The Ultimate No-Bake Delight: Carlota de Fresa
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If you want a dessert that feels festive but doesn’t need any baking, try Carlota de Fresa. This classic Mexican icebox cake is a favorite at family gatherings because it’s creamy, refreshing, and, best of all, incredibly easy to make.
While the lime version (Carlota de Limón) is a heavy hitter, the strawberry rendition brings a beautiful pink hue and a mellow sweetness that is hard to resist. It’s the kind of dessert that tastes even better the next day, after the layers have softened into a cake-like perfection.
What Goes Into a Carlota de Fresa?
To get that signature silky texture and nostalgic flavor, you’ll need a handful of pantry staples and some fresh fruit. Here is what makes this dessert so special:
- Fresh Strawberries: They add natural tartness and bright flavor, balancing the richness of the cream.
- Galletas Marías: These thin, lightly sweet Mexican cookies form the base of the dessert. They soak up the cream and turn into soft, cake-like layers.
- Cream Cheese: This gives the dessert a smooth texture and a slight tang, so it’s not too sweet.
- Evaporated Milk: This helps create a smooth, pourable mixture without making it too heavy.
- Condensed Milk: This adds all the sweetness and gives the dessert its classic “dulce” flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: A little vanilla brings together the flavors of the fruit and cream.
- Red Food Coloring: Just a bit gives the cream its classic pink color.
- Lime Juice: This is important. The acid in lime juice helps the mixture thicken and set as it chills.
- Cool Whip: You can fold this in or use it as a topping to keep the Carlota light and airy.
Why You’ll Love It
What makes a Carlota special is how you layer it. Blend the liquids and cream cheese, then layer Galletas Marías and the pink strawberry cream in a deep dish. After a few hours or overnight in the fridge, the cookies become soft and cake-like.
This is a great dessert for busy hosts because you can make it ahead and let it chill. Whether it’s for a birthday or just a warm day, this strawberry dessert is always a hit.
What equipment or kitchen supplies do I need?
- Springform Baking Pan
- Blender
- Parchment Paper
- Baking Spatula
How to make this recipe
Prep Your Strawberries. Slice and chop your strawberries for this recipe and to garnish your cake.
Make Strawberry Mixture. Add cream cheese, evaporated milk, condensed milk, vanilla extract, lime juice and food coloring to blender and blend until smooth.
Layer Your Cake. First, add enough strawberry mixture to cover the bottom of the pan. Second, add a layer of galletas Marias. Third, add a layer of sliced strawberries. Repeat this whole step two more times.
Garnish. Spread a layer of whipped cream and garnish with sliced strawberries. Refrigerate for about 4 hours and enjoy!
Carlota de Fresa
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries
- 1-2 pks galletas Marias
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 1 can condensed milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 drops red food coloring
- ½ cup lime juice
- 8 oz cool whip
Instructions
- Slice 1 cup of strawberries into disks. Chop 1/2 cup of strawberries for strawberry mixture. Slice 1/2 cup of strawberries for garnish.
- Add to blender cream cheese, evaporated milk, condensed milk, vanilla extract, chopped strawberries, and food coloring drops and lime juice. Blend on high until smooth.
- Line the sides of your springform pan with parchment paper.
- Pour strawberry mixture into your baking pan to lightly coat bottom. Add your first layer of galletas Maria. Add layer of sliced strawberries. Repeat this step 2 more times to create your cake layers.
- Spread layer of cool whip. Garnish with remaining sliced strawberries. Refrigerate for atleast 4 hours. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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