Tres Leches Cupcakes recipe from a boxed cake mix. Top with homemade whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Use my 3 simple ingredient hacks to make box taste homemade!
Friends, you don’t have to be a ‘baker’ (I’m not) to make these decadent Tres Leches Cupcakes! They’re super easy, start with a box cake mix and I’m walking through every step.
Each cupcake is soaked in a blend of three creamy milks to make every fluffy bite moist and irresistibly delicious. They’re finished with a cloud of fresh whipped cream and ripe, juicy strawberries.
Why I love this recipe:
Boxed cake mix goes to moist, airy and homemade tasting with 3 easy ingredient hacks.
Using a box mix takes the science out of the equation for perfect cake every time!
It’s like a poke cake – but in cupcake form – that gets the milk mix in every nook and cranny for extra moisture!
The swirl of homemade whipped cream and fresh berries makes this a crowd-pleasing treat!
Replace oil with an equal amount of melted butter.
Adding Vanilla extract or almond extra boosts flavor.
Tips for the best Tres Leches Cupcakes:
(1) Use foil liners so the milk doesn’t soak through.
(2) Refrigerate baked cupcakes 1 hour up to overnight to let milk mixture seep in.
(3) Place bowl you’re making whipped cream in the freezer a few minutes beforehand to make sure the cream stays cold and the whipped cream will be fluffy.
How to make Tres Leches Cupcakes from a box mix:
1. Mix the Batter
Start by prepping your boxed cake mix according to the instructions, but swap the milk for water, melted butter for vegetable oil and adding vanilla extract. Use stand mixer or hand mixer.
2. Bake & Cool
Line your muffin tin with foil cupcake liners and fill each about 2/3 full. Bake until they’re golden and springy then let them cool completely.
3. Poke & Pour
Using a skewer or fork, poke holes over the top of the cupcake. Be generous—this is where the milk magic happens. Then pour milk mixture (aka the “tres leches”) over each cupcake. This sweet blend of three kinds of milk is what turns these into little flavor bombs.
Tip: Do this slowly so the different milks can really soak in.
4. Chill Out
Cover cupcakes with plastic wrap and let them sit in the fridge overnight or at least a few hours. They’re even better the next day when the sweet milk mixture has really sunk in.
5. Whip It Good
Beat heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla to stiff peaks. Spread or pipe it on the top of each cupcake then add fresh strawberries and you’re ready to devour!
6. Serve or Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge 2–3 days.
Tres Leches Cupcakes are perfect for Cinco de Mayo or backyard barbeques all summer long.
Easy Tres Leches Cupcakes using a boxed cake mix. Top with homemade whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Use my 3 simple ingredient hacks to make box taste homemade!
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake tin with foil type liners.
To a large mixing bowl, blend cake mix, melted butter, milk, egg whites and vanilla extract using a hand mixer on low speed 2 minutes then increase speed for 3 more minutes.
Divide cake batter in cupcake tin to about 2/3 full. Bake 12-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool slightly on a wire rack.
Milk Mixture:
In another medium bowl, blend heavy cream, evaporated milk. sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract.
Use the blunt end of a skewer and poke several deep holes into each cupcake (don’t poke into the liners!). Carefully spoon 2-3 tablespoons of milk mixture over each cupcake letting it seep in.
Refrigerate cupcakes at least an hour up to overnight for best flavor.
Whipped Cream:
Just before serving use a hand mixer to whip heavy cream, sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.Spoon or pipe over the top of each cupcake add a sliced strawberry and eat right away.
Notes
Use foil type liners so the milk doesn’t seep through.Refrigerate cupcakes overnight for best flavor before adding whipped cream.
Keyword tres leches cupcakes, tres leches cake, best tres leches cupcakes, tres leches cupcakes from boxed cake mix, tres leches cake from boxed cake mix
So easy and so delicious! Love the subs to make boxed cake mix taste homemade!