Easy Fresas Con Crema Recipe: Homemade Mexican Strawberries and Cream

Discover the delightful simplicity of Fresas Con Crema, a beloved Mexican dessert that perfectly marries the freshness of ripe strawberries with a lusciously sweet and tangy cream sauce. This homemade recipe makes creating this iconic treat incredibly quick and easy, requiring minimal effort and just a handful of simple ingredients. It’s a no-bake wonder that promises to be a family favorite, especially when fresh strawberries are in season.

This sweet, creamy dessert is a celebration of seasonal bounty, highlighting the vibrant flavor and juicy texture of fresh strawberries. While its preparation is straightforward, the resulting flavor is rich, decadent, and utterly satisfying. For those who enjoy a similar concept with a Western twist, our Strawberries And Cream {No Bake} recipe offers an equally easy, no-bake option perfect for enjoying all summer long. However, the Mexican version, with its distinctive cream blend, offers a unique profile that sets it apart.

What Is Fresas Con Crema? A Beloved Mexican No-Bake Dessert

Fresas Con Crema, literally translating to “strawberries with cream,” is a quintessential Mexican no-bake dessert. It’s cherished for its refreshing nature and simple yet profound flavor. At its heart, this dessert features generous portions of freshly sliced strawberries swimming in a rich, sweet, and slightly tangy cream sauce. Unlike many complex desserts, Fresas Con Crema relies on the natural sweetness of the fruit and the decadent texture of its distinct cream blend.

A common question arises: Is Fresas Con Crema made with La Lechera? The answer is a resounding yes, often! Many authentic recipes, including this one, utilize sweetened condensed milk, with La Lechera being a popular brand choice, to achieve that signature sweetness and creamy consistency. This ingredient is crucial, as it contributes significantly to the dessert’s beloved flavor profile and velvety texture, making it undeniably irresistible. The combination of sweetened condensed milk with other dairy components creates a unique cream that perfectly coats and complements the fresh strawberries.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Fresas Con Crema Recipe

There are countless reasons why this easy Fresas Con Crema recipe deserves a spot in your dessert rotation:

• Effortlessly Simple: With just a few basic ingredients and minimal steps, you can whip up this delightful dessert in under 20 minutes. It’s perfect for busy weeknights or unexpected cravings.
• No-Bake Wonder: Forget turning on the oven! This chilled dessert is ideal for hot summer days when you want something sweet and refreshing without heating up your kitchen.
• Highlights Fresh Strawberries: When strawberries are at their peak, this recipe truly lets their natural sweetness and juiciness shine. It’s the ultimate way to enjoy seasonal produce.
• Customizable: While traditional, this recipe is incredibly versatile. You can easily adjust the sweetness, add different fruits, or experiment with various extracts to suit your taste.
• Crowd-Pleaser: Both children and adults adore this simple yet elegant treat. It’s perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, or a quiet dessert at home.
• Rich and Creamy Texture: The combination of full-fat sour cream, sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk creates an unparalleled smooth and luscious cream that coats every slice of strawberry beautifully.

Ingredients for the Perfect Mexican Strawberries and Cream

Crafting the perfect batch of Mexican Strawberries and Cream starts with selecting the right ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that signature sweet, tangy, and incredibly creamy profile.

• Sour Cream (Full-Fat, Cold): Don’t shy away from full-fat sour cream! It provides the essential tanginess that balances the sweetness of the condensed milk, preventing the dessert from being overly cloying. Full-fat also ensures maximum richness and a velvety smooth texture. Make sure it’s cold for the best results.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk (Cold): This is the hero ingredient for sweetness and body. Brands like La Lechera are popular for their consistent quality. It not only sweetens the cream but also thickens it to that irresistible spoonable consistency.
• Evaporated Milk (Cold): Unlike condensed milk, evaporated milk is unsweetened and serves to thin out the cream mixture slightly, achieving the perfect pourable consistency without diluting the flavor. It adds another layer of milky richness without extra sugar. It’s crucial not to confuse it with condensed milk; they are distinct in their sugar content and role.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla enhances all the other flavors, adding a warm, aromatic depth that completes the cream sauce. Pure vanilla extract is always recommended for the best flavor.
• Fresh Strawberries (Washed, Hulled, Patted Dry, Thinly Sliced): The star of the show! Always opt for fresh, ripe, in-season strawberries for the best flavor and texture. Washing and hulling them is standard, but the crucial step often overlooked is patting them thoroughly dry. Excess moisture from the strawberries can thin out your beautiful cream sauce, making it runny. Thinly slicing them ensures each bite gets a good ratio of fruit to cream.

