1 cup coconut flakes , toasted to decorate
    • 1 small can of pineapple pieces

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Divide the yolks from the egg whites and beat the egg whites until it turns white and has soft peaks. Slowly add the sugar in the form of rain while the egg whites are beating, after reaching the soft peaks point.
    • Separately, beat the egg yolks until they turn pale yellow. Add creamed yolks and vanilla to the egg whites. Finally, add sifted cake flour.
    • Place cupcake cups in a muffin baking pan, pour the mixture into the cupcake cups to fill halfway and bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. I also like to slightly touch the top of the cupcakes and if the top bounces back that means it's ready.
    • Mix the cream mixture with a hand mixer or in a blender. Pour about ¼ cup of the mixture over each cupcake while still hot. Leave to cool and store in the refrigerator until chilled, about 1 hour.
    • Frost the cupcakes with whipped cream and decorate with coconut flakes and pineapple pieces.

    NOTES

    • After baking the cupcakes, make sure to poke holes into them using a toothpick and pour the mixture over each one while still warm.
    • Place the cupcakes in the fridge for an hour to let them cool off and soak in all that juicy yumminess before frosting them.
    • Store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 121mg | Potassium: 259mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 210IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 153mg | Iron: 1mg

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    I’m a working mom, whose love for food led me to start this blog as a resource for other busy parents. I’m passionate about creating quick and easy versions of the recipes I grew up eating to share with busy parents who want to cook foods filled with Latin flavors that don’t take a ton of time to prepare.

    It is my mission to show you that you can make great flavorful dishes at home without spending the entire day in the kitchen.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Astroswamig

      December 02, 2020 at 7:21 am

      5 stars
      Thank you sharing delicious recipe first time I tasted coconut cup cake me and my loved it.

      Reply
    2. Silvia Martinez

      August 03, 2020 at 3:21 pm

      These coconut tres leches cupcakes are amazing, the tres leches mixture is really yummy! These are a great dessert or snack when I want to indulge!

      Reply
      • Vanessa

        August 05, 2020 at 8:23 pm

        Thank you Silvia! Glad you like them.

        Reply
    3. Sonila

      August 03, 2020 at 2:42 pm

      5 stars
      Love, love love anything with tres leches and these coconut tres leches cupcakes make no exception!! They’re the perfect treat! Yumm

      Reply
      • Vanessa

        August 05, 2020 at 8:24 pm

        A great treat indeed! Thank you for the comment.

        Reply
    4. Anne marie Leon

      August 03, 2020 at 2:10 pm

      Que delicia este coconut tres leches cupcakes, en mi niños les encantan los ponquecitos, así que esta variación con coco y en tres leches está genial, gracias!

      Reply
      • Vanessa

        August 05, 2020 at 8:25 pm

        Que alegria que les guste. A tus niños les va a encantar!

        Reply
    5. Rosanna Mancino Valdivieso

      August 03, 2020 at 1:18 pm

      5 stars
      OMG Vanessa, con este coconut tres leches cupcakes, imposible empezar este lunes mi dieta! jajaja mil veces me pongo a preparar esta delicia, lo que es ya! Mil gracias por compartir.

      Reply
      • Vanessa

        August 05, 2020 at 8:26 pm

        Estos cupcakes te alegraran el dia!

        Reply
    6. Yasmari Bello

      August 03, 2020 at 11:04 am

      5 stars
      I love it your recipe tres leches cupkakes with coconut. Very amazing

      Reply
      • Vanessa

        August 05, 2020 at 8:28 pm

        Thank you! Glad you like it.

        Reply
    7. AstroTalk

      July 24, 2020 at 6:11 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for sharing this amazing and mouth watering recipe. For the first time i love a coconut cake.

      Reply
      • Vanessa

        July 28, 2020 at 6:35 pm

        Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply

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    hi im vanessa

    I grew up learning to cook traditional Dominican food, and I believe in the power of a good meal to bring a family together.

    As a busy mom, my goal is to show you that time or culinary skills don’t have to stand in the way of cooking delicious meals at home for your family.

    I’ll help you bring these craveable and comforting flavors into your busy life!

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