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pumpkin spice tres leches cake square slice on a white lace plate with a fork
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4.80 from 10 votes

Pumpkin Spice Tres Leches Cake

This Pumpkin Spice Tres Leches Cake is a fun, fall-inspired twist on a classic Hispanic dessert! Made with pure pumpkin and delicious aromatic spices, this super moist cake is soaked in a three milk custard for amazing flavor and a delicious custardy texture.
Prep Time8 hours 10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time8 hours 40 minutes
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Dessert, Mexican

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • cups granulated white sugar
  • 15 oz (1 can) pure pumpkin puree do not use pumpkin pie filling
  • 3/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • tsp pumpkin pie spice

For the Tres Leches Filling:

  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 12 oz evaporated milk (one can)
  • 14 oz sweetened condensed milk (one can)

For the Whipped Cream Frosting:

  • cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
  • Ground cinnamon, for dusting the top, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° degrees F. Liberally grease a 13x9 light metal rectangular baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the granulated sugar, pumpkin puree, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract with the paddle attachment on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Gradually add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture until fully combined and batter is smooth and cohesive. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth out the top.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minutes. While cake briefly cools, in a medium bowl, whisk together the heavy whipping cream, evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk until combined; set aside.
  • Poke holes all over the warm cake using a skewer or dowel or if you don't have either, the handle of a wooden spoon or a knife's tip. Pour the milk mixture evenly over the cake, using all of the milk mixture. It will seem like a LOT of milk, but bear in mind that the cake will gradually soak up the mixture overnight in the fridge. Cover the cake and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
  • Just before serving, make the whipped cream frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip together the heavy whipping cream and confectioners' sugar until stiff peaks form, about 5-7 minutes. Spread the whipped cream evenly over the cake. Dust with ground cinnamon, if using. Store the cake in the fridge, covered.