How To Make Fresas Con Crema Recipe From Scratch: A Simple Guide

Preparing homemade Fresas Con Crema is incredibly straightforward, making it an ideal dessert for novice and experienced cooks alike. Follow these simple steps to create this delightful treat:

1. Prepare the Cream Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine the full-fat sour cream, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract. Use a whisk or a spoon to mix all the ingredients thoroughly until the mixture is completely smooth and uniform. Ensure there are no lumps and the consistency is creamy and inviting. The key here is to make sure all your cream ingredients are cold to maintain the dessert’s refreshing chill.
2. Prepare the Strawberries: Begin by washing your fresh strawberries thoroughly. Hull them by removing the green tops and any white core. The most critical step for a successful Fresas Con Crema is to gently pat the strawberries completely dry with paper towels. This prevents any excess water from diluting your rich cream sauce. Once dry, thinly slice the strawberries to ensure they absorb the cream beautifully and are easy to scoop and enjoy.
3. Assemble and Serve: Divide the sliced strawberries evenly among 6 individual serving bowls or cups (approximately ½ cup of strawberries per serving). Then, generously top each portion of strawberries with the freshly prepared sweet cream mixture. You can serve this delightful dessert immediately for the freshest taste, or chill it for a short period to allow the flavors to meld further. Enjoy!

Variations and Customizations for Your Fresas Con Crema

While the classic Mexican Strawberries and Cream recipe is perfect as is, it’s also wonderfully adaptable! Don’t hesitate to get creative and customize it to your personal preferences. Here are some delightful variations to explore:

• Add Whipped Cream on Top: For an extra layer of indulgence, a dollop of Homemade Whipped Cream or a generous swirl of store-bought whipped cream can elevate the texture and presentation. It adds a light, airy contrast to the rich cream sauce below.
• Experiment with Other Creams: While our recipe uses sour cream, sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk, you can certainly try other cream combinations. Some popular choices in Mexico include Media Crema (a lighter, unsweetened cream) or heavy cream for a richer texture. Full-fat whole milk can also be used for a slightly less dense sauce. For a tangier and protein-rich twist, Greek yogurt can be partially substituted for some of the sour cream, but be mindful that results will vary significantly in both taste and consistency depending on your cream choices. Always use full-fat versions for the best creamy texture.
• Introduce a Tangy Twist with Lime Juice: A squeeze of fresh lime juice (about 1-2 teaspoons) can brighten the entire dessert, adding a zesty tang that beautifully cuts through the sweetness and enhances the strawberry flavor. It’s a fantastic way to add a refreshing note, especially during warmer months.
• Mix in Other Fruits: While tradition calls for strawberries, there’s no harm in experimenting with other seasonal fruits. Consider adding sliced peaches, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries for a medley of flavors and colors. Just remember that this will create a delicious fruit and cream dessert that deviates from the traditional “Fresas Con Crema” but is equally delightful.
• Change the Strawberry Cut: I typically recommend thinly slicing the strawberries for an elegant presentation and even distribution of fruit. However, if you prefer, you can dice the strawberries into smaller cubes. This works just as well and might be preferred by some for ease of eating.
• Try Different Extracts: Beyond vanilla, other extracts can introduce intriguing flavor profiles. Almond extract can add a subtle nutty depth, orange extract can brighten the fruit, or coconut extract can transport you to a tropical paradise. Start with a small amount (¼ teaspoon) and add more to taste.

Expert Tips and Techniques for the Best Fresas Con Crema

Achieving the perfect Fresas Con Crema is all about paying attention to a few key details. These tips and techniques will ensure your dessert is always a success:

