These tres leches pancakes are super soft, fluffy and topped with a decadent three milk syrup so good that you won’t want regular pancake syrup again! Top it off with some extra caramel or dulce de leche, a sprinkle of cinnamon and whipped cream and you are in for a treat!
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Have you ever heard of tres leches cake? It is a decadent Mexican dessert made of a soft fluffy cake and soaked in a decadent tres leches milk mixture. Who says you can’t eat dessert for breakfast! These are delicious served along with my Mexican Fruit Cup.
Let’s start celebrating Cinco de Mayo the right way with the perfect tres leches inspired breakfast! And just in case you want some extra excitement for Cinco de Mayo (or any day for that matter!) be sure to check out my this delicious Tres Leches Cocktail!
Tres leches means three milks. This recipe is for super soft fluffy pancakes and a tres leches syrup that is creamy and sweet, perfectly drizzled over your ligh and fluffy pancakes for the perfect bite. Add some Candied Walnuts for some extra crunch.
You might have heard of IHOP tres leches pancakes or the version from Denny’s? We are going to make Mexican Tres Leches pancakes homemade and even more delicious. Don’t forget to drizzle these pancakes with some extra caramel or dulce de leches, a sprinkle of cinnamon and some whipping cream for some extra indulgence.
Why this recipe works
- You can make this delicious Mexican tres leches pancake recipe using boxed pancake mix or homemade pancakes from scratch.
- Quick and easy recipe that will have a delicious breakfast on the table in as little as 10 minutes!
- Adds a fun spin on regular breakfast pancakes. Looking for vegan pancakes or dairy-free pancakes? I have included modifications for both! Looking for some pancake alternatives? Check out my Almond Milk Pancakes, Banana Flour Pancakes and Oat Flour Pancakes!
- This is the perfect breakfast food to enjoy on Cinco de Mayo! Get your fun started off right!
Tres leches ingredients
Tres Leches Pancakes
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Sugar (optional): You can omit sugar from the recipe. You can also use cane sugar, brown sugar or your favorite sugar substitute (follow sugar substitute conversion based on your selected product/brand).
- Milk or Alternative Milk: Whole milk, 2% milk, fat free milk. Soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, pea milk or oat milk.
- Eggs or Flax Egg: To make a flax egg, mix one tablespoon of flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water. Allow to sit refrigerated for about 10 minutes to thicken.
- Oil or Butter (Optional)
Tres Leches Syrup
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Found in a can in most baking sections of the grocery store. You can also purchase sweetened condensed milk online.
- Evaporated Milk: Found in a can in most baking sections of the grocery store. You can also purchase evaporated milk online.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Any brand of heavy cream work well. If you wish to lighten it up, you can also use half and half, 2% milk, almond milk, soy milk, oat milk or your favorite alternative milk.
Vegan Dairy Free Modifications
- Substitute sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk with vegan sweetened condensed coconut milk and vegan evaporated coconut milk (Nature’s Charm brand is a good option for these vegan variations).
- Substitute heavy cream for alternative “heavy” vegan milk of choice: heavy coconut cream, heavy almond milk, heavy soy milk or heavy oat milk.
Boxed Pancake Mix Option: You can use your favorite boxed pancake mix instead of making your pancakes from scratch.
Optional Toppings
- Dulce de leche or caramel drizzle
- Cinnamon
- Whipped cream
How to make tres leches pancakes
You may have heard of Mexican tres leches pancakes popularized by the IHOP tres leches recipe, tres leches pancakes from Denny’s or the dulce de leche pancakes from IHOP. If you have tried any of these versions and want to know how to make tres leches pancakes from scratch at home, you are in the right place!
Tres Leches Pancakes
- In separate bowls, mix wet ingredients and mix dry ingredients. Combine wet and dry ingredients and thoroughly mix pancake batter.
- Heat your pan, griddle or skillet to medium high heat.
- Pour pancakes mixture into pan (approx. ¼ cup per pancake).
- Cook until golden brown, flipping each pancake halfway.
- Boxed Mix Option: Make your favorite boxed pancake mix. Follow instructions on box.
Tres Leches Syrup
- Bring mixture to a boil while stirring constantly.
- Boil for 2-3 minutes to thicken (while continuously stirring).
- Remove form heat and pour into heat safe bowl or dish. As it cools it will continue to thicken.
- Drizzle sauce over pancakes and enjoy! You can also serve this syrup over french toast or waffles.
Optional Toppings
- Top with additional drizzle of caramel or dulce de leche, a sprinkle of cinnamon and/or whipped cream.
FAQ and expert tips
Tres leches cake is a popular mexican dessert made from a light and fluffy yellow or white cake soaked in tres leches (meaning three milks), typically sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and heavy cream.
These pancakes are similar to IHOP tres leches pancakes because they are a light and fluffy pancake topped with a delicious Mexican inspired tres leches syrup.
This is a great tres leches pancakes recipe because you have the option to use boxed cake mix or homemade pancakes from scratch. You can also make the delicious tres leches syrup and pancakes in the traditional way or with vegan pancake or dairy free pancake modifications.
Looking for other delicious Cinco de Mayo or Mexican Recipes?
- Easy Homemade Salsa
- Healthy Tortilla Chips (no fry!)
- East Cheese Enchiladas
- Vodka Margarita
- Rum Margarita
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Tres Leches Pancakes
Equipment
- Saute Pan, small pot
Ingredients
Tres Leches Pancakes
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1-2 tbsp granulated sugar (optional)
- 1½ cups milk or alternative milk (can add up to 1/4 cup more milk if batter is too thick or continues to thicken as you are cooking) see notes for alternative milk options
- 2 eggs (if you omit, increase milk by 3 tablespoons) can also substitute flax egg
- 2 tbsp 2 tablespoons oil or butter in pancake batter (optional). If you omit this ingredient you can add slightly more milk.
- 2 tbsp Oil or butter to cook pancakes in pan.
Tres Leches Syrup
- 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 12 oz can evaporated milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Optional Toppings
- 4 tbsp dulce de leche or caramel drizzle
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup whipped cream
Instructions
Tres Leches Pancakes
- In separate bowls, mix wet ingredients and mix dry ingredients. Combine wet and dry ingredients and thoroughly mix.
- Heat your pan, griddle or skillet to medium high heat.
- Pour pancakes mixture into pan (approx. ¼ cup per pancake).
- Cook until golden brown, flipping each pancake halfway.
- Boxed Mix Option: Make your favorite boxed pancake mix. Follow instructions on box.
Tres Leches Syrup
- Bring mixture to a boil while stirring constantly.
- Boil for 2-3 minutes to thicken (while continuously stirring).
- Remove form heat and pour into heat safe boil. As it cools it will continue to thicken.
- Drizzle over pancakes and enjoy!
Optional Toppings
- Top with additional drizzle of caramel or dulce de leche, a sprinkle of cinnamon and/or whipped cream.
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