HOLA SPRINKLERS!
What do we have in the oven today??
Pastel de tres leches, or three milks cake, is a super moist, light, and fluffy “sponge” sheet cake soaked in three kinds of milks, topped with whipped cream and strawberries 🤤
Our amazing Sprinklers have whipped up quite a few Tres Leches👇🏽
Looks DELISH! Let’s take a larger look at its importance!
DATA & STATISTICS
America’s demographics overall: 18.5% Hispanic or latino based on April 2020 Census Data
21% of children entering the Foster Care system in 2020 identified as being hispanic (all races) - Source
HOW DOES THIS FIT INTO OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM?
• California - 40%
• Florida - 29%
• Arizona - 33%
• New Mexico - 50%
• Texas - 40%
According to the 2020 Census, nearly 19% of all Americans identify as Hispanic or Latino. Some states (that are extra sweet, but we are biased of course 😉) have much higher Latino populations including:
We have 8 For Goodness Chapters in these states. 💖🎂💖
On a national level, 21% of youth in Resource (Foster) Care identify as Latino or Hispanic. These stats are believed to be an underestimation as it is common for caseworkers or representatives to fill out data forms, such as the census, without knowing the background of the youth they serve.
As of publishing this blog, For Goodness Cakes has had 290 requests for Tres Leches, predominantly in our California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oregon For Goodness Cakes Chapters. That’s a lot of leche! 🥳🥳🥳
The Exquisite Detail of a Quinceañera Dress
Adobe Stock
FUN FACTS
It is believed that Tres Leches started in Spain after being influenced by the traditional English trifle, though some say that it started in Latin America. Either way, it was at a time when nothing could go to waste, stale bread was soaked in milk to make it more palatable. Yummy and resourceful!
A very common birthday (cumpleaños) tradition in Mexico called la mordida or ‘the bite’ involves the birthday human taking a bite of cake and then immediately being greeted with a face full of cake thanks to their loved ones shoving their face into the cake. All fun and games, unless you wear glasses…🤓😅
If you want to wish someone a happy birthday, say
Feliz Cumpleaños! (Fay-leez Koom-play-an-yos)
Another famous tradition is when a girl turns 15, she has a quinceañera or quince to celebrate her passage from a girl to a woman. This humongous and elaborate celebration includes a religious mass with her parents, godparents, and family. The birthday girl wears an elegant and detailed dress and her parents host a banquet for hundreds of guests. There are choreographed dances, toasts, cake cutting, and a shoe changing ceremony where girls change their shoes from flats to heels signifying their entrance into womanhood. Fancy! 👠
DIVERSITY IS AWESOME!
For Goodness Cakes staff who identify as either part or full Mexican :) 🇲🇽
TRES LECHES RECIPE
Tres Leches Recipe Video made by Candice, our Portland Chapter Leader!
** Please remember to mask up when baking cakes for our Sprinkly Kiddos and Young Adults **
For the Cake
9 eggs separated
1 cup of sugar
2 cups of flour
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract (Mexican vanilla preferred)
⅛ tsp of almond extract
Milk Mixture
14oz can of sweetened condensed milk
12oz can of evaporated milk
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract (optional)
Whipping cream
2 cups heavy whipping cream
¼ confectioners (powdered) sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter/grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. This bake is typically served in the pan it is baked in so avoid parchment paper.
Pour your egg whites into the bowl of your mixer and beat on medium-high speed. While your mixer is on, add the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, and continue mixing until soft/medium peaks form. Gently transfer your egg white mixture into a large mixing bowl (you will be adding more ingredient to this bowl later).
In a clean mixer bowl, mix your egg yolks until the egg yolks become creamy (approx 5 minutes), in color and texture. Add your vanilla and almond extract (if using) and mix with the mixer for an additional minute or two until everything is well incorporated.
Gently combine both egg mixtures by slowly adding and mixing in the egg yolk into the bowl with the egg whites. Do this gently so you don’t knock too much air out of the egg whites. Mix until mostly combined, and then gently and gradually fold in the flour, until incorporated. Avoid mixing too aggressively or with a machine as this will overdevelop the gluten and impact the texture of your cake.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 22 to 25 minutes (check on it around 18 minutes). Avoid opening the oven too much once your cake is baking to avoid it deflating. Bake until the cake is a light golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
Once it cools down, poke holes all over the cake using a fork. The surface of the cake should be covered in holes. In a bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and regular milk, then pour the mixture over your cooled cake. Cover and place in the fridge.
In the bowl of your mixer, whip up the heavy cream with the confectioners’ sugar on medium-high speed until the stiff peaks form, about 1 to 2 minutes. Spread the whipped cream (put some whipped cream aside if you are decorating with it) all over the cake. This cake is best when it has sat overnight in the refrigerator, but will be ready after a few hours. It is traditionally served in the pan it was baked in, and is topped with fruit and whipped cream decoration.
Enjoy!
WHAT IF YOU’RE A NEWBIE BAKER?
Jess, our Chief Marketing Officer says:
“I am as newbie of a baker as you can get! I don’t even own baking pans. The few Tres Leches cakes I’ve made, I’ve used *Funfetti boxed cake mix* as the base (follow the box instructions) and it is SO GOOD when soaked in the milks. It’s definitely not the most traditional, but it’s great to use in a pinch or if you’re a beginner baker like me. One day, when I finally find some baking pans, I’ll try Candice’s recipe - it looks too good! ”
GRACIAS
¡Eso es todo! We hope you enjoy this yummy, delicioso, and no fuss cake 🍰
Happy Baking Sprinklers! 🎂=💖