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This creamy amazing peanut butter tres leches cake will blow your mind! Clouds of peanut butter whipped cream top this tender peanut butter cake soaked with our favorite tres leches mixture making for an irresistible dessert. This post is sponsored by the makers of SKIPPY® Peanut Butter, I only work with brands I love and the SKIPPY® Brand makes creamy amazing peanut butter that’s great for baking with.

A peanut butter tres leches cake piece on a plate.

This dreamy peanut butter tres leches cake melts in your mouth and is all the more delicious thanks to the creamy Skippy® peanut butter in the cake and frosting. The tres leches soaking mixture adds so much silky richness to the cake it will disappear in a flash!

What You’ll Need for This Recipe

Ingredients needed to make a peanut butter tres leches cake.

Sweetened Condensed Milk: This thick caramel-like milk adds lots of body and sweetness to the cake’s soaking mixture.

Skippy® Creamy Peanut Butter: This peanut butter has the perfect consistency and flavor for this cake. You’ll be adding it to the cake batter and then thinning it our with cream to swirl into the frosting. 

Powdered Sugar: This is used to sweeten the frosting, you can add more to taste if desired. 

How to Make Peanut Butter Tres Leches Cake

Peanut Butter Tres Leches Cake batter getting mixed up.

1. Set oven to 350F, butter a 9×13 baking dish and whisk the dry ingredients together.

2. Beat the eggs and sugar together until thick and fluffy then add the oil and peanut butter  mixing until smooth and combined. 

Peanut Butter Tres Leches Cake batter getting poured into a baking dish.

3. Add the flour in three batches alternating with the evaporated milk while mixing on low. 

4. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for about 30 minutes or until the center is springy to the touch. Set aside to cool on the counter.

Tres Leches mixture getting poured onto a cake which is then covered in whipped cream.

5. Poke the cooled cake all over with a skewer or straw then pour 2.5 cups of the tres leches mixture over the top. 

6. Cover with whipped cream then dollop the peanut butter mixture over the top and swirl in using a spatula. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 

A peanut butter tres leches cake in a white baking dish with a piece removed.

Pro Tips for this Recipe

  • Measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to the recipe is the most common mistake. The best, and easiest way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you don’t have one then fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off.
  • Some people love to have a tres leches drenched in milk. You can definitely mix up a larger batch and soak the cake as desired. 
  • Don’t over-mix your batter, that can lead to a dense cake with a tougher crumb.
  • This is a great make ahead cake it actually gets better the second day as the soaking mixture penetrates the cake. 

A piece of peanut butter tres leches cake on a a plate with a forkful removed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can you store this cake? 

You can make the cake a few days in advance and store in the refrigerator. You could also make the cake and freeze it then thaw and drench with the milk mixture and top with frosting. 

Can I make this without evaporated milk?

You can substitute the evaporated milk for whole milk and the recipe will work just fine. 

What’s the best way to whip cream for a frosting?

Use cold cream, a cold bowl and whisk and whip until the cream is almost done (at very soft peaks). Finish off by hand whisking until the desired consistency is reached. This way you have more control and will not over-whip the cream.

 

If you’ve tried this Peanut Butter Tres Leches Cake recipe then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! 

Peanut Butter Tres Leches Cake

Author: John Kanell
Servings: 12 People
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Chill Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
A piece of peanut butter flavored tres leches cake on a plate.
5 from 2 votes
This dreamy peanut butter cake soaked in milks and topped with a peanut butter swirled whipped cream is just about perfection.

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 baking dish

Ingredients 

Cake:

  • cups all-purpose flour 300g
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • cups granulated sugar 300g
  • cup creamy peanut butter 85g
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil 80ml
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup evaporated milk ½ of a 14-ounce can/180ml

Syrup:

  • cups evaporated milk 1½ 12-ounce cans/360ml
  • 1 14-ounce/397g can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream 120ml
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting:

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream divided (480ml)
  • cup creamy peanut butter 85g
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Instructions

For the Cake:

  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter a 13x9-inch baking pan or spray with baking spray.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs and sugar together on medium-high speed very pale, thick, and fluffy for about 2 minutes. Add the peanut butter, oil, and vanilla, and beat on medium-low speed until well combined.
  • With the mixer running on low speed, gradually add in the flour mixture alternating with the evaporated milk. Stop and scrape down the bowl and mix again to ensure the batter is evenly combined. Pour the batter into the cake pan.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool until slightly warm, about 30 minutes. (The cake may shrink a touch as it cools.)

For the Syrup:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the condensed milk, evaporated milk, and cream until well combined. Poke the cake all over with a fork or skewer. Slowly pour 2½ cups of the syrup over the cake, reserving the rest of the syrup for serving. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.

For the Frosting:

  • In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine ½ cup cream and the peanut butter. Microwave for 15 seconds, or just long enough to warm the mixture. Stir together until fluffy combined.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the remaining 1½ cups of cream and the powdered sugar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Spread over the cake. Dollop the peanut butter over the whipped cream and swirl together with an offset spatula or a spoon. The cake can be covered and refrigerated for 1 day before serving. Serve with a generous pour of the remaining syrup on a dessert plate before placing the slice of cake.

Notes

You can garnish the cake with some chopped toasted peanuts it desired. The added crunch is a nice contrast to the creaminess of the cake.
If you're like me and love a tres leches cake to be swimming in the milk mixture then  double the recipe for the milks and serve in a bowl!

Nutrition

Serving: 1Piece Calories: 636kcal Carbohydrates: 56g Protein: 14g Fat: 41g Saturated Fat: 19g Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g Monounsaturated Fat: 12g Trans Fat: 0.05g Cholesterol: 163mg Sodium: 293mg Potassium: 343mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 35g Vitamin A: 1108IU Vitamin C: 1mg Calcium: 208mg Iron: 2mg

*Nutrition Disclaimer

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Mexican

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