Tres leches cake, a delightful Mexican dessert known for its incredibly moist texture, gets a vibrant, fruity upgrade with the addition of fresh strawberries. This recipe takes the classic tres leches and elevates it with a burst of summery sweetness. Prepare to impress your friends and family with this irresistible treat!
What is Tres Leches Cake?
Before we dive into the strawberry-infused version, let's understand the foundation: Tres leches cake translates to "three milks cake." Its signature characteristic is its soaking in a mixture of evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream, resulting in an unbelievably moist and decadent cake. This recipe builds on that wonderful base.
What Makes this Strawberry Tres Leches Cake Special?
This isn't your average tres leches cake. We're adding layers of fresh strawberry flavor, enhancing the already rich experience. We'll incorporate fresh strawberries into the cake layers themselves, creating a beautiful marbled effect, and top it with a luscious strawberry cream and a fresh strawberry garnish. The combination of creamy, milky richness with the tartness of strawberries creates a truly unforgettable dessert.
Ingredients You'll Need:
For the Strawberry Cake:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
For the Tres Leches Mixture:
- 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
For the Strawberry Cream:
- 1 cup heavy cream, cold
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup chopped fresh strawberries
For the Garnish:
- Fresh strawberries, sliced
Step-by-Step Instructions:
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Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
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Make the Cake Batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
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Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined. Gently fold in the chopped strawberries.
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Bake the Cake: Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
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Cool the Cake: Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
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Make the Tres Leches Mixture: While the cake cools, whisk together the evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream in a bowl until smooth.
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Soak the Cake: Once the cake is completely cool, poke holes all over the top using a fork. Slowly pour the tres leches mixture evenly over the cake, allowing it to soak completely. This may take some time; let it sit for at least 30 minutes, or even longer for maximum moisture.
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Prepare the Strawberry Cream: In a chilled bowl, beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the chopped strawberries.
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Assemble the Cake: Spread the strawberry cream evenly over the soaked cake.
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Garnish and Serve: Garnish with sliced fresh strawberries. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
FAQs
How long does this cake last?
This cake is best served within 3-4 days of making it. Store it in the refrigerator.
Can I use frozen strawberries?
While fresh strawberries are ideal, you can use frozen strawberries. Make sure to thaw them completely and drain off any excess liquid before adding them to the batter.
Can I make this cake ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this cake a day or two in advance. Just keep it refrigerated. The flavors will actually deepen and meld nicely.
What if my cake is too dry?
If your cake is too dry, you may not have soaked it long enough with the tres leches mixture. Try poking more holes in the cake next time to ensure better absorption. Alternatively, you may have overbaked it.
This strawberry tres leches cake is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Its beautiful marbling, rich texture, and delightful combination of creamy and fruity flavors will leave everyone wanting more. Enjoy!
