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Strawberry Tres Leches Cake
Strawberry tres leches cake is layers of fluffy cake soaked with a mixture of three types of milk before being layered with a sweet jam and whipped cream topping.
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Strawberry tres leches cake is ridiculously moist and delicious with three types of milk, or tres leches. Poke cakes are such a simple dessert to make, taking a regular boxed cake mix to the next level by infusing it with a heavenly variety of fillings. Topped with sweet strawberry jam, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries, this cake is sure to become a new favorite.
Looking for more rich poke cake recipes? You cannot go wrong with a decadent turtle poke cake, Oreo poke cake, or Boston Cream Poke Cake.
Strawberry Tres Leches Cake Ingredients
You will need:
- 15.25 ounces yellow cake mix
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup melted butter
- 2 cups milk, divided
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 3 cups fresh sliced strawberries, divided
- 1 cup strawberry jam
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
Substitutions and Additions
STRAWBERRIES: If you don’t have strawberries on hand or simply want to switch things up, you can experiment with other berries like raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries. These berries will provide different flavor notes, but they’ll still complement the creamy sweetness of the tres leches cake.
You can even try a combination of berries for a burst of various fruity tastes. Just keep in mind that some berries may be tarter or sweeter than strawberries, so you can adjust the amount of sugar in the tres leches mixture to your liking.
JAM: Store-bought or homemade strawberry jam would both be delicious in this poke cake recipe.
STRAWBERRY: For even more strawberry flavor, make this recipe with a strawberry cake mix. You can also add a teaspoon of strawberry extract to the yellow cake batter to amplify the strawberry flavor in this tres leches cake with strawberries.
How to Make Strawberry Tres Leches Cake
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13 pan by spraying it with cooking spray.
STEP TWO: In a medium bowl, mix the cake mix, 4 eggs, melted butter, and one cup of milk.
STEP THREE: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
PRO TIP: Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your cake as the suggested baking time approaches.
STEP FOUR: While the cake is baking, combine the remaining 1 cup of milk, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk in a medium bowl. Place it in the refrigerator until needed.
STEP FIVE: In a small bowl, mix together the strawberry jam and 1 cup of the sliced strawberries. Set aside.
STEP SIX: Let the cake cool completely before poking the cake all over with a fork. Pour the milk mixture over the cooled cake, then spread the cake with the jam mixture, then the Cool Whip.
PRO TIP: When pouring the cream into the holes of the cake, tap the pan on the counter a few times to get rid of any air bubbles and ensure the milk fills the holes completely.
STEP SEVEN: Top the cake with the remaining sliced strawberries, then cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
PRO TIP: This cake recipe is best when it has had plenty of time to allow the cake to absorb the mixture to make it a very moist cake.
STEP EIGHT: Slice into 12 squares and serve immediately. Any leftover cake should be stored in the refrigerator.
How to Serve Strawberry Tres Leches Cake
The strawberry jam and whipped cream add another layer of indulgence that makes this strawberry tres leches cake the perfect dessert for a special occasion. You could even serve it with a creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side to take the experience to the next level. Enjoy a slice of cake with homemade hot chocolate, a fragrant cup of chai tea, or a tall glass of creamy eggnog to drink.
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Since this cake has milk, it needs to be refrigerated. The cake should last for about 3 days in the fridge.
IN THE FREEZER: This cake is best served when it’s fresh or within 2 to 3 days of making it. We would not recommend freezing it because the strawberries won’t be as nice once thawed.
Strawberry tres leches cake is layers of fluffy cake soaked with a mixture of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and regular milk before being layered with a sweet jam and whipped cream topping. The moist, delicate sponge cake is so soft it practically melts in your mouth. The combination of three types of milk soaked into the cake makes it insanely creamy and rich, and the sweet strawberry jam and sliced strawberries add a delightful addition to this dessert.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does this strawberry and cream cake taste?
This strawberry tres leches cake is moist and fluffy. The different types of milk add to the richness of the flavor.
Can I eat this cake warm or cold?
The tres leches dessert should be eaten cold.
Do I have to use a boxed cake mix, or can I make my own?
If you have a yellow cake mix recipe you love, feel free to use that in this recipe.
What is a poke cake?
Poke cake recipes create an easy cake that you poke small holes into while it’s still hot after baking. The holes are then filled with a liquid or filling — like condensed milk, pureed fruit, chocolate cream, or pudding. It makes a moist and delicious cake.
What do you use to poke holes in poke cake?
The end of a wooden spoon, a fork, or a wooden skewer is the best size to poke holes in the top of the cake.
Why is my tres leches cake soggy?
If your tres leches cake is not absorbing the milk, it is likely that the batter has been over-mixed. Over-mixing can cause the batter to lose its airy, spongy texture, meaning it won’t absorb liquids very well.
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- Strawberry Shortcake Icebox Cake
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- Strawberry Lemon Cupcakes
- Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake
Strawberry Tres Leches Cake
Strawberry tres leches cake is layers of fluffy cake soaked with a mixture of three types of milk before being layered with a sweet jam and whipped cream topping.
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounces yellow cake mix
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup melted butter
- 2 cups milk divided
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
- 3 cups fresh sliced strawberries divided
- 1 cup strawberry jam
- 8 ounces Cool Whip
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13 pan by spraying it with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, mix the cake mix, 4 eggs, melted butter, and one cup of milk.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- While the cake is baking, combine the remaining 1 cup of milk, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk in a medium bowl. Place it in the refrigerator until needed.
- In a small bowl, mix together the strawberry jam and 1 cup of the sliced strawberries. Set aside.
- Let the cake cool completely before poking the cake all over with a fork. Pour the milk mixture over the cooled cake, then spread the cake with the jam mixture, then the Cool Whip.
- Top the cake with the remaining sliced strawberries, then cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Slice into 12 squares and serve immediately. Any leftover cake should be stored in the refrigerator.
Notes
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your cake as the suggested baking time approaches.
When pouring the cream into the holes of the cake, tap the pan on the counter a few times to get rid of any air bubbles and ensure the milk fills the holes completely.
This cake recipe is best when it has had plenty of time to allow the cake to absorb the mixture to make it a very moist cake.
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