Description
Strawberry Crunch Tres Leches Cups combine moist strawberry cake cubes soaked in a luscious tres leches milk mixture, layered with rich whipped cream and a crunchy strawberry-flavored Oreo crumb topping. This delightful no-bake assembly dessert offers a fresh strawberry garnish for a perfect balance of creamy, fruity, and crunchy textures, ideal for serving at parties or family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberry Cake
- 1 box strawberry cake mix (plus ingredients listed on the box: eggs, oil, water)
Tres Leches Mixture
- 1 can (12 oz / 354 ml) evaporated milk
- 1 can (14 oz / 396 g) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk or heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Whipped Cream Layer
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, chilled
- 4 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Strawberry Crunch Topping
- 20 golden Oreos (or vanilla sandwich cookies)
- 2 tbsp freeze-dried strawberries (or strawberry gelatin powder)
- 3 tbsp melted butter
Garnish
- Fresh strawberries
- Extra whipped cream
Instructions
- Prepare the Cake: Follow the instructions on the strawberry cake mix box, including eggs, oil, and water. Bake the batter in a sheet pan or large tray for easy cutting. Allow the cake to cool completely, then cut into small cubes sized to fit dessert cups.
- Make Tres Leches Mixture: In a bowl, whisk together evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, whole milk (or heavy cream), and vanilla extract until well combined. Set aside for soaking the cake.
- Whip the Cream: In a chilled mixing bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Transfer the whipped cream into a piping bag for neat layering later.
- Prepare Strawberry Crunch Topping: Using a food processor, crush the golden Oreos and freeze-dried strawberries (or strawberry gelatin powder) until finely combined. Add melted butter and pulse again to achieve a crumbly mixture. Set aside.
- Assemble the Cups: Start by placing a layer of strawberry cake cubes at the bottom of each dessert cup. Spoon 2–3 tablespoons of the tres leches milk mixture over the cake cubes to soak them. Next, pipe a layer of whipped cream on top. Sprinkle with the strawberry crunch topping. Repeat the layers if the cups are deep enough. Finish each cup with whipped cream swirls, an additional sprinkle of crunch, and garnish with fresh strawberries.
Notes
- For best results, chill the whipped cream bowl and beaters before whipping to help achieve stiff peaks.
- Allow the soaked cake layers to rest for a few minutes to absorb the tres leches mixture fully.
- Golden Oreos add a nice vanilla flavor, but substitute with other vanilla sandwich cookies if unavailable.
- Freeze-dried strawberries provide natural fruity flavor and crunch—strawberry gelatin powder is a suitable alternative.
- These cups can be prepared a few hours in advance and refrigerated to meld flavors and enhance moistness.
- If desired, use heavy cream instead of whole milk in the tres leches mixture for a richer taste.
