☕🍮 Sourdough Caramel Macchiato Tres Leches Cake

Coffee lovers, this one's for you. This Sourdough Caramel Macchiato Tres Leches Cake combines fluffy sourdough vanilla cake, espresso-infused tres leches, whipped cream, and rich caramel drizzle into one ridiculously decadent dessert. The sourdough discard adds depth of flavor while helping create a tender, moist crumb that soaks up every drop of that coffee-milk goodness.

Ingredients

Cake

✅ 1 cup (240g) sourdough discard

✅ 1½ cups all-purpose flour

✅ 1 cup sugar

✅ 2 tsp baking powder

✅ ½ tsp salt

✅ 3 eggs

✅ ½ cup milk

✅ ⅓ cup melted butter

✅ 2 tsp vanilla extract

Coffee Tres Leches Soak

✅ 1 can (300ml) sweetened condensed milk

✅ 1 can (354ml) evaporated milk

✅ 1 cup whole milk

✅ 2 tbsp espresso powder (or ¼ cup strong brewed espresso)

✅ 1 tsp vanilla extract

Whipped Topping

✅ 2 cups heavy whipping cream

✅ 3 tbsp powdered sugar

✅ 1 tsp vanilla extract

Caramel Finish

✅ 1 cup caramel sauce

✅ Pinch of flaky sea salt (optional)

Quick Method

1️⃣ Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2️⃣ In a large bowl, whisk together sourdough discard, eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla, and sugar.

3️⃣ Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until smooth.

4️⃣ Pour into a greased 9x13-inch baking pan.

5️⃣ Bake for 28–32 minutes until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

6️⃣ Allow the cake to cool completely.

7️⃣ Whisk together all tres leches ingredients.

8️⃣ Poke holes all over the cake with a fork.

9️⃣ Slowly pour the coffee tres leches mixture over the cake.

🔟 Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

1️⃣1️⃣ Beat whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until fluffy.

1️⃣2️⃣ Spread over the chilled cake.

1️⃣3️⃣ Drizzle generously with caramel sauce.

1️⃣4️⃣ Slice, serve, and prepare for compliments.

Chill Time

❄️ Minimum: 4 hours

❄️ Best Results: Overnight

The longer it sits, the better it gets.

Baker's Warning

Someone will say:

"I'll just have a tiny piece."

Then immediately cut a second slice because apparently coffee cake calories don't count. ☕😆

Want Better Sourdough Baking?

🐿️ Start with Squirrelly Girl Sourdough Starter — our beginner-friendly dehydrated starter from a real working micro bakery.

🌎 https://squirrellygirlstarter.com/products/squirrelly-girl-sourdough-starter

One starter. Endless possibilities.