How to Make Authentic Costa Rican "Tres Leches" (Three Milks) for Christmas
Christmas is a time for delicious desserts. Traditional favorites like gingerbread people and candy-coated apples should be a part of any holiday, but why not add some international favorites, too? Costa Rica's national dessert is tres leches (literally translated, three milks). How fortunate that this is one of the easiest and fastest recipes to make -- and not very fatty.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1 cup regular milk
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons ice water
- Large mixing bowl.
- Blender
- Pyrex baking dish
- Whisk
- Fork
- Whipped cream
- Cherries, peaches, mint leaves, and/or blueberries
Instructions
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1
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
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2
Separate the egg yolks and egg whites. In a mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until white, fluffy, and stiff. One at a time, add the egg yolks; slowly add the sugar. Combining one with the other and add in the flour and baking soda. Finally, add the ice water. Blend it all together until it's well mixed.
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3
Pour the mixture into a Pyrex baking dish and bake it at 325 degrees F for 25 minutes or until lightly gold on top or until a knife comes out clean when inserted in the middle.
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4
As you wait for the cake to bake, mix the three milks with a whisk until thoroughly mixed.
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5
After removing the cake from the oven, immediately take a fork and poke the cake with holes in neat rows. Be sure to do this all over the top and edges of the cake.
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6
Slowly and evenly pour the milk mixture over the cake. Wait for it to soak through before you add more. Be sure to get it evenly poured over all sides of the cake -- you do not one side to be spongier than the other.
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7
Spread a generous coat of whipped cream on the cake once the milk has fully soaked through. With Christmas in mind, decorate the top of the cake with cherries, peaches, mint leaves and/or blueberries.
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8
Place the cake in the refrigerator to chill until you are ready to serve it. Then serve it to your friends, family, and neighbors and prepare yourself for cheers, praises, and second helpings -- you've just made an authentic Costa Rican Christmas dessert!
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Tips & Warnings
Watch the cake when it is in the oven -- you do not want it to turn too brown or black.
Never add pineapples, apples, oranges, or strawberries onto the cake -- you'll spoil it.
