Cristina's Tres Leches Cake

Cake:

5 eggs, separated
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder or 3/4 teaspoon for high altitude
1/3 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mixture of Milks:

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream

Garnishes:

1 cup heavy cream, whipped with 1 tablespoon powdered sugar until stiff
Canned fruit like peaches and/or mandarin oranges
Fresh fruit like assorted berries
Sweetened flaked coconut

Cake:

Butter and flour a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Set aside.

Beat the egg yolks for a couple of minutes using an electric mixer on low speed. Add 3/4 cup sugar and beat until sugar dissolves. Stir in the vanilla.

Using clean beaters, beat the egg whites in another bowl adding the 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Set aside.

To the egg yolk mixture, add the flour in two parts alternating with the milk and beating on low speed just until combined. Do not overbeat.

Using a rubber spatula, stir in the egg whites in two parts folding into the batter carefully. Do not stir. The batter should be fluffy and airy.

Pour this mixture in the prepared baking pan. Spread evenly.

Bake in a preheated 350 F for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and immediately poke the entire surface of the cake with a fork.

While the cake is baking you have mixed the milks well in a big bowl. Pour the milk into the whole cake using a ladle. Make sure that all the cake gets the milk mixture.

Let the cake cool down on the counter. Cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, beat 1 cup whipping cream with 1 tablespoon powdered sugar until firm.

Frost the entire surface of the cake using an offset spatula. Garnish as desired.

Makes 12 servings