We took our top-rated tres leches cake and gave it a strawberry twist to create this easy strawberry tres leches cake. It’s a strawberry lover’s dream—full of flavor from strawberry cake mix and strawberry milk, used in both the batter and soaking mixture. Topped with fluffy whipped cream and fresh strawberries, it delivers a luscious, fruity taste in every bite.
Originally called pastel de tres leches—or "three milks cake"—this beloved dessert is soaked in a rich blend of evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream. Tres leches has been around for over a hundred years, with both Mexico and Nicaragua claiming its origin. It gained popularity in America by the 1980s, and we’re so glad it did! This version is a perfect make-ahead treat for any sweet occasion.
Here’s a list of the ingredients you’ll need for this strawberry tres leches cake recipe.
Strawberry-Flavored Milk: Used in both the batter and soaking mixture to enhance the strawberry flavor throughout the cake. Regular milk can also be swapped in if needed, but it will have less strawberry taste.
Cake Mix: Betty Crocker™ Delights Super Moist™ Strawberry Cake Mix makes the strawberry base for this cake.
Sweetened Condensed Milk: The availability of canned sweetened condensed milk in the mid-20th century played a key role in popularizing this cake, providing an easy and convenient ingredient for the soaking mixture.
Heavy Whipping Cream: Used in both the soaking mixture and topping. You’ll need 2 pints (1 quart) to ensure enough for the recipe.
Eggs: 4 eggs give the cake its signature spongy texture, helping it absorb the three milks.
Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Vegetable oil, powdered sugar, vanilla, and fresh sliced strawberries.
Here’s the equipment you’ll need to make this strawberry tres leches cake recipe.
13x9-Inch Pan: We recommend a shiny, uncoated metal pan for a tender crumb and light crust. If using a dark or nonstick pan, reduce the oven temperature by 25°F to prevent over-browning.
Electric Mixer or Spoon: Either works for mixing the cake batter—go with whatever’s most convenient. However, if you do have a hand mixer, it will make whipping the topping much easier.
Other Tools You’ll Need: Measuring cups (dry and liquid), measuring spoons, medium and large mixing bowls, rubber spatula, cooling rack, fork, mixing spoon, and a small icing spatula.
Here’s how to make this strawberry tres leches cake recipe.
Beat all the cake ingredients together until the batter is smooth, well-mixed, and free of lumps. Beat for a full 2 minutes—set a timer to stay on track.
Once baked, poke the cake all over with a fork, about every half inch—aim for 50 to 60 pokes. This helps the 3-milk mixture soak in evenly.
Chill the beaters and bowl before whipping the cream to achieve a light, fluffy texture. To check for stiff peaks, lift the beaters—if the whipped cream stands tall with a defined peak, it's ready. If not, beat longer. A wire whisk works great by hand, though it may take a bit more time.
We’ve heard from you that you love trying different variations on tres leches—and we’ve got a few you’ll want to check out.
Classic Tres Leches Cake: Make the dessert that inspired our strawberry tres leches cake recipe. This is Betty’s take on the traditional version—made simple with cake mix.
Banana Tres Leches Dessert: You’ll go bananas over this tropical-inspired cake with banana and coconut flavors.
Triple Chocolate-Tres Leches Cake: A decadent option for chocolate lovers, packed with rich chocolaty taste in every bite.
Craving more? Browse all of Betty’s tres leches-inspired recipes.
Strawberry Tres Leches Cake is best served chilled, allowing the soaking mixture to fully absorb for a moist texture. Topped with whipped cream and fresh sliced strawberries, it’s a simple yet flavorful dessert. Perfect for birthday parties, potlucks, or any gathering, this cake is sure to please a crowd. For extra flair, garnish with other fresh berries like blueberries or raspberries, a drizzle of chocolate, or a sprinkling of ground freeze-dried strawberries to add even more berry flavor and visual appeal.
These are the storage methods we’ve tested to keep your easy strawberry tres leches cake tasting delicious. Just a heads-up—since the topping contains dairy, it should be refrigerated within 2 hours for food safety.
Cover the cake with plastic wrap, or store individual pieces in a covered container for up to 3 days. If using plastic wrap, insert toothpicks into the cake to prevent the wrap from touching the sticky top.
Unfrosted Poked Cake: Wrap tightly with plastic wrap, then foil. Store in the freezer for up to 4 months. We don’t recommend freezing the cake without poking, as it may not absorb the milk mixture properly when thawed.
Frozen Unfrosted Poked Cake: Remove the cake from the freezer the day before serving. Unwrap the foil, and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Add the topping the next day, just before serving.
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
In large bowl, beat Cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
Pour cake batter into pan.
Bake 24 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Remove from oven; cool 5 minutes in pan on cooling rack. Poke holes using fork every 1/2 inch over top of cake. If necessary, wipe fork tines occasionally with paper towel to reduce sticking.
In medium bowl, stir together Tres Leches Mixture ingredients until blended.
Carefully pour mixture evenly over top of cake, working back and forth to fill holes. Tap pan on the counter several times to help mixture flow down holes. Refrigerate uncovered about 2 hours or until chilled.
In chilled large bowl, beat Topping ingredients with electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form.
Drop topping by spoonfuls over top of chilled cake. Using an icing spatula, spread topping evenly over top.
Sprinkle strawberries on top. Cut into 5 rows by 3 rows. (When cutting pieces to serve, you may notice some of the liquid on the bottom of the pan.) Store loosely covered in refrigerator.
Heavy whipping cream helps make this easy strawberry tres leches cake so delicious. You'll need 2 3/4 cups, so be sure to buy 2 pints (or 1 quart) of heavy whipping cream when shopping for this recipe.
In a time crunch? Instead of homemade whipped cream, top with 1 tub (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Whipped Fluffy White Frosting or 1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed.
| Food Component / Nutrient | Amount | % , Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 19g | 30% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 56% |
| Trans Fat | ½g | % Value Not Available |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | % Value Not Available |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Omega-3 | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Cholesterol | 110mg | 37% |
| Sodium | 270mg | 11% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 43g | 14% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Soluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Insoluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Sugars | 31g | % Value Not Available |
| Protein | 7g | % Value Not Available |
| Vitamin D | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Calcium | Value Not Available | 20% |
| Iron | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Potassium | 210mg | 6% |
| Vitamin A | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Vitamin C | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin E | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Thiamin | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Riboflavin | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Niacin | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin B6 | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Folic Acid | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Vitamin B12 | Value Not Available | 8% |
| Pantothenic Acid | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Phosphorus | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Magnesium | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Zinc | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Manganese | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Selenium | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Copper | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Beta-Carotene | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
