Easy No Bake Rus Malai Tres Leches Cake Recipe
Enjoy a delightful and easy no-bake Tres Leches Cake inspired by Rus Malai flavors. This recipe uses just five main ingredients and requires less than 30 minutes of active preparation. Perfect for those who want a creamy, luscious cake without turning on the oven, this moist dessert is soaked in a rich milk mixture and topped with whipped cream and optional decorative touches.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours (including chilling time)
- Yield: 8-10 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Latin American
Ingredients
Milk Mixture
- 300g sweetened condensed milk (roughly ¾ of a 14 oz can)
- 400g evaporated milk (1 14 oz can)
- 60g heavy cream (¼ cup) - use milk if you want the cake lighter
- ¼ tsp cardamom powder (start with ⅛ tsp, taste and adjust as needed)
Base
- 35-40 ladyfingers (about 1.5 packs with 24 ladyfingers each)
Decoration
- 1.5 cups heavy cream for decoration
- Optional: freeze dried strawberries and pistachios for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the milk mixture: In a bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and 60g heavy cream until smooth. Add ⅛ teaspoon of cardamom powder and taste the mixture. Adjust the cardamom flavor to your preference by adding a little more if desired.
- Create the first ladyfinger layer: Arrange ladyfingers tightly in a clean 7x11" dish, trimming any to fit snugly and fill gaps to form a uniform layer.
- Drench the ladyfingers: Using a ¼ cup measure, pour half of the milk mixture evenly over the ladyfingers, ensuring each one is soaked. Don’t worry if it seems like a lot; the ladyfingers will absorb the liquid.
- Let soak: Allow the ladyfingers to absorb the milk mixture for 10-20 minutes, so they become fully saturated and soft.
- Repeat the layering: Add a second layer of ladyfingers atop the soaked first layer, again trimming to fit tightly. Drench this second layer with the remaining half of the milk mixture.
- Chill and set: Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 1.5 hours to allow the cake to fully soak and set. The longer chilling enhances the flavor and texture.
- Decorate: Whip 1.5 cups of heavy cream to soft peaks and spread it evenly over the top of the chilled cake. Garnish with freeze-dried strawberries and chopped pistachios if using.
Notes
- Adjust cardamom powder cautiously, as it can overpower the delicate flavors.
- Use fresh heavy cream for the richest texture, or substitute with milk for a lighter version.
- Ladyfingers should be stacked tightly to avoid gaps and ensure even soaking.
- This recipe requires no baking but does require refrigeration to set properly.
- For best results, chill the cake for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Optional garnishes like freeze-dried strawberries and pistachios add wonderful texture and flavor contrast.
