Discover A moist and delicious dessert, this strawberry tres leches recipe is easy to make and perfect for any occasion. Learn how to create this tasty treat!
The Sweetness of Strawberry Tres Leches
Tres leches cake, a classic treat, gets a fruity twist with fresh strawberries. This recipe combines the moistness of a traditional tres leches with the bright taste of strawberries. In addition, this version is perfect for spring or summer gatherings. Therefore, this easy recipe will be a hit.
Why Choose This Recipe?
This strawberry tres leches recipe is special because it’s simple. Moreover, it uses common ingredients. Consequently, you do not need fancy baking skills. The results, however, are impressive. Additionally, the strawberry flavor adds a delightful twist.
Preparing for Strawberry Tres Leches
Before beginning, gather all your items. This will make the process smoother. Accordingly, you’ll need ingredients for the cake. Also, you need milk and strawberries.
Essential Cake Items
These items form the base of your tres leches. They are essential for a successful cake.
- Flour: All-purpose flour works very well. It provides the cake’s structure.
- Sugar: White sugar adds the sweetness you expect.
- Eggs: Eggs bind the ingredients. They also add richness.
- Baking Powder: This helps the cake rise properly.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a wonderful flavor to the cake.
- Milk: Milk provides moisture and softness.
Tres Leches Mixture Items
This mixture gives the cake its signature moisture. Each milk adds a unique texture.
- Evaporated Milk: Provides a rich base for the milk mixture.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk: Adds sweetness and thickness.
- Whole Milk: This contributes extra moisture.
Strawberry Items
These add the fresh fruit element. They make this recipe unique.
- Fresh Strawberries: Ripe strawberries are ideal for the best flavor.
- Sugar: This sweetens the strawberries. It also helps them release juices.
Strawberry Tres Leches Recipe Items
| Item | Quantity |
| All-purpose Flour | 1 1/2 cups |
| Sugar | 1 cup |
| Eggs | 5 |
| Baking Powder | 1 1/2 tsp |
| Vanilla Extract | 1 tsp |
| Milk | 1/2 cup |
| Evaporated Milk | 1 can (12 oz) |
| Sweetened Condensed Milk | 1 can (14 oz) |
| Whole Milk | 1 cup |
| Fresh Strawberries | 1 pint |
| Sugar (for Strawberries) | 2 tbsp |
Strawberry Tres Leches Recipe Steps
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, vigorously blend the flour with the leavening agent. Set aside.
- In another bowl, beat the eggs with sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry items to the wet items, alternating with the milk, mixing until just combined.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared baking dish. Allow it to bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges spotless.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Poke holes all over the top using a fork or toothpick.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and whole milk.
- Pour the milk mixture evenly over the cooled cake. Allow the cake to soak for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- While the cake is soaking, slice the strawberries. Gently mix them with 2 tbsp of sugar. Let it sit for 30 min.
- After soaking, top the cake with the sugared strawberries. Serve and enjoy your strawberry tres leches.
Prep Time and Kcal
| Information | |
| Prep Time | 30 minutes |
| Bake Time | 25-30 minutes |
| Soak Time | 2 hours or more |
| Total Time | 2 hours 55 minutes |
| Calories (approx.) | 350-400 per serving |
Making the Cake Base
First, the cake base is the foundation. Consequently, it must be prepared correctly. It should be light and airy, therefore able to absorb the milk mixture.
Mixing Dry Items
In a large bowl, mix flour with baking powder. Whisk them together until well combined. This ensures even rising. Therefore, this step is essential for cake texture.
Combining Wet Items
Next, in a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Add sugar and mix until light. After this, add the vanilla extract. Accordingly, the mix should be fluffy.
Adding Wet and Dry Items Together
Gradually, add the dry ingredients to the wet ones. Alternating with milk. Mix gently until just combined. Because over mixing can make the cake tough, avoid over mixing. Thus, keep the mix light.
