strawberry tres leches cake

this is the best strawberry tres leches cake recipe – featuring a pillowy vanilla sponge drenched in a trio of milks, one swirled with fresh, ripe strawberries. top this deliciously moist cake with a cloud of whipped cream and strawberry slices for the ultimate strawberry dessert.

this strawberry tres leches cake features a delicate, vanilla sponge soaked in a sweet, strawberry milk blend. finish with a thick layer of fluffy whipped cream and fresh strawberry pieces for a summery twist on this classic dessert.

why you will love this strawberry tres leches cake recipe

• the perfect summer dessert!!! – i know i’ve said that many things are the perfect summer dessert but this is truly perfect for summer since it’s typically served cold and the milk blend and the fresh strawberries make this strawberry tres leches cake ridiculously light and fresh.

• looks impressive but still achievable – this delicious strawberry tres leches cake looks impressive and fancy but it’s not as complicated as it seems to make! it might be a bit more complicated than a typical cake due to whipping the yolks and whites separately, but it’s still absolutely achievable, even for beginner bakers.

• perfect for making ahead – this strawberry tres leches cake is the perfect make ahead dessert for an event or a party. it actually requires you to leave it in the fridge overnight, and the longer you leave it, the better the flavour, so this recipe is great for those who like to plan ahead.

learn how to make this strawberry tres leches cake from scratch

to make this homemade strawberry tres leches cake, we’re going to start off by whipping together egg yolks and sugar until the mixture becomes a pale yellow colour. then, we’ll add vanilla extract, milk and a mixture of flour, baking powder and salt and gently mix it in. in another large bowl, we’ll whip together egg whites, some vinegar and some more sugar until they reach stiff peaks. gently mix the whipped egg whites into the egg yolk mixture until combined, then pour the mixture into a baking pan. bake the sponge cake, then remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

while the sponge cake cools, we’re going to make the three milks mixture for our strawberry and cream tres leches cake. first, make the strawberry milk mixture by blending together fresh strawberries, sugar and milk. mix the fresh strawberry milk with evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk.

once the cake is cool, poke some holes all over the cake, then slowly pour the strawberry milk mixture over the cake, a little bit at a time. cover the cake and place it in the fridge overnight, so that it’s able to absorb all of the strawberry milk mixture.

make the whipped cream fresh the next day by whipping heavy cream, vanilla extract and icing sugar or powdered sugar. whip the cream until it reaches medium peaks, then spread it out over your strawberry cream tres leches cake. finish decorating your strawberry leches cake with fresh strawberries, and we’re done!

strawberry tres leches cake ingredients

the ingredients for strawberry tres leches cake are listed below:

• eggs – use large, room temperature eggs. we’re going to be separating the yolks and whites and whipping them separately with sugar.

• sugar – this strawberry tres leches cake recipe uses granulated sugar in the cake batter as well as in the strawberry milk mixture.

• vanilla extract – to make our vanilla strawberry tres leches cake, i like to add a small amount of vanilla extract to the cake batter as well as to the whipped cream topping for a subtle vanilla flavour. this is optional.

• milk – we’re going to need milk to add to our cake mixture, as well as to make the strawberry milk for our three milks mixture.

• flour – in this recipe for strawberry tres leches cake, we’re going to need some plain flour or all purpose flour for the cake mixture.

• baking powder – a small amount of baking powder in the cake mixture will help increase the rise of the cake.

• salt – just a small amount of salt in the cake batter BALANCES OUT THE SWEETNESS of this tres leches cake.

• vinegar – i like to use a small amount of white vinegar when whipping the egg whites, as this helps stabilise them.

• strawberries – i make this strawberry tres leches cake with strawberry milk – you can buy strawberry milk but i decided to make it with fresh strawberries. i also like to decorate this tres leches cake with strawberries on top, so you might need some extra fresh strawberries for decoration.

• evaporated milk – one of the three milks that cake the cake is going to be soaked in to ensure that it’s moist and fluffy.

• sweetened condensed milk – i make this strawberry tres leches cake with condensed milk as part of the three milk mixture.

• HEAVY CREAM – we’re going to whip heavy cream or double cream and whip until it’s soft and fluffy before adding it to the top of our strawberry tres leches cake.

• icing sugar or powdered sugar – this will be whipped with the cream to add sweetness.

tools:

• large bowls – you’ll need three large bowls, for the egg whites, the yolks and for whipping the cream.

• hand mixer or stand mixer – you will need this to whip the egg yolks, the egg whites and the cream.

