I have to make a wedding cake and the bride has requested a tres leches cake. I have never made one and i am not sure how well it will hold up when stacking it. Any advice or tips?

I didn't think you could stack or cover Tres Leches with fondant until I read post on here saying that you can. Someone posted photos of her tres leches cake that she covered with fondant and I had been told that you couldn't. Same for the stacking.

Maybe someone that has actually done either one will see your thread.

stacking depends on how good your support structure is. the upper tiers are supported by the dowels and plates, not the cake below. For a cake like that i would HIGHLY suggest the SPS system (there is a sticky at the top of one of the forums about SPS - or Search SPS with the author Leah)

As for the icing i think you'll have to stay with a whipped type icing, it's been awhile since i've done a true Tres Leche cake, but i don't think it could hold fondant. Hopefully someone will correct me if i'm wrong.

The client wants a whipped cream icing. Only the bottom two tiers (a 14in. square and a 10 in. square) have to be stacked. The top 6 in. square cake will be raised with pillars.

Mamawrobin:
Which Tres Leches recipe did you use? There are several ones that are very very moist and that would be a hazard for stacking.Could you be so nice and post yours?
Ginsum could benefit for knowing as well.
Thanks

I've made several Tres leches which were 8"/10" rounds.. never stacked. I would be interested in seeing your recipe also. The ones I have made are super moist. I would never attempt the ones I have made!

Here's a great Tres Leches recipe that's not too mushy. It won't let me attach it as a document for some reason:

Tres Leches Cake

2 ½ cups flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
7 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
¾ cup whole milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 container (1/2 pint) whipping cream
¼ cup brandy (optional, but it adds great flavor when used)

Meringue

6 egg whites
¼ tsp. cream of tartar
1/8 tsp. salt
1 ½ cups sugar
¾ cup water
Zest of 1 lemon

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Combine the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl; set aside.

2. Beat the 7 egg whites and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Beat in the yolks one at a time. Beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture and 1/3 of the whole milk; repeat twice, beating until smooth. Add vanilla.

3. Pour the mixture into a buttered and floured 10 round cake pan. Lower the oven to 350 degrees; bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool in the pan 15 minutes; unmold. Cut the cake into 3 horizontal layers; place on wire racks set into shallow baking pans.

4. Combine the evaporated milk, condensed milk, cream and brandy in a medium bowl. Prick the top of each cake layer with a toothpick. Ladle 1/3 of the milk mixture over each cake layer; set aside. (It will seem like a lot of liquid, but it really does sink in if you ladle it on slowly, kind of pressing down as you go.)

5. For the meringue, beat the 6 egg whites, cream of tartar and salt with an electric mixer on medium-high speed in a large bowl to form stiff peaks; set aside. Combine the sugar, water and lemon zest in a medium saucepan. Heat to a boil over medium heat; cook until temperature reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer, or until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage. Remove from heat. Carefully add the syrup in a thin stream to the egg whites, beating on medium speed. Beat until firm, 5-6 minutes. Restack the cake layers; cover the sides and top of the cake with meringue. Refrigerate until serving time.

GJMB ,that was a great share of recipe. That serves a big help . Keep it up . Very helpful .. Thanks !!

There's a thread where macsmom explains what modifications she would make to the WASC cake recipe to make it a Tres Leche version

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=607418&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=15

Thanks so much to both of you Mamawrobin and Lizabu for your replies.
Mamawrobin, I'll appreciate it if you can get and share the modified recipe.
Lizabu, I'll be checking macsmom's version as well.
Thanks.

Oops, forgot to thank JGMB for her recipe.

Momwrobin,
I'll be waiting if you can get it.Thanks in advance.

Mamawrobin, can you please post it here too so everyone, else can have it, I always wanted to try it, and I would appreciate it too, Thank You.

Okay- thanks!

Hi. The recipe I use is from Nestle, very similar to the one posted by JGBM. It is a very delicate sponge cake, but when you add the milks mixture it gets very heavy, I would really not use it for stacking, or use pillars. I could change the recipe, but this one is more like the traditional and tastes so good, not too sweet, and the spongy consistency makes it ideal for the syrup.