Dine and Dish

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Desserts in Jars {Recipe: Tres Leches Cakes}

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A wonderful Tres Leches Cake recipe from the Desserts in Jars Cookbook.

Desserts in Jars - Tres Leches Cake in a Jar Recipe

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Lindsey from Growing Kids Ministry for winning!

I used to stand by the glass counter, staring longingly into the dessert case, hoping my parents would budge and buy me one of the little “parfait buckets”. Banana Cream pie, strawberry shortcake, triple chocolate brownie… all made even more appealing by their presentation in a clear, little container.

My Grandpa was my only ticket to ever getting these desserts… I knew every time we’d head to lunch together, a single serving dessert of my choice would be in my future. Sitting in the local KFC, eating little parfait buckets together, is still one of my favorite memories of time spent with my Grandpa.

My good friend Shaina reacquainted me with these memories of my Grandpa the second she started working on her Desserts in Jars cookbook. The appeal of pies, puddings, cakes and more in little single serving dessert jars was one I could totally relate to. There’s just something about eating your dessert in your very own special jar that makes it all the more decadent.

Desserts in Jars - Tres Leches Cake in a Jar Recipe

Shaina has sweetly offered to give one lucky Dine & Dish reader a copy of her cookbook Desserts in Jars, 50 Sweet Treats That Shine (Harvard Common Press). You’ll fall in love with Shaina’s writing, recipes and photography the second you flip open the very first page.

Desserts in Jars Cookbook

Giveaway Details for Desserts in Jars by Shaina Olmanson

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite single serving dessert is.

For additional entries:

  • Share, tweet or pin this post on your favorite social media outlets…Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest… leave a separate comment on this post (up to 3) for each share.

All entries must be received by midnight, CST on Saturday, July 14th. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and notified via valid email address.

Tres Leches Cakes in a Jar
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Tres Leches Cakes in a Jar

Adapted to use what I had on had --> from Desserts in Jars. by Shaina Olmanson. A delicious sponge cake soaked in three milks makes this dessert in a jar a decadent treat. For the original recipe, purchase Shaina's cookbook HERE.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cup cake flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 14 ounce can Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° F. Line 12 muffin tins with paper liners.
  • Cream softened butter, sugar and vanilla on high speed for 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until well incorporated.
  • Slowly add the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until just combined.
  • Scoop the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them half full.
  • Bake for 18-22 minutes until tops are lightly browned. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a cooling rack.
  • Unwrap the cupcakes from their liners. Poke each cake all over with a fork.
  • In the meantime, combine the sweetened condensed milk, milk and heavy whipping cream.
  • Using 6 8 ounce jars, place 1 cupcake in the bottom of each. Slowly spoon 3-4 tablespoons of the milk mixture slowly over each cake. Top each cake with an additional cupcake. Slowly spoon the remaining milk mixture over each cake. Cover the jars and store them in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Serve topped with fresh berries or the whipped cream Shaina suggests in her cookbook.

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joy says

    Cupcakes are perfect. Deep chocolate cupcake with raspberry and vAnilla would be fantastic in a jar

  3. Amanda says

    My favorite single serve dessert is chocolate lava cake, but it has to be hot!

  4. Kara says

    Creme brûlée – no one else in my family likes it so it is a special treat just for me!

  8. MaryBeth says

    My fave would be panna cotta – not sure I spelled it right but it’s a delicious cooked cream dessert. I love it lots!

  12. Suzette says

    My favorite single-serving dessert will probably be this after I try it because I love Tres Leche cake. Right now, a chocolate truffle.

  21. Julie says

    For me as a kid, it was those types of desserts at the local cafeteria! Do I have to choose just one as my favorite? 🙂 Creme Brulee!

    Thanks for the chance!

  24. Jackie in NC says

    Cupcakes, no question about it. And they would be great in jars, I love this idea of desserts in jars and the cookbook looks wonderful.

  29. Juliana from NC says

    A single lemon madeleine sprinkled with powdered sugar makes me happy.

    I pinned the giveaway on my Pinterest board titled My Sweet Tooth.

  34. Sara MacSorley says

    These cakes look great! My favorite single serving dessert is a cannoli, I can never say no.

  39. Amy McGrath says

    Hmmmm I love so many single serving desserts. My fave is probably a mini pear tart.

  42. Yazmin says

    My fave single serve dessert used to be banana cream pie but some how I’m now allergic to bananas so now I like coconut cream pie. In a Jar.

  45. Cyndi Kudelka says

    I love making bite sized, chocolate covered bananas. Perfect simple summertime treat.

