Description
Sweet strawberry eclair cake brings French bakery magic to home kitchens, blending creamy layers with fresh berry essence. Cool summer desserts never tasted more elegant, inviting you to savor each delightful spoonful of this irresistible treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups strawberries, fresh, sliced
- ½ cup strawberry jam or preserves (optional)
- 1 box (3.4 oz / 96 g) instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) cold milk
- 1 tub (8 oz / 226 g) whipped topping, thawed
- 1 box graham crackers
- Whipped cream for garnish (optional)
- Extra berries for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Pudding Preparation: Whisk pudding mix and cold milk vigorously for two minutes until achieving a thick, smooth consistency. Delicately incorporate whipped topping, creating a luxurious, creamy filling with a silky texture.
- Layering Technique: Arrange graham crackers as the foundational base in a 9×13-inch dish, ensuring complete bottom coverage. Generously spread half the pudding mixture across the crackers, creating an even layer. Artfully distribute sliced strawberries, providing vibrant color and fresh flavor. Repeat the layering process with another graham cracker sheet, remaining pudding mixture, and additional strawberry slices. Complete the construction with a final graham cracker layer.
- Finishing Touches: Gently warm strawberry jam and elegantly drizzle across the top layer. Optional embellishment includes additional whipped topping and fresh strawberry garnish.
- Chilling Process: Carefully seal the dish and refrigerate for a minimum of four hours, allowing graham crackers to absorb moisture and transform into a delicate, cake-like consistency. Overnight chilling enhances flavor melding and textural development.
- Serving Recommendation: Slice the chilled dessert with precision. Enhance presentation with optional whipped cream or fresh berries for a delightful culinary experience.
Notes
- Allow graham crackers to absorb moisture gradually by chilling slowly, ensuring a perfect cake-like consistency without becoming overly wet.
- Choose ripe, firm strawberries without bruises to maintain structural integrity and prevent excess liquid from breaking down the layers.
- Let the cake rest overnight to allow pudding and strawberries to fully permeate graham crackers, creating a more harmonious and rich taste profile.
- Substitute instant pudding mix with coconut milk pudding and use dairy-free whipped topping to make the dessert suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: None
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 10mg