• silicone spoon or spatula – this will make it easier to fold the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture.

• blender – you’ll need this to make the fresh strawberry milk.

• jug – something like a jug will make it easy for you to pour the strawberry milk mixture over the tres leches cake in small amounts at a time.

• 8×8 inch baking pan – i like to use an 8×8 inch pan for this strawberry tres leches cake recipe for a fairly thick cake. if you want a thinner cake, you can also use a 9×13 inch pan.

step by step instructions

for full measurements, keep scrolling down to the recipe below.

step one: preheat oven and grease a baking pan with butter or cooking spray for your strawberry tres leches cake. i decided not to line the pan, but you can do this if you like.

step two: separate the eggs. add the egg yolks to a large bowl and add the egg whites to another large bowl.

step three: in the bowl with the egg yolks, add about half of the granulated sugar. use a hand mixer to whip the eggs and sugar together until the mixture becomes a pale yellow colour and increases in volume.

step four: add the vanilla extract and the milk and use a spoon or silicone spatula to mix it into the egg yolk mixture.

step five: sift a mixture of flour, baking powder and salt into the egg yolk mixture and gently fold it in until combined.

step six: add a small amount of white vinegar to the large bowl with the egg whites and use a mixer to beat the egg whites until they start to look bubbly and frothy.

step seven: add the granulated sugar to the egg whites in small amounts at at time, whipping in between. continue to whip the egg whites until the reach stiff peaks – they should hold their shape and not fall when you turn the bowl upside down.

step eight: add the whipped egg whites to the egg yolk mixture in parts, gently folding them into the mixture each time. do not over mix at this stage.

step nine: fold all of the whipped egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. the mixture should be quite thick and airy.

step ten: add the tres leches cake mixture into your prepared baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. the top should look golden, and a toothpick in the center of the cake should come out clean, or just with a few crumbs attached to it.

step eleven: set the cake aside to cool while you make the milk mixture. in a blender, add fresh strawberries, some granulated sugar and milk. blend the mixture until completely smooth.

step twelve: mix together the strawberry milk with evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk. you can use a whisk, spoon or just use the same blender and blend until smooth.

step thirteen: use a fork to poke holes all over the cooled cake, then pour the strawberry milk mixture over the cake in small amounts at a time. don’t worry if it starts to pool on top of the cake – the cake will absorb all of the milk after some time.

step fourteen: cover the cake, then leave this in the fridge overnight so that it can soak up all of the strawberry milk.

step fifteen: the next day, once the strawberry tres leches cake has soaked up all of the milk, start making the whipped cream topping. in a large bowl, add cold heavy cream, some vanilla extract and icing sugar or powdered sugar.

step sixteen: whip the cream until it reaches medium peaks – it should be soft and fluffy and should hold its shape, but the tip will curl over when you lift the beaters out of the cream.

step seventeen: top the cake with the fresh whipped cream and spread it all over the cake in a thick layer (or pipe the cream on top).

step eighteen: top with fresh strawberries, then leave this in the fridge to set slightly, or just slice up immediately and let’s eat!

tips and notes

• use room temperature eggs. leave your eggs out at least 30 minutes before you start making this strawberry tres leches cake.

• when separating the eggs, make sure there is no yolk mixed in the bowl with the egg whites. even a small amount of egg yolk can prevent egg whites from whipping properly, so make sure to separate the eggs carefully.

• fold the whipped egg whites gently into the egg yolk mixture with a spoon or silicone spatula until just combined. you want to keep the batter airy and light, so try not to over mix at this stage.

• i baked this strawberry tres leches cake in an 8×8 inch pan, as i wanted it to be quite thick. you can also use a 9×13 pan if you want your slices to be less thick.

• if you plan to remove the cake from the pan and transfer it to another dish, i would recommend lining your pan with baking paper or parchment paper so that removing the cake is easier.

• make sure you preheat the oven so that it’s already hot by the time you place your strawberry tres leches cake in the oven. this will ensure that the cake bakes evenly and that it won’t take longer to bake.

• adjust baking time as needed. every oven is different, so i recommend keeping an eye on your strawberry tres leches cake as you don’t want it to be underbaked or over baked. you’ll know it’s done when the cake is set and the top looks golden. if you stick a toothpick in the center of the cake, it should come out clean or have a few crumbs attached to it. for me, this took about 25 minutes.

• once you remove your strawberry tres leches cake from the oven, let it cool at room temperature before pouring your three milks mixture on top.