  46. Maria Lafreniere says

    This recipe sounds fantastic! Great for an on the go dessert or snack with the kids or picnic in the park

  47. Sarah says

    I am with you on the parfaits I think they are yummy! I remember being so excited when one Of the adults would buy me one.

  49. Lynn Daws says

    My favorite single serving dessert is creme brulee! Love all these recipes in jars!

  61. amy marantino says

    my favorite single serving treat is a klondike bar (what would you do?)

  65. Marsha says

    Oh how to choose!!! 🙂 My favorite would simply have to be a gooey chocolate cake (with vanilla ice cream of course)

  66. Marsha says

    My favorite would have to be a gooey chocolate cake with room for vanilla ice cream of course! 🙂

  67. dani h says

    my favorite single-serving dessert is pie in a jar! {or on a stick} any kind!!! thanks for a chance at the giveaway.

  70. Ann says

    My ultimate favorite dessert with a good cup of coffee is a homemade piece of apple pie with raisins and walnuts!

  73. Leslie says

    So many desserts so little time. If I have to choose one it would be lemon mousse, no wait chocolate mousse, no maybe something with sour cherries. Oh this is too hard …. I need a cookie!

  80. Lisa says

    Banana pudding in jars! My fav dessert in the whole world. Lots and lots of vanilla wafers!

  88. susan G says

    My favorite single serve would be pie – any kind, but I especially love
    cherry!
    Susan

  90. Kim Venglar says

    I pinned this because I love anything in a jar. It’s individual servings at their best!

  92. Laurie says

    In the summertime, I especially love a single serving of strawberry shortcake!

  96. T Strickland says

    My fave and only dessert I’ve ever made in a jar is cheese cake. But I’m so excited to experiment with more! Thanks for the inspirations! 🙂

  105. Renee Richardson says

    I love cupcakes. Thanks for the awesome giveaway 🙂

    Renee
    fattybumpkins at yahoo dot com

    • Samantha Brent says

      Thanks for sharing the step by step process of making these desserts in jar.

  112. Adrienne says

    These look great! My favorite single serving dessert is simple, frosting shots!

  134. Trish says

    Single serving dessert. I’ll go nice and easy with a bowl of ice cream. With brownie on top. And maybe some hot fudge. LOVE the idea of desserts in jars! Crossing my fingers (and toes) for this one.

  138. Stacy Wood says

    My absolute FAVORITE Single Serving Dessert would have to be Chocolate Cake in a Mug w/whip cream topping…. MMMMMMMMMMMMMM

  139. Debbie says

    This book is on my wish list. Thanks for the opportunity to win one!

    My favorite single serving dessert is ice cream. Straight out of the carton. Give me a spoon and I’m happy.

  147. Bethany says

    I make this awesome chocolate mousse pie – I never considered making it in individual portions, but I need to try that immediately!!

  154. Deborah says

    I haven’t bought a cookbook for myself in a long time, but this is one that I’ve been dying to have!! I have memories of going to a cafeteria-type restaurant when I was a kid (on really special occasions!) and getting to choose my very own dessert. It was such a special treat – having that dessert all to myself!!

  173. Alison C says

    OMG I would absolutemy love this cookbook. I am fascinated by desserts in a jar! Made it in to this give away by the skin of my teeth!
    Thanks for the chance to win!!!!

  175. Jesy Pijuan says

    Fav single serve is Flan..eventhough its hard for it to be just a single serve 😉 always want more…how great to be able to have it all to myself, served in my own little jar! Yum :p must try!!

  177. Lisa K says

    The book looks great and is on my want list, but I’m wondering if anyone tried this “adapted” recipe? I made them tonight, followed directions to a “t” and these are not like a sponge cake, they are very heavy and dense, I hope after they sit in the fridge they are better, made them for a party. Also, this did not make a dozen cakes. I did two batches, only to get 10 jars :/

    • Kristen says

      HI Lisa –
      I’m so sorry this didn’t turn out for you. I actually didn’t adapt the cake recipe at all from the book, but did adapt what went over them in the jars (the recipe calls for 1 cup sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup evaporated milk and 1/2 cup half and half… I used milk and heavy cream instead of the evaporated milk and half and half).
      I did find that Shaina’s recipe for the cakes was a little bit dense. I’ve never had Tres Leches Cake, but I assumed that’s how it was supposed to be. However, with that being said, I did get 12 cakes out of it (Shaina’s recipes says you should get 14 individual cakes).
      I hope they are better for you this morning after soaking in the goodness!
      Thanks,
      Kristen

  178. Natalie says

    I was just wondering how long this will last for. I think for traditional tres leches cake you leave it for a while, but not sure about these. Am thinking of making a heap of them for a party 🙂

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