Pastel de Tres Leches de Fresa (Strawberry Tres Leches Cake)
Soaked vanilla milk cake under whipped cream and a glossy layer of sweet strawberries.
Made with Tres leches sponge and soak. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min plus chilling
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.60 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Make the tres leches sponge and soak the day before and chill it for at least 4 hours (see the base recipe), so it is cold and fully soaked.
- 2
Slice most of the strawberries and toss with the caster sugar and lime zest. Leave 15 minutes until syrupy.
15 min - 3
Whip the cream with icing sugar and vanilla to soft peaks and spread over the cake in its tin.
- 4
Spoon the strawberries and their juice over the cream. Keep a few whole berries aside to decorate.
- 5
Chill for 20 minutes, then cut into squares. Serve cold with the whole strawberries on top.
Tips
- Use ripe, in-season strawberries; add the lime zest to lift flat-tasting fruit.
- Do not macerate the strawberries longer than 30 minutes or they release too much juice.
- Pat the berries lightly with kitchen paper if the topping looks wet.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 2 days covered in the fridge. The strawberries bleed into the cream over time, so assemble no more than a few hours ahead.
Questions
Can I use frozen strawberries?
Yes, thaw and drain well, then pat dry. They are softer but fine for this cake.
Does it keep well?
It is best within 2 days. The cream and fruit make it fragile.
Is it suitable for a birthday?
Yes, it feeds 12 and looks lovely. Add a few extra berries to the top.
More made with tres leches sponge and soak
Pastel de Tres Leches de Cajeta (Cajeta Tres Leches Cake)
NFVNOGPastel de Tres Leches con Cerezas (Tres Leches Cake with Cherries)
NFVNOGPastel de Tres Leches de Café (Coffee Tres Leches Cake)
NFVNOGTrifle de Tres Leches con Durazno y Natilla (Peach Tres Leches Trifle)
NFVNOGDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.