• Strawberries Must Be Patted Dry: This is a non-negotiable step! After washing and hulling your strawberries, spread them out on paper towels and gently pat them until they are thoroughly dry. Any excess moisture on the strawberries will release into your cream sauce, making it thin, runny, and less flavorful.
• All Ingredients Should Be Cold: Since Fresas Con Crema is a chilled dessert, it’s essential that all your dairy ingredients (sour cream, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk) are thoroughly cold before mixing. This helps achieve a perfectly thick and refreshing cream sauce from the start.
• Evaporated Milk Cannot Be Replaced with Condensed Milk (and vice versa): This is a common point of confusion. Evaporated milk is unsweetened milk that has had about 60% of its water removed. Sweetened condensed milk is milk with a significant amount of sugar added, and also with water removed. They are not interchangeable in this recipe. You need both: sweetened condensed milk for the sweetness and thickness, and evaporated milk to provide a liquid base and rich milky flavor without adding more sugar. Always check the quantities of each in the recipe card carefully.
• Fresh Strawberries vs. Frozen Strawberries: I highly recommend using fresh, ripe strawberries. Frozen strawberries, even after thawing, contain a lot of extra water that can easily make your cream runny and watery, compromising the texture and flavor. If frozen is your only option, ensure they are completely thawed, drained of all liquid, and then thoroughly patted dry before slicing and using. This extra step is crucial to mitigate the water content.
• Use Full-Fat Ingredients: For the most luxurious, rich, and creamy Fresas Con Crema, always opt for full-fat sour cream. Skim or low-fat versions will result in a thinner, less satisfying cream sauce. The full-fat dairy provides the ideal texture and mouthfeel that makes this dessert so irresistible.
• Chill for Flavor Development: While you can enjoy Fresas Con Crema immediately, allowing it to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or even a couple of hours) lets the flavors meld beautifully. The strawberries will slightly release their juices, enhancing the overall taste, and the cream will thicken further.
• Choose Ripe Strawberries: The success of this dessert hinges on the quality of your strawberries. Select berries that are bright red, plump, and fragrant, indicating they are sweet and perfectly ripe. Avoid pale or bruised strawberries.

Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions

Fresas Con Crema is best enjoyed fresh, but it can be stored for a short period:

• Refrigerate: Any leftovers should be transferred to an airtight container or covered tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerated immediately. It will stay fresh and delicious for up to 2 days. Beyond that, the strawberries may start to soften significantly, and the cream might become too watery.
• Freeze: While you can technically freeze Fresas Con Crema in popsicle molds and enjoy it as a frozen treat (much like a creamy strawberry ice pop), I do not recommend freezing it and then thawing it to eat as the original dessert. The texture of the strawberries will become mushy and watery upon thawing, and the cream might separate, resulting in an undesirable consistency. It’s truly a dessert meant to be enjoyed chilled, not refrozen and thawed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Fresas Con Crema

Here are some common questions people ask about this delightful Mexican dessert:

Q: Can I make Fresas Con Crema ahead of time?
A: Yes, you can prepare the cream sauce up to 24 hours in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Prepare the strawberries (wash, hull, slice, and pat dry) closer to serving time, and then assemble just before enjoying for the best freshness and texture. Assembled Fresas Con Crema is best consumed within a few hours, though it will keep for up to 2 days in the fridge.

Q: What if my cream sauce is too thick or too thin?
A: If the cream sauce is too thick, you can add a tiny splash more of cold evaporated milk, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, it might be due to not using full-fat ingredients or not patting the strawberries dry enough. You can try chilling it longer to allow it to thicken, or for a quick fix, whisk in a tablespoon of cream cheese for added body, though this will alter the flavor slightly.

Q: Can I use a different type of fruit?
A: While “Fresas Con Crema” specifically means “strawberries with cream,” you can absolutely use other fruits! Try sliced mangoes, peaches, or a mix of berries for a delicious variation. Just remember the name will change to reflect the fruit used (e.g., “Mangos Con Crema”).

Q: Is this dessert gluten-free?
A: Yes, Fresas Con Crema is naturally gluten-free, making it a great option for those with gluten sensitivities, provided all your ingredients are certified gluten-free (which most standard dairy and fruit products are).

Q: How do I choose the best strawberries?
A: Look for strawberries that are bright red all over, plump, and firm. They should have a fresh, sweet aroma. Avoid any berries that are pale, bruised, or have mold.

More Strawberry Desserts to Love

If you’re a fan of fresh strawberries, you’ll adore these other delightful recipes:

• Strawberry Crumble {Strawberry Crisp}
• Strawberry Shortcake Cake
• Easy Strawberry Shortcake {With Bisquick Mix}
• Strawberry Cupcakes {Soft & Moist}
• Strawberry Cookies
• Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes (No Bake)
• Strawberry Coconut Bars
• Easy Strawberry Strudels

Recipe

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply craving a refreshing treat, this Fresas Con Crema recipe is sure to delight. Its beautiful balance of sweet and tangy, combined with the creamy texture and vibrant freshness of strawberries, makes it an unforgettable dessert. Easy to make and universally loved, it’s the perfect way to bring a taste of Mexico into your home. So gather your ingredients, follow these simple steps, and prepare to indulge in the best homemade Mexican strawberries and cream!