Tres Leches Cake (Alton Brown)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups cake flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sugar (divided)
• 5 eggs
• 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla (divided)
• 12 ounces evaporated milk
• 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. 2

   Butter and flour a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Avoid using a very shallow pan.

3. 3

   Whisk to combine cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

4. 4

   Cream butter with mixer.

5. 5

   Slowly add 1 cup of sugar to butter until combined.

6. 6

   Pour eggs into mixture one at a time, making sure that each egg is combined before adding the next egg.

7. 7

   Add 1.5 tsp vanilla.

8. 8

   Slowly add the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.

9. 9

   Pour batter into the buttered and floured baking pan and smooth.

10. 10

    Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until golden brown.

11. 11

    Remove cake from oven and allow to cool completely.

12. 12

    Perforate cake all over using skewers or a fork.

13. 13

    Stir together the evaporated milk, condensed milk, and half-and-half.

14. 14

    Pour milk over cake and refrigerate overnight (or 8 hours) to allow the cake to soak up all the milks.

15. 15

    Before serving, whip heavy cream, 1 cup sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla until thickened.

16. 16

    Spread whipped topping over cake and refrigerate until ready to serve.