• use a kitchen scale to measure your ingredients. while i add both metric and cup measurements for this recipe, i always recommend using a kitchen scale to weigh out your ingredients for most accurate results.

• once the cake is cool, poke holes with a fork or a skewer all over the cake so that the milk mixture can easily soak into the cake.

• pour the milk mixture in stages, allowing it to soak into the cake before you add more. this will prevent overflowing and ensures even distribution. don’t worry if it does overflow – it’ll just take some time for the cake to absorb the milk.

• make sure your pour the mixture around the edges of the cake as well as the center so that all of the cake has even coverage.

• cover the cake and let it chill in the fridge overnight so that it has enough time to full absorb all of the milk mixture.

• if using frozen strawberries for your strawberry milk, thaw them completely, and drain any excess liquid before blending them with the milk.

• feel free to adjust the amount of strawberries and sugar in the strawberry milk if you would prefer something sweeter or with a stronger strawberry flavour.

• for a smoother strawberry milk, you can strain the milk after blending it.

• add fresh strawberry slices for decoration just before serving your strawberry tres leches cake, as this will prevent the strawberries from releasing juices onto the cake.

• store any leftover strawberry tres leches cake, covered, in the fridge for up to three days.

frequently asked questions

1. what is tres leches cake?

   – tres leches cake is a sponge cake soaked in three types of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk and usually heavy cream or whole milk. it’s popular in lots of latin american countries.

2. what is a strawberry tres leches cake?

   – a strawberry tres leches cake is a variation of the traditional tres leches cake that incorporates a strawberry flavour into the milk mixture, and sometimes into the actual cake and whipped topping as well.

3. can i use frozen strawberries in the milk mixture instead of fresh ones?

   – fresh, ripe strawberries would be the best for the strawberry milk mixture, but if you want to use frozen strawberries, make sure to let them thaw and drain them before using.

4. do i have to use vanilla extract to make this strawberry tres leches cake?

   – the vanilla in this strawberry tres leches cake recipe is optional. i like the subtle vanilla flavour it gives to the cake and the cream, but if you would prefer not to use it or don’t have it, that’s also completely fine.

5. how long should i let the tres leches cake soak?

   – you should let the cake soak in the milk mixture for at least 4 hours, but i would highly recommend leaving it in the fridge overnight for the best flavour and texture.

6. can i make different types of tres leches cake instead of strawberry?

   – absolutely! you can experiment with different types of fruits, such as peaches or other berries. you could also make a chocolate tres leches cake with chocolate milk, a coconut tres leches cake or a mango one! there are so many different types of tres leches cake flavours you could experiment with.

7. is it normal for tres leches cake to be very wet?

   – yes, tres leches cake is generally meant to be very moist and soft, not necessarily soggy, but much wetter than a typical cake.

8. my cake won’t soak up the milk mixture. what do i do?

   – make sure you’ve poked enough holes into the cake using a fork, a wooden skewer or a chopstick, and make sure that you pour the milk mixture into the sides as well as on the top. try to pour the mixture in small amounts at a time, letting it soak into the cake before adding more. if the milk mixture overflows, just cover the cake and let it chill in the fridge – it will soak up the milk overnight.

9. why did my cake turn out dry?

   – if you cake is dry or dense, it could be due to over mixing when folding in the egg whites or due to over baking. make sure to gently fold the egg whites in so as to keep the batter light and airy, and keep an eye on your cake once it’s in the oven to ensure that it doesn’t over bake. when you add the milk mixture to your strawberry tres leches cake, make sure you allow it enough time to absorb the milk to ensure that it’s soft and moist throughout.

10. how many days is tres leches cake good to eat for?

    – as long as you keep your tres leches cake covered and in the fridge, it should keep well for up to 3 days.

11. can i bake this strawberry tres leches cake in a 9×13 pan?

    – yes. i baked this strawberry tres leches cake in an 8×8 inch pan for a thicker cake, so you could definitely bake the same amount of batter in 9×13 pan for slightly thinner slices of cake. bear in mind that the baking time will need to be adjusted, as a thinner cake will take less time to bake through, so keep an eye on that.

12. can i make this strawberry tres leches cake with strawberry cake mix?

    – yes, you can absolute make this strawberry tres leches cake with cake mix instead of making a cake from scratch if you want to keep this strawberry tres leches cake easy and quick.

13. is tres leches cake healthy?

    – this strawberry tres leches cake is quite rich and high in calories due to the milk mixture, which has condensed milk and evaporated milk in it. it’s best enjoyed as an occasional treat rather than an everyday thing.

recipe