These Kahlua Tres Leches Cupcakes take classic tres leches cake and add a boozy Kahlua twist. An easy and delicious recipe that everyone (over the age of 21) will love!
Last month, I bought a bottle of Kahlua for a recipe and as I was “taste testing” it, I was overcome with the sudden urge to add some Kahlua deliciousness to everything (like maybe some Mini Kahlua Cheesecakes …). So fair warning, there are a few Kahlua recipes coming up in the next couple months. Might want to stock up now.
To start, allow me to introduce Kahlua Tres Leches Cupcakes.
Growing up in Southern California, Tres Leches Cake is something you’re going to run into frequently, but I’m not sure how well known it is in northern parts of the US.
If you’re not familiar with it, Tres Leches Cake is a sponge cake that is dowsed in a sweet mixture of three different types of milk. It sits overnight soaking up the liquid, and what you get the next day is this fantastically moist cake with a texture that’s really all its own.
Add a little Kahlua to that mix and you’re looking at my new favorite cupcake. The result is the same moist, tender cake, but with a kick of coffee and rum that just puts this cupcake over the top.
Top the Kahlua Tres Leches Cupcakes off with freshly whipped cream and maybe some chocolate shavings, a little cinnamon, dulce de leche , or even some homemade caramel or strawberries. It’s going to be delicious not matter what!
Kahlua Tres Leches Cupcakes Recipe Notes
- These Kahlua Tres Leches Cupcakes must be refrigerated for at least 3-4 hours, preferably over night, so make sure you have enough fridge space for two cupcake trays to sit fairly level. You can transfer the cupcakes to a smaller container, but it’s easier/less messy to keep them in the pans while they are still soaking up the milk.
- Because these cupcakes are so wet, you want to make sure to use grease-proof/heavy duty liners so they don’t fall apart on you. I like the cheap foil ones you can buy at the grocery store.
- Finally, the alcohol in these does not get cooked off, so they are not really kid-friendly, but I’ve also included non-alcoholic instructions in the recipe notes and it’s pretty simple to make half boozy/half not.
Six of my favorite (non food-related) podcasts to cook to.
I had a recipe planned for today, but after much fiddling, the thing never quite came together. So rather than share a sub-par recipe on the blog, I’m writing about something else I love, podcasts!
I’m a total podcast and audio book junkie. I listen to them while I work out, while I drive, and thanks so a handy dandy water resistant bluetooth speaker (best Christmas present ever!), I even listen to them in the shower! Since I started Baking Mischief, I spend MANY more hours in the kitchen than I used to, so it was only natural that audio books (more on those another time) and podcasts would become one of my favorite ways to pass the time there too.
These are my favorite kitchen-listening podcasts. They’re mostly pop-culture related. (No political podcasts should be listened to in close proximity to knives, and I can’t process science or economics chatter and mentally third a recipe at the same time.) All are engaging, all come highly recommended, and all will make your time in the kitchen a thousand times more enjoyable!
The Podcasts…
With your pantry doors closed and in full daylight: The Black Tapes Podcast The Black Tapes podcast is like The X-files meets Serial , a genuinely scary storytelling podcast that explores a series of supernatural events, with a connected central mystery at its core. Episodes run 30-40 minutes, so it’s the perfect length for a quick batch of cookies or weeknight dinner. Also, Tanis (a Black Tapes sister podcast), Welcome To Nightvale, and The No Sleep Podcast
This spring, whilst chopping some sausages: A Cast of Kings & A Storm of Spoilers Smart insightful commentary on Game of Thrones from people who love the show but are willing to engage with it on a critical level. You’ll find great discussion on everything from the nature of adaptation to Jon Snow’s hair. Start with A Cast of Kings for non-spoilery discussion and then follow Joanna Robinson on over to A Storm of Spoilers for book/news spoilers and crazy-pants speculation. Also, every single one of Joanna Robinson’s other podcasts, especially The Station Agents (general TV), The Thought Bubble (comics), and both Justified podcasts
When Marathon baking: The /Filmcast Long-form podcast film reviews. Episodes routinely run close to two hours and go in depth reviewing a single film with a spoiler section at the end. So if you’re dying to discuss that twist in the movie none of your friends have seen yet, get it out of your system listening to these guys. Also, Movie B.S. with Bayer and Snider
Preparing perfectly paired appetizers and mixed drinks: The Next Picture Show Some of my favorite critics from the dearly departed Dissolve compare and contrast a recent film release with an older classic. It’s a fantastic podcast for people who like smart criticism and maybe have some major holes in their film-related knowledge. Also, Filmspotting
While making some Sherlock Cookies or BB-8 Cupcakes : Overinvested This is a new weekly pop-culture podcast and already so great. It’s definitely a show for the overinvested among us, so give the Doctor Strange mini episode a listen, and you’ll immediately know if you’re in or out. Also, Fansplaining
While making a little bit of everything: Talking TV With Ryan and Ryan Some of the most thoughtful TV talk out there, on every show under the sun. Keep up with this one and not only will you be entertained, but you’ll always find something new to watch, and probably come away from each episode a slightly better person. I know I do. Also, The Vulture TV Podcast
Saturday Morning Snapshot
Photographed an “Avengers”-themed recipe this morning and then feasted like a Norse god…
State of the Blog
Around the internets, you can find Baking Mischief recipes in a few round ups this week. Cathy from Our Mini Family included my Salted Pretzel and Nutella Chip Cookies in her list of “10 Decadent Recipes to Help You Celebrate National Pretzel Day” and Renee of Renee Nicole’s Kitchen included my Quick Panko and Parmesan Broccoli in this fantastic roundup of “13 Flavor Filled Side Dishes” . And finally, my Salted Caramel Snickerdoodle Milkshake was on Buzzfeed with a ton of other AMAZING looking milkshakes.
