Ladyfingers for Strawberry Coconut Tres Leches

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Discussion Overview

This thread centers around the use of ladyfingers in a Strawberry Coconut Tres Leches recipe, with participants sharing their experiences and alternatives when ladyfingers are unavailable.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the location of ladyfingers at Walmart, expressing unfamiliarity with the ingredient.
  • Another participant mentions finding ladyfingers in both the cookie aisle and bakery section.
  • Several users share that pound cake can be a suitable substitute for ladyfingers, with one participant noting that angel food cake tends to become mushy.
  • One participant shares a positive experience using dessert shells for strawberry shortcakes as an alternative.
  • Another participant describes the high cost of ladyfingers, leading them to prefer pound cake.
  • One participant recounts difficulties in finding ladyfingers and ultimately opting for pound cake instead.
  • Another participant shares their experience that ladyfingers can become too mushy in the recipe, while pound cake holds up better.
  • One participant mentions using frozen pound cake and finding it preferable to ladyfingers.
  • Another participant suggests that Twinkies can also be used as an alternative, based on a cluster meeting experience.
  • One participant expresses satisfaction with the recipe made with pound cake, noting it remained good even after several days.
  • Another participant shares their decision to purchase ladyfingers for an upcoming show, while considering trying pound cake in the future for comparison.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the best ingredient to use, with some participants advocating for pound cake while others prefer ladyfingers. No clear consensus emerges regarding the superiority of one option over the other.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences and preferences regarding ingredient availability and recipe outcomes, reflecting a variety of cooking practices and ingredient sourcing challenges.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants looking for insights on ingredient alternatives for the Strawberry Coconut Tres Leches recipe may find this discussion relevant.

winklermom
winklermom
Messages
512
In what department will I be able to find Ladyfingers @ Walmart? I had never heard of them until I hear about this recipe.
 
At mine they have them both in the cookie aisle and over by the bakery.
 
Pound cake works, too, if you can't find them. Angel food cake gets mushy :yuck:
 
  • Thread starter
  • #4
Great! Thanks, ladies! I appreciate the help. I'm thinking about doing this tomorrow for a Valentine treat for my family.
 
I had good results using those dessert shells for making strawberry shortcakes. Just chunk them up.
 
cochef said:
Pound cake works, too, if you can't find them. Angel food cake gets mushy :yuck:
Click to expand...

yep I use pound cake and cut it up
 
The ladyfingers here are in the bakery and they are tres expensive! Mara
 
  • Thread starter
  • #8
Maragib said:
The ladyfingers here are in the bakery and they are tres expensive! Mara
Click to expand...

That alone makes me think that pound cake will be a better way to go. Thanks, everyone, for your input!
 
Never could find them around here (Walmart and three different local stores!) so I went with pound cake.
 
They are sometimes in the freezer section also, near the desserts. I demoed this recipe last spring often and I noticed it turned out better with the lady fingers. In my experience, they held up better than the pound cake. Also....if this is your 1st time making it....don't do as I did the 1st (and 2nd:blushing:) time and make the pudding 1st. You need the mix, not the finished pudding!
 
They took me some time to find b/c they were not packaged like I expected them to be. They were in a basket in the bakery dept, pre-packaged in clear wrapping. I think I finally asked someone where they were hiding. I found them in Safeway.

Sandi
 
I see from the previous posts here that Angel food cake is not recommended; however, I have a show tomorrow night, and the hostess couldn't find the ladyfingers, so she emailed me and said she bought an angel food cake instead, and hoped it would work, as she doesn't have time to go to the store again.
So...should I go myself and buy the ladyfingers? Or could I make the angel food cake work?
My thoughts are, as I'm typing this, to buy them, then go ahead and cut her angel food cake up into bite-sized pieces and serve them in a bamboo bowl at the show, with toothpicks and some cherry almond sauce...? What do you think? I mean, I don't want her stuff to go "unused", but I definitely want the show to be a good one, kwim??
Thanks in advance!!
 
