Easy Strawberry Tres Leches Cake - Moist and light strawberry cake soaked in a sweet milk mixture and topped with fluffy whipped cream and fresh strawberries.
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This Easy Strawberry Tres Leches Cake is a delightful twist on traditional tres leches, with the addition of strawberry-flavored cake and fresh sliced strawberries for garnish!
What is Tres Leches Cake?
Tres leches cake is a moist sponge cake soaked in a mixture of three milks - evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream - originating from Latin America and celebrated for its rich and indulgent flavor profile.
This dessert is the perfect way to elevate your next family get-together or gathering! It’s amazing for strawberry lovers and sweet treat lovers alike and it’s the perfect combination of all things light, sweet, and delicious.
Related Recipe Ideas
If you're looking for more desserts that draw inspiration from this tres leches cake, try this Coconut Poke Cake, Kentucky Butter Cake or Cake Mix Rum Cake.
These flavor-infused delights are guaranteed to elevate both the moisture and taste, promising a decadent indulgence with every bite.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Super easy! - Using boxed strawberry cake mix makes this recipe incredibly quick and simple to prepare!
- Variation of a classic recipe - Adding a strawberry twist brings a new, fun, and modern element to this beloved recipe.
- In season! - With strawberries soon to be in their prime, this recipe comes at the perfect time! It’s a delicious and creative way to enjoy fresh strawberries!
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Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make this easy tres leches cake with strawberries!
- Strawberry Cake Mix - Using strawberry cake mix adds the perfect amount of strawberry flavor without making the cake too overwhelmingly sweet.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk - Adds the perfect amount of sweetness without having to use additional sugar and makes the dessert super luscious and creamy.
- Evaporated Milk - Absorbs perfectly into the sponge cake and makes the cake keep its creamy and moist texture.
- Half and Half - Balances out the sweetness of the other ingredients and adds to the smooth and silky texture of the dessert.
- Fresh Strawberries - What would this recipe be without fresh, juicy strawberries? They add a delightful freshness to the cake that balances out the sweetness of the other ingredients.
Substitutions & Variations
- For even more strawberry flavor, you can add extra fresh strawberries into the cake batter.
- Atop the cake, you can also add strawberry jam or dulce de leche.
- To add some more color to the dish, you can add rainbow sprinkles alongside the strawberries atop your whipped cream!
- To make this dish extra fruity, you can add other berries if you wish, such as raspberries or peaches!
How to Make Easy Strawberry Tres Leches Cake
Once you have your ingredients, follow the steps below to make this deliciously moist tres leches cake with strawberries!
- Prepare strawberry cake according to package directions in a greased 9x13-inch pan.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and half and half.
- Poke holes in warm cake and pour mixture over top.
Cool cake completely, covering it and refrigerating it overnight.
- Just before serving, beat heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla together until peaks form.
Spread mixture over top of cake and garnish with fresh strawberries before serving.
Helpful Tips
- After the cake is taken out of the oven, immediately poke holes in the cake using a chopstick, straw, or skewer.
- Be sure to choose fresh, ripe strawberries as they will give the best flavor and presentation!
- As you're pouring the tres leches mixture over the cake, take your time and make sure the mixture you pour soaks fully into the cake before adding more.
Recipe FAQs
If leaving the cake to chill in the refrigerator overnight is not an option, make sure the cake is able to chill for at least 3 hours before topping and serving. The longer it is left to sit in the fridge, the more the flavors will be able to meld together and the better it will taste.
Yes! You can use frozen strawberries for this recipe, but be sure to thaw them first. They may not have the same freshness or flavor as fresh strawberries but they will still leave you with a delicious dessert.
To ensure that your cake doesn’t become too soggy, be sure to poke the holes evenly throughout the cake and let the tres leches fully absorb before adding more to the cake. Also, letting the cake sit in the refrigerator overnight will help the cake to set and let all of the flavors fully absorb.
Sure! In addition to the garnish, you could layer sliced strawberries between the cake and the whipped topping.
Yes, you can make the cake ahead of time, however, it's best to add the fresh strawberry garnish right before serving.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Storage Instructions
Store leftover cake in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing Instructions
If you'd like to freeze the cake, it will freeze best without the whipped topping and strawberries.
To prepare the cake for the freezer, wrap it with both plastic wrap and aluminum foil. It can generally be stored for 1-2 months.
When ready to enjoy, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and add the whipped topping and fresh strawberries before serving.
Top Tip
For a more freezer-friendly version of this easy strawberry tres leches cake recipe, try subbing the homemade whipped topping with store-bought.
More Sweet Strawberry Recipes You'll Love
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Easy Strawberry Tres Leches Cake
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounce box strawberry cake mix
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 12 ounce can evaporated milk
- 1 cup Half and Half
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Garnish with fresh strawberries
Instructions
- Prepare strawberry cake according to package directions in a greased 9x13-inch pan.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and half and half.
- Poke holes in warm cake and pour mixture over top. Cool cake completely, covering it and refrigerating it overnight.
- Just before serving, beat heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla together until peaks form.
- Spread mixture over top of cake and garnish with fresh strawberries.
Notes
- After the cake is taken out of the oven, immediately poke holes in the cake using a chopstick, straw, or skewer.
- Be sure to choose fresh, ripe strawberries as they will give the best flavor and presentation!
- As you're pouring the tres leches mixture over the cake, take your time and make sure the mixture you pour soaks fully into the cake before adding more.
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