Sweet Savings: Baking Tres Leches Cake with Store Brands

Tres leches cake is a beloved dessert throughout Latin America, and for good reason. It’s a light and airy sponge cake soaked in a sweet and creamy mixture of three milks, and topped with a fluffy whipped cream. It’s the perfect dessert for any celebration, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a delicious one at home. This recipe uses store-brand ingredients from Jewel-Osco to create a tres leches cake that’s both affordable and delicious.

The Recipe

This recipe uses Jewel-Osco’s Signature SELECT store brand for many of the ingredients, which is a great way to save money without sacrificing quality.

• Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (Signature SELECT)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (Signature SELECT)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (Signature SELECT)
  • 5 large eggs (Signature SELECT)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk (Signature SELECT)
  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (Signature SELECT)
  • 1 cup heavy cream (Signature SELECT)
  • For the topping:
    • 2 cups heavy cream (Signature SELECT)
    • 1/2 cup powdered sugar (Signature SELECT)
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
  3. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Let the cake cool completely. Once cooled, poke holes all over the top of the cake with a fork.
  8. In a medium bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and 1 cup of heavy cream. Pour the mixture over the cake, a little at a time, allowing it to soak in.
  9. Refrigerate the cake for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
  10. To make the topping, beat the remaining 2 cups of heavy cream with the powdered sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.
  11. Spread the whipped cream over the cake and decorate with a sprinkle of cinnamon or fresh fruit.

Baking on a Budget

• Embrace Store Brands: As you can see from this recipe, using store-brand ingredients is a great way to save money on your baking.
• Check the Weekly Ad: Look for sales on baking supplies like flour, sugar, and butter, especially around the holidays.
• Use the Jewel-Osco for U App: Don’t forget to clip your digital coupons before you shop. You can often find great deals on baking essentials.

With a little planning, you can make this delicious and impressive dessert for your next celebration without breaking the bank.