Tres Leches Pumpkin Cake with Maple Whipped Cream Recipe
Introduction
This Tres Leches Pumpkin Cake is a delightful twist on the classic tres leches dessert, combining moist pumpkin cake with a creamy three-milk soak. It’s perfect for celebrations or cozy fall evenings, offering warm spices and a luscious whipped maple cream topping.

Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 15 oz (1 can) pure pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch of cloves
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 12 oz evaporated milk (1 can)
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Ground cinnamon (for dusting the top, optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, beat together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer on medium-low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds.
- Step 3: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and all the spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
- Step 4: Gradually add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture, beating on medium speed until fully combined.
- Step 5: Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Step 6: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs.
- Step 7: Let the cake cool on a rack for 15 minutes.
- Step 8: While the cake cools, whisk together 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon in a bowl.
- Step 9: Using the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the warm cake.
- Step 10: Pour the milk mixture evenly over the cake. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight to absorb the milks.
- Step 11: Just before serving, make the maple whipped cream frosting. In a large cold bowl, whip the 1 1/2 cups cold heavy whipping cream with confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup, maple extract, and cinnamon until stiff peaks form, about 5-7 minutes.
- Step 12: Spread the whipped cream evenly over the soaked cake and dust with ground cinnamon if desired.
- Step 13: Slice and serve chilled.
Tips & Variations
- For an extra cozy flavor, try adding a pinch of ground cloves to the whipped cream topping as well.
- If you prefer a lighter topping, simply use whipped cream without the maple syrup and extract.
- You can substitute pumpkin puree with sweet potato puree for a slightly different but delicious twist.
- Make sure to use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, for the best texture and flavor.
Storage
Store the cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The cake is best served chilled and can be gently reheated at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving if desired. The whipped cream topping will keep best fresh and may lose some texture if stored more than a day.
How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I make this cake ahead of time?
Yes! This cake actually benefits from chilling overnight as it allows the milk mixture to soak fully into the cake, making it moist and flavorful.
Can I use canned pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree?
It is best to use pure pumpkin puree rather than pumpkin pie filling, as the filling contains added spices and sugars that can alter the taste and texture of the cake.
Print
Tres Leches Pumpkin Cake with Maple Whipped Cream Recipe
- Total Time: 9 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
This Tres Leches Pumpkin Cake is a moist, spiced dessert that combines the rich flavors of pumpkin and fall spices with a luscious three-milk soak and a fluffy maple cinnamon whipped cream topping. Perfectly tender and creamy, this 12-serving cake is ideal for holiday celebrations or anytime you crave a comforting and decadent treat.
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 15 oz (1 can) pure pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch of cloves
Tres Leches Filling
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 12 oz evaporated milk (1 can)
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk (1 can)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Maple Whipped Cream Topping
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream (cold)
- 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Ground cinnamon (for dusting the top, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the cake evenly.
- Grease the pan: Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray to prevent the cake from sticking.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, beat together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract using an electric mixer on medium-low speed for about 30 seconds until just combined.
- Whisk dry ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spices.
- Combine mixtures: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the pumpkin wet mixture. Beat on medium speed until the batter is smooth and fully combined without overmixing.
- Transfer batter to pan: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to smooth out the top evenly.
- Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, avoiding raw batter.
- Cool cake: Remove the cake from the oven and set it on a cooling rack to cool for 15 minutes.
- Prepare tres leches filling: While the cake cools, whisk together 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and ground cinnamon in a medium bowl until combined.
- Poke holes in cake: Use the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the warm cake to allow the milk mixture to soak deeply.
- Pour milk mixture and refrigerate: Evenly pour the tres leches mixture over the cake, covering it completely. Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight for best absorption and flavor development.
- Make maple whipped cream: Just before serving, in a large cold bowl, whip the cold heavy whipping cream with confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup, maple extract, and cinnamon until stiff peaks form, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Spread whipped cream topping: Evenly spread the maple cinnamon whipped cream over the soaked cake. Optionally, dust the top with ground cinnamon for extra flavor and decoration.
- Serve: Slice the cake into 12 servings and enjoy a luscious, moist pumpkin tres leches dessert.
Notes
- Use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, to avoid added spices and sweetness.
- Make sure to poke plenty of holes in the cake while it’s warm to allow the milk mixture to soak evenly.
- Refrigerating the cake overnight improves flavor and moistness.
- Maple extract in the whipped cream adds a delightful depth of flavor but can be omitted if unavailable.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute dairy ingredients with non-dairy alternatives, but texture and taste may vary.
- Use cold heavy cream to achieve better whipping results for the topping.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Tres Leches, Pumpkin Cake, Pumpkin Tres Leches, Fall Dessert, Pumpkin Recipes, Moist Cake, Maple Whipped Cream