On the blog, I posted some delicious pesto sandwiches on Monday. My planned recipe for Wednesday wasn’t quite up to snuff, so I wrote about my favorite podcasts to cook to instead. And Friday, I added some boozy cupcakes to the blog’s surprisingly extensive cupcake recipe library.
Next week we will finish up the April Hot Sandwich series with my favorite hot sandwich and a round up. And on Friday, my Captain America: Civil War recipe goes live. I can’t wait to share that one with you!
Recipes/posts released this week were:
Pesto Chicken Sandwich on Sourdough – Sourdough, toasted in olive oil and topped with grilled chicken, pesto, Swiss cheese, and fresh tomatoes. A perfect easy and attractive dinner for guests or a cozy night in. 6 Fantastic Podcasts to Cook to – Six of my favorite (non food-related) podcasts to cook to. Kahlua Tres Leches Cupcakes – Classic Tres Leches Cupcakes with a boozy Kahlua twist. An easy and delicious recipe just in time for Cinco de Mayo.
Pop-culture Corner
It’s Game of Thrones premiere weekend. Are you going to be watching? I will be!
We have a new Doctor Who companion! After being pretty meh on Moffat’s last two companions, I’m genuinely excited for Bill.
Introducing Pearl Mackie as Bill, the #NewCompanion ! Welcome to Team #DoctorWho , Pearl! https://t.co/jQpVqxU4tX — Doctor Who BBCA (@DoctorWho_BBCA) April 23, 2016
Kahlua Tres Leches Cupcakes
Ingredients
Additional Tools
- Grease-proof cupcake liners
- 2 cupcake pans
Cupcakes
- 1 1/2 cup ( 190 g) cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons ( 4 oz) unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup and 2 tablespoons ( 225 g) granulated sugar
- 5 large eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Tres Leches
- 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup half-and-half*
- 1/2 cup Kahlua
Topping
- 3 to 4 cups whipped cream *
- Chocolate shavings optional
- Salted Caramel optional
- Cinnamon optional
- Strawberry slices optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two cupcake pans with grease-proof liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together and set aside.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment or using a handheld electric mixer, beat butter at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add sugar and beat until well-combined, another minute or so.
- Scrape bottom and sides of bowl and add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
- Add vanilla extract and mix.
- Turn mixer on low and add flour mixture a little at a time. Mix until just combined.
- Fill cupcake cups just half full. We want them to bake up slightly below the wrapper, to make adding the milk easier later. You should have at least 20 cupcakes. Bake on the center rack for 15-17 minutes until lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow cupcakes to cool in the pans.
- Once cool, poke each of the cupcakes all over with a fork 10-15 times.
- Combine evaporated milk, condensed milk, half-and-half and Kahlua in a large liquid measuring cup and stir. Pour as much of the liquid over each of the cupcakes as the cupcake will hold without overflowing.
- Wait a couple minutes for the cupcakes to absorb the liquid and then repeat. You may have to make a third pass, but the cupcakes should soak up all or very nearly all the liquid.
- Place cupcakes in the refrigerator and allow to soak up the liquid overnight–they do not need to be covered.
- Pipe on whipped cream with a large open star tip just before serving and top with toppings of choice.