Baking the Cake
Pour the mix into a prepared pan. Bake until golden. Therefore, let it cool slightly before the next step.
Creating the Tres Leches Mixture
The tres leches mixture is very important. This is what gives this cake its unique texture. Indeed, it is the key to a truly special dessert.
Combining the Three Milks
In a bowl, combine evaporated milk with sweetened condensed milk. Also, add the whole milk. Mix together until smooth. Accordingly, it should be well combined.
Soaking the Cake
Once the cake is slightly cooled, poke holes all over the top.Next, gently drizzle the milk mixture over the cake. Allow the cake to soak for hours in the fridge. Therefore, it soaks up all the milk.
Preparing the Strawberry Topping
The strawberry topping adds a fresh fruit taste. It goes very well with the rich cake. Moreover, it provides a nice contrast.
Slicing the Strawberries
First, wash and slice the fresh strawberries. Then, place them in a bowl. Accordingly, they must be ready to go.
Adding Sugar
Add the sugar to the sliced strawberries. Let them sit for a short period of time. Therefore, they can release their natural juices. Consequently, this adds to the flavor.
Adding to the Soaked Cake
After the cake is fully soaked, spread the sugared strawberries evenly on top. Finally, your strawberry tres leches is ready to serve.
Serving Suggestions
This strawberry tres leches cake is best served cold. However, it can be prepared in advance. It is a great dessert for potlucks, gatherings, or just an at-home treat. Undoubtedly, this cake will be a crowd-pleaser.
Storage Tips
Store any leftover cake in the fridge. This will keep it fresh and moist. Furthermore, cover the cake well.
Pairing with Drinks
Strawberry tres leches pairs well with a variety of drinks. For example, coffee or a light tea would be great choices. It also goes well with milk or a fruity drink. Thus, there are many options.
Strawberry Tres Leches
How long should tres leches soak?
A tres leches cake typically needs to soak for about 1 to 2 hours after the milk mixture is poured over it. This allows the cake to absorb the liquid and become rich and moist. However, for even better results, it can be soaked overnight in the refrigerator, which gives the cake more time to fully absorb the chocolate mixture and enhances its flavor.
Make sure the cake is covered while soaking to prevent it from drying out.
Why don’t tres leches get soggy?
Tres leches cake doesn’t get soggy because of its unique texture and the way the cake is made. The cake is typically made with a sponge cake or a light, airy batter that has a porous structure, allowing it to absorb the milk mixture without becoming too dense or mushy.
Additionally, the combination of the three types of milk—evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream—creates a rich but not overly watery liquid that soaks into the cake evenly. The milk mixture is usually poured slowly, allowing it to be absorbed gradually without overwhelming the cake’s structure.
Finally, letting the cake soak for the right amount of time (usually 1-2 hours, or overnight) ensures the milk mixture is absorbed properly, without turning the cake too soggy. The cake retains a balance of moisture and texture, making it rich and moist, but not falling apart.
Can I put fresh strawberries in between cake layers?
Yes, you can definitely put fresh strawberries in between the layers of a tres leches cake! Adding fresh fruit, like strawberries, can enhance the flavor and give the cake a fresh, fruity element. Here’s how you can do it:
- Slice the Strawberries: Slice the strawberries thinly so they layer evenly and won’t add too much moisture to the cake.
- Layering: After soaking the cake with the tres leches milk mixture, you can place a layer of sliced strawberries on top of the soaked cake, then add another layer of soaked cake, and repeat.
- Frosting: After assembling the layers, you can frost the top with whipped cream and add more fresh strawberries on top for decoration, if you like.
Just be sure not to use too much fruit or let it sit for too long before serving, as fresh fruit can release moisture and potentially make the cake soggy. Enjoy the added flavor and texture that fresh strawberries bring to your tres leches cake!
Why is my tres leches cake not soaking?
This might be because there are too few holes in the cake. It could also be that the milk was not poured slowly. Specifically, you need to make sure the cake has a way to absorb the liquids.
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