Dessert Guides
What Is Milk Cake? London's Favourite Soaked Sponge, Explained
· 3 min read
There's a reason the milk cake has become a fixture on London's dessert scene. It's soft, cool, creamy and rich without being heavy. Every spoonful is soaked through, so no bite is ever dry.
If you've seen it on menus and wondered what exactly you're ordering, this guide is for you.
What is milk cake?
Milk cake is a light, airy sponge soaked in a mixture of milks, then topped with fresh whipped cream and a flavour, anything from pistachio to Lotus Biscoff. The sponge soaks up the milk without falling apart, so you get a cake that's somewhere between a sponge and a set custard: soft, moist and spoonable.
It's served chilled, usually in a dish or cup, and eaten with a spoon.
Where does milk cake come from?
Milk cake's best-known ancestor is the tres leches cake ("three milks" in Spanish), a much-loved celebration cake across Latin America that's soaked in a blend of three milks. Versions of the soaked-sponge idea spread widely: Turkey and the Balkans have trileçe, finished with a caramel top. Today's dessert-bar milk cake takes that classic base and loads it with modern flavours and toppings.
What does milk cake taste like?
- Texture: pillowy, wet (in the best way) and creamy, with no dry crumbs.
- Flavour: milky and gently sweet, with the topping doing the heavy lifting.
- Temperature: cool from the fridge, which makes it surprisingly refreshing.
If you like tiramisu, trifle or a good custard, you'll love milk cake.
Milk cake flavours to try at Miktreatz
All our milk cakes start with the same milk-soaked sponge and fresh cream, then each gets its own personality.
Pistachio Milk Cake (£7.95)
Moist and creamy, with the subtle flavour of pistachio. Our pick for first-timers who like their desserts grown-up.
Lotus Biscoff Milk Cake (£7.95)
Infused with the distinctive caramelised flavour of Lotus Biscoff. Seriously moreish.
Kunafa Milk Cake (£8.49)
Milk cake meets kunafa: creamy milk cake infused with kunafa flavour. Two of London's biggest dessert trends in one.
Red Velvet Milk Cake (£7.95)
Moist and velvety, with a subtle cocoa flavour.
Oreo Milk Cake (£7.95)
Moist cake infused with Oreo flavour. Cookies-and-cream, but softer.
Kinder Bueno Milk Cake (£7.95)
Infused with Kinder Bueno's signature hazelnut flavour.
MilkyBar Milk Cake (£7.95)
One of our newest creations, for white chocolate lovers.
Can't decide?
- Love nutty → Pistachio
- Love caramel → Lotus Biscoff
- Want crunch → Kunafa
- Chocolate fan → Kinder Bueno or Oreo
See every flavour on our milk cakes page.
Milk cake vs cheesecake vs tiramisu
| Milk cake | Cheesecake | Tiramisu | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | Milk-soaked sponge | Biscuit (or none) | Coffee-soaked sponge fingers |
| Topping | Fresh cream + flavour | Cream cheese filling | Mascarpone cream + cocoa |
| Texture | Soft, wet, light | Dense, creamy | Soft, layered |
| Served | Chilled | Chilled | Chilled |
(We do all three, by the way. Our San Sebastián cheesecakes are a must.)
Where to get milk cake in London
- Miktreatz Tottenham: 88 Bruce Grove, N17 6UZ
- Miktreatz Ealing: 46 Broadway, W13 0SU
Open daily from 12pm, until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Prefer to stay in? Milk cakes travel well and are available on Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat.
Planning a celebration? Milk cakes make a perfect addition to a dessert table. Enquire about parties and events.
FAQs
Is milk cake the same as tres leches? They're close relatives. Tres leches is the Latin American original; dessert-bar milk cake keeps the soaked-sponge idea and adds modern flavours.
Does milk cake contain eggs and dairy? Yes. It's a sponge cake soaked in milk and topped with cream. Please ask our team about allergens and dietary options when you order.
How long does milk cake keep? It's best eaten the day you buy it. Keep it refrigerated.
