Name: Strawberry Tres Leches Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 575 min
Ingredients: 1 box (13.25 oz) strawberry cake mix; 3 large eggs; 1 cup water; 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter (melted); 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk; 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk; 1 cup whole milk (); 1 pound fresh strawberries (sliced); 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 1½ cup heavy whipping cream; 1/4 cup powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Transform a strawberry cake mix + 3 kinds of milk into the most amazing Strawberry Tres Leches Cake! This easy dessert recipe starts with a milk-soaked strawberry cake, topped with freshly whipped cream, and the final touch are sweet & juicy fresh strawberries. This is one seriously incredible dessert!

A slice of tres leches cake with strawberries on top

Easy Strawberry Tres Leches Cake

Strawberry Tres Leches is an ideal summertime dessert and the perfect sweet ending for Cinco de Mayo. Tres Leches Cake is a classic Mexican dessert that has a light and airy sponge cake, then it has a milk soak with three different types of milk, topped with sweetened whipped cream and juicy sweet fresh strawberries. This recipe is the strawberry version of classic tres leches cake!

The end result is a supremely moist cake that’s loaded with tons of sweet strawberry flavors throughout. The best part is that it’s so easy to make because it starts with a box of strawberry cake mix, which yields a fluffy strawberry cake base for the rich milk mixture to soak into.

A pan of the tres leches cake with a serving spatula above it with a slice on it.

top of the strawberry cake with fresh sliced strawberries

Ingredients Needed

Strawberry Cake Mix
Water : I recommend using filtered water, purified water, or bottled water. Sometimes tap water can have an odd taste which will effect the final taste of a cake.
Butter
Large Eggs
Sweetened Condensed Milk
Evaporated Milk
Whole Milk OR Strawberry Milk : Whole milk works just fine, or for more strawberry flavor, try using strawberry milk instead!
Fresh Strawberries
Granulated Sugar : A little sugar for the fresh strawberries elevates the taste of them and produces the most amazing sweet strawberry juices that’s perfect on this cake.
Heavy Cream : Sometimes also labeled as ‘heavy whipping cream’.
Powdered Sugar : This is the sweetener for the homemade whipped cream topping.
Vanilla Extract

How To Make Tres Leches Cake With A Box Of Strawberry Cake Mix (Printable Recipe Card)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch cake pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl using a hand mixer, or use the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, add the dry cake mix, water, melted butter, and eggs. Beat on medium-high speed for 2 minutes, or until the batter lightens in color and is thoroughly combined.

Pour the strawberry cake batter into the prepared cake pan.

Bake for 32-36 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool to room temperature before continuing, About 30 minutes.

Poke holes over the whole cake with a fork.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk. Slowly pour the milk mixture over the cake, allowing it to be absorbed into the fork holes as you pour it slowly.

Cover the cake with a lid, plastic wrap, or foil and refrigerate it overnight (8 hours at least).

Add the fresh sliced strawberries and granulated sugar into an airtight container. Refrigerate the strawberries along with the cake.

When ready to serve, beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until soft peaks form (start at low speed and increase the speed as needed). Spread the whipped cream over top of the milk-soaked cake.

Top the whipped cream with the sliced strawberries and their juices (from the fridge). Serve & enjoy!

How To Store Leftover Tres Leches Cake

The cake can be stored covered, or remove individual slices to an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. I do not recommend freezing this cake because the dairy and whipped cream will not thaw well and will separate once frozen and thawed.

Can I Make Any Substitutions?

Use strawberry milk instead of whole milk to increase the strawberry flavor in the cake.
Use strawberry extract instead of vanilla extract, in the whipped cream, to intensify the strawberry flavor. You could also use half vanilla extract + half strawberry extract if wanted.

A cake pan with the cake inside topped with strawberries

Recipe FAQ’s

Do I Have To Use The Strawberries In Sugar, Or Can I Slice Them Fresh?

If you would like to skip the fridge time and the strawberries + sugar mixture, then yes, go ahead and slice or dice the strawberries right before you’re ready to top the whipped cream with them. The taste of the strawberry topping is so yummy with the sweet strawberry juices it produces, so I definitely recommend using the strawberries soaked in sugar overnight.

Can I Use Frozen Strawberries?

I would not recommend using frozen strawberries. When mixed with the sugar, they will weep a lot more as they thaw, and the juices that the sugar and frozen strawberries create will be very thin, which is not ideal for the topping to stay together.

How Do I Know When The Cake Is Cool Enough To Pour The Milk In?

Your cake should be cool enough in about 20-30 minutes after coming out of the oven. The best way to tell is to touch the cake – if it’s cool to the touch then it is cool enough to proceed.

Can I Make This Ahead Of Time?

Yes, this is the perfect dessert to make ahead of time because it needs to refrigerate for at least 8-12 hours, or overnight! I would not recommend making it more than 2 days in advance of when you’re planning to serve it. I would also recommend that you wait until right before serving to add the whipped topping and the strawberry + sugar mixture.

Strawberry Tres Leches Cake (With Fresh Strawberries)