Tres Leches Cake with Berries

Are you looking for a dessert that will wow your guests?  Give Tres Leches Cake a go.  It's moist and refreshing.  The perfect summer dessert.  It's sweet, but not too sweet.  The perfect finish to your dinner!

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp kosher salt
3 extra-large eggs, at room temp
1 cup plus 5 Tbsp granulated sugar

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup whole milk

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 tsp pure almond extract

Seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean

8 cups sliced fresh strawberries, for serving

Whipped cream for topping

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Butter a 9" x 13" baking dish. 

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a small bowl and set aside.  Place the eggs, 1 cup of sugar and the vanilla extract in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on medium-high speed for 10 minutes -- yes, 10 minutes! until light yellow and fluffy.  Reduce the speed to low and slowly add half the flour mixture, then the milk and finally the remaining flour mixture.  Mix with a rubber spatula to be sure the batter is well mixed.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top and bake for 25 minutes, until the cake springs back when touched lightly in the middle and a cake tester comes out clean.  Set aside to cool in the pan for 30 minutes.

In a 4-cup measuring cup, whisk together the heavy cream, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, almond extract and vanilla seeds.  Using a bamboo skewer, poke holes all over the cooled cake and slowly pour the cream mixture over the cake, allowing it to be absorbed completely before continuing to pour on more of the mixture.  Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.  

To serve, toss the strawberries with the 5 Tbsp of sugar.  Dust the cake with confectioners' sugar, cut in squares and place on dessert plates.  Surround the cake with the strawberries and put a dollop of whipped cream on top and serve.