Skip to main content

Three Sheets to the Wind Cake

Three sheets cake with coconut
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Pearl Jones

This tropical coconut–infusedtres leches cakeriffs on the classic recipe, with rum featured at every step—in the cake, in the three-milk soak, and in the whipped cream on top. One bite, and you’ll understand why this party-ready, coconut-lime dessert earned the moniker “three sheets to the wind.”

Ingredients

16 servings

Cake

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pan
1 Tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. kosher salt
4 large eggs
1⅓ cups granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. dark rum
¾ cup unsweetened coconut milk, divided

3-Milk Rum Soak

1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
¾ cup heavy cream
¼ cup dark rum
1 tsp. finely grated lime zest
¼ tsp. kosher salt

Rummy Whipped Cream and Assembly

1¼ cups heavy cream
¼ cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. dark rum
1 tsp. finely grated lime zest
Pinch of kosher salt
1 cup toasted coconut chips
  1. Cake

    Step 1

    Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. Coat a 13x9" pan with nonstick spray. Dust with flour, tapping out any excess.

    Step 2

    Whisk baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and 2 cups flour in a medium bowl until combined.

    Step 3

    Beat eggs, granulated sugar, and rum in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment at medium-high speed until pale yellow, doubled in volume, and mixture falls off whisk in a thick ribbon, about 5 minutes.

    Step 4

    Fold in half of dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until most of the flour is incorporated. Fold in half of coconut milk until just absorbed and no more streaks of flour remain. Repeat with remaining dry ingredients and coconut milk.

    Step 5

    Pour batter into prepared pan. Tap gently against counter to spread and pop any bubbles. Bake cake until top is set and golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 35–40 minutes.

  2. 3-Milk Rum Soak

    Step 6

    Whisk condensed milk, coconut milk, cream, rum, lime zest, and salt in a medium bowl until combined.

    Step 7

    Using a skewer, poke holes every ½" into hot cake as soon as it comes out of the oven, wiggling the skewer to gently widen the holes and reach bottom of cake. Slowly pour milk mixture over cake a spoonful at a time, letting it fully absorb before adding the next. (Be patient and don’t rush. At times it will look like too much milk, but it will all soak in.) Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cake cool completely, about 2 hours.

  3. Rummy Whipped Cream and Assembly

    Step 8

    击败奶油碗站混合器安装whisk attachment until soft peaks form, 3–4 minutes. Add powdered sugar, rum, lime zest, and salt and continue to beat until stiff peaks form, 1–2 minutes.

    Step 9

    Spread rummy whipped cream evenly over cooled cake. Top with coconut chips.

    Step 10

    Do Ahead:Cake can be baked and soaked 1 day ahead. Let cool, then cover and chill. Top with rummy whipped cream and coconut chips just before serving.

Sign InorSubscribe
to leave a Rating or Review

How would you rate Three Sheets to the Wind Cake?

Leave a Review

Read More
Coconut-Cardamom Doughnuts
Inspired by coconut-based mithai, these irresistible baked cake doughnuts have a plush, lightly spiced crumb and a sweet glaze, all thanks to coconut milk.
Tres Leches Cake
This layered tres leches cake is sandwiched with strawberries, mangoes, and whipped cream for a knockout version of the popular dessert everyone will love.
Honey Oat Cookies
Rolled oats and flaked coconut come together to make a soft, chewy cookie with lots of flavor.
Jam Muffins
A baked take on the doughnut-shop classic, these jelly-filled muffins make everyone giddy.
Easy Hot Cross Muffins
These fruit-laden muffins smell exactly like hot cross buns as they bake and taste just as satisfying, but with a fraction of the effort.
Appalachian Apple Stack Cake
With six layers of spice cake and an orchard’s worth of apple butter, this Appalachian apple stack cake IS the party.
Maple Butternut Sheet-Pan Cake
Why does zucchini get all the glory in baking? Bring on the butternut squash.
Ultimate Sugar Cookies
These simple sugar cookies are crisp yet tender, keep their shape when baked, and yes, taste great too.