Paula R. Lewis said:
I see from the previous posts here that Angel food cake is not recommended; however, I have a show tomorrow night, and the hostess couldn't find the ladyfingers, so she emailed me and said she bought an angel food cake instead, and hoped it would work, as she doesn't have time to go to the store again.
So...should I go myself and buy the ladyfingers? Or could I make the angel food cake work?
My thoughts are, as I'm typing this, to buy them, then go ahead and cut her angel food cake up into bite-sized pieces and serve them in a bamboo bowl at the show, with toothpicks and some cherry almond sauce...? What do you think? I mean, I don't want her stuff to go "unused", but I definitely want the show to be a good one, kwim??
Thanks in advance!!
Click to expand...

bumping....Thanks!
 
Good idea. If you have the other dessert sauces, I would use those too!
 
I have never used AFC. I would get the lady fingers.
 
You can also get frozen pound cake. This is what I have used all the time and I love it. I have heard from other consultants that pound cake is even better than laddyfingers ;)
 
You can even use Twinkies. One of our consultants brought it to a cluster meeting and it wasn't that bad.
 
I made it with the lady fingers and I think they got too mushy. The host made it again and used pound cake and said it was much better.
 
I've never made this recipe (for a show) with the ladyfingers. They are very hard to find and about 3x's as much as the frozen pound cake. The cake seems to hold up better than the ladyfingers do. I've found ladyfingers at large food stores in the aisle but frozen or in the bread section. But most local small stores don't even carry them.
 
I made this recipe for a open house I held at my home... I thought it became FAR too mushy with the lady fingers...I'm not picky. Infact... I'd eat anything... but would not make that recipe again without some major tweeking!!
 
Pound cake is the way to go with this recipe!!! Last year I made it for a party. We finished the leftovers almost a week later and the last was as good as the first. A lot of desserts tend to get "watery" after a few days. This one doesn't. I finally found ladyfingers at one grocery store, but they were very cost prohibitive. I'd already made the recipe a few times with the pound cake and I will never make it any other way. It is very yummy. That's a lot coming from someone who hates coconuts!! (I know, milk tastes WAAAAYYY different, which is why I like it)
 
Thanks for all the tips! After a very long day at work yesterday, coupled with literally stopping for various errands all over town (lol!), I just decided to go ahead and purchase the ladyfingers. They are $2.29 per package at my local store, and we need 3 packages for the recipe. Show is tonight, so hopefully it will all be worth it!!!

I am, however, intrigued with the idea of the pound cake, which is probably cheaper, so I may just have to make it a second time, with the pound cake, to compare....
Thanks for the suggestions!!
Paula
 
  • Thread starter
  • #23
lt1jane said:
Pound cake is the way to go with this recipe!!! Last year I made it for a party. We finished the leftovers almost a week later and the last was as good as the first. A lot of desserts tend to get "watery" after a few days. This one doesn't. I finally found ladyfingers at one grocery store, but they were very cost prohibitive. I'd already made the recipe a few times with the pound cake and I will never make it any other way. It is very yummy. That's a lot coming from someone who hates coconuts!! (I know, milk tastes WAAAAYYY different, which is why I like it)
Click to expand...

You answered another question that I had meant to ask. I would like to make this dessert again for Easter but I wanted to be sure that it would be okay if I made it the day before so I wouldn't have a lot to do after we get home from church that afternoon.

Thanks for the 411!
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are ladyfingers and why are they used in Strawberry Coconut Tres Leches?

Ladyfingers are light, sweet sponge cakes shaped like fingers. They are used in Strawberry Coconut Tres Leches because they absorb the tres leches mixture well, adding moisture and flavor to the dessert without becoming overly soggy.

Can I make my own ladyfingers for the recipe?

Yes, you can make your own ladyfingers at home using eggs, sugar, and flour. However, store-bought ladyfingers are convenient and save time, especially if you're looking to prepare the dessert quickly.

How do I ensure the ladyfingers are properly soaked in the tres leches mixture?

To ensure the ladyfingers are properly soaked, dip each one briefly in the tres leches mixture before layering them in your dish. Make sure to coat them evenly, but avoid soaking them for too long to prevent them from falling apart.

Can I substitute ladyfingers with another type of cake?

Yes, you can substitute ladyfingers with other sponge cakes or even pound cake. However, keep in mind that the texture and absorption properties may vary, which can affect the overall outcome of the dessert.

How long can I store Strawberry Coconut Tres Leches with ladyfingers?

You can store Strawberry Coconut Tres Leches in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. It's best enjoyed within the first couple of days for optimal freshness, as the ladyfingers may become too soft over time.

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