March 2025 · Recipe
Ube Tres Leches Cake: The Ultimate Filipino-Latin Fusion Dessert
A show-stopping purple tres leches cake made with real ube powder. Creamy, soaked, and absolutely unforgettable.
What happens when you combine the beloved Filipino purple yam with the iconic Latin American milk-soaked cake? You get Ube Tres Leches - a dessert that is as stunning to look at as it is to eat.
This recipe uses UBE NOLIA premium ube powder to infuse every layer with authentic ube flavor: the sponge, the three-milk soak, and the whipped cream topping. The result is a dreamy purple cake with a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Quick answer
Key Takeaways
- Real ube flavor in all three layers: sponge, milk soak, and whipped topping
- No artificial coloring needed - UBE NOLIA ube powder provides natural purple color
- Best served chilled after soaking for at least 2 hours (overnight is even better)
- Perfect for birthdays, holidays, potlucks, and special occasions
- Gluten-free option: substitute with gluten-free all-purpose flour
What Is Ube Tres Leches?
Tres leches ("three milks") is a classic Latin American cake where a light sponge is soaked in a mixture of condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy cream. The ube version adds Filipino purple yam to create a beautiful purple twist.
Ube brings a subtle nutty, vanilla-like sweetness that pairs perfectly with the rich, creamy milk soak. The result is a cross-cultural dessert that has taken social media and bakeries by storm.
Why Use UBE NOLIA Ube Powder?
Unlike ube extract or artificial flavoring, UBE NOLIA premium ube powder is made from 100% real Philippine purple yam. It delivers authentic flavor, natural color, and the nutritional benefits of real ube - including antioxidants and fiber.
Just a few tablespoons transform your tres leches into an Instagram-worthy masterpiece with genuine ube taste.
Ingredients
🧁 Ube Sponge Cake
- • 1 cup all-purpose flour
- • 1½ tsp baking powder
- • 5 large eggs, at room temperature
- • 1 cup granulated sugar
- • ⅓ cup whole milk
- • 2 tbsp UBE NOLIA ube powder
- • 1 tsp vanilla extract
🥛 Three-Milk Ube Soak
- • 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- • 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
- • 1 cup heavy cream
- • 1 tbsp UBE NOLIA ube powder
🍰 Ube Whipped Cream Topping
- • 2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
- • 3 tbsp powdered sugar
- • 1 tbsp UBE NOLIA ube powder
Optional toppings: toasted coconut flakes, crushed macapuno, ube halaya drizzle
Step-by-Step Instructions
Make the Ube Sponge:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
- Whisk together flour and baking powder in a bowl. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes until thick, pale, and tripled in volume.
- In a small bowl, combine milk, ube powder, and vanilla extract. Stir until the ube powder is dissolved.
- Gently fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture in two additions. Then fold in the ube milk mixture.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely in the pan.
Prepare the Three-Milk Ube Soak:
- Whisk together condensed milk, evaporated milk, heavy cream, and 1 tbsp ube powder until smooth and purple.
- Using a fork, poke holes all over the cooled cake (the more holes, the more the cake absorbs).
- Slowly pour the milk mixture evenly over the entire cake.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight.
Add the Ube Whipped Cream:
- Beat cold heavy cream, powdered sugar, and 1 tbsp ube powder until stiff peaks form.
- Spread evenly over the soaked cake.
- Garnish with toasted coconut, macapuno strings, or a drizzle of ube halaya.
- Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Best enjoyed cold!
💡 Pro Tip: For the most intense ube flavor, let the cake soak overnight. The longer it sits, the more the purple color deepens and the flavors meld together.
Tips for the Perfect Ube Tres Leches
- Room temperature eggs - they whip up fluffier, creating a lighter sponge that absorbs more milk
- Do not skip the cooling step - pouring milk over a warm cake will make it fall apart
- Poke generously - use a fork or chopstick to create lots of holes for maximum absorption
- Overnight soak is best - patience rewards you with the creamiest, most flavorful result
- Keep it cold - tres leches is always served chilled, never at room temperature
Storage
Ube tres leches keeps well for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, covered tightly with plastic wrap. The flavor actually improves on day 2 as the milk soak continues to develop.
Freezing is not recommended as the milk soak changes texture when thawed. Best enjoyed fresh from the fridge.
Less than a coffee. Better than a matcha.
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