These irresistible strawberry-filled enchiladas transform the classic Mexican dish into a spectacular dessert that will amaze your family and guests. Sweet strawberry filling wrapped in soft flour tortillas creates an unexpected treat.
This unique fusion dessert combines familiar comfort food elements with creative flair, delivering restaurant-quality results in your own kitchen with simple ingredients and straightforward techniques.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Category: Dessert
Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine: American Fusion
Yield: 4 servings
Dietary: Vegetarian
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Creates an unexpected twist on traditional irresistible strawberry-filled enchiladas
- Uses simple pantry ingredients for impressive dessert results
- Perfect for entertaining guests with something completely unique
- Combines warm tortillas with sweet strawberry filling beautifully
- Ready in under an hour with minimal prep work
Quick Benefits
This dessert enchilada recipe offers the perfect balance of familiar comfort and creative surprise. The warm cinnamon-sugar sauce complements fresh strawberries while soft tortillas provide the ideal wrapper for this innovative treat that’s sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
- 1 (21 ounce) can strawberry pie filling or homemade filling
- 6 8-inch flour tortillas
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, tops removed, divided
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place 1 ½ cups of strawberries into a food processor or blender and puree. Add sugar, boiling water, and cornstarch, blending until smooth. Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook for 3 minutes until thick and jam-like, then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Halve or quarter the remaining strawberries and stir into the sauce.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with butter.
- Soften tortillas in the microwave if needed. Spoon about 1/4 cup of strawberry filling slightly off-center of each tortilla. Roll tortillas up and place seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.
- In a medium saucepan, bring butter, sugar, brown sugar, and water (or strawberry syrup) to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Pour the sauce over the enchiladas, sprinkle with additional cinnamon if desired, and let stand for 45 minutes. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream and additional strawberry syrup as desired.
You Must Know
The key to perfect irresistible strawberry-filled enchiladas lies in properly warming the tortillas and creating a smooth, lump-free sauce. Don’t skip the cornstarch slurry step, as it prevents the sauce from separating during baking and ensures a glossy finish.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these warm enchiladas with a dollop of freshly whipped cream and a drizzle of the pan sauce. Fresh mint leaves make an elegant garnish that complements the strawberry flavors beautifully.
Pair with vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent dessert experience, or serve alongside fresh berries and a light dusting of powdered sugar for a more refined presentation.
Creative Variations
- Replace strawberries with mixed berry filling using blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries
- Add cream cheese to the filling for a cheesecake-inspired version
- Use whole wheat tortillas for added fiber and nutty flavor
- Incorporate chopped pecans or almonds into the strawberry mixture
- Create a chocolate version by adding cocoa powder to the sauce
- Make individual portions using smaller tortillas for party appetizers
Cultural Notes
This dessert represents the beautiful evolution of fusion cuisine, where traditional Mexican cooking techniques meet American dessert preferences. While enchiladas traditionally feature savory fillings, this sweet adaptation showcases how culinary boundaries can be creatively crossed while respecting the fundamental cooking methods that make the original dish so beloved.
Pro Tips
- Warm tortillas just until pliable to prevent cracking during rolling
- Drain excess liquid from strawberry filling to prevent soggy enchiladas
- Make sauce completely smooth by whisking constantly while adding cornstarch slurry
- Let enchiladas rest 5 minutes after baking for easier serving and better texture
- Use a mix of fresh and canned strawberries for optimal flavor and texture balance
- Brush tortilla edges with water to help seal the enchiladas during baking
- Cover with foil if tops brown too quickly during baking process
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I make these irresistible strawberry-filled enchiladas ahead of time?
A: Yes, assemble the enchiladas up to 4 hours ahead, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Add the sauce just before baking and increase cooking time by 5-10 minutes.
Q: What’s the best way to prevent tortillas from cracking when rolling?
A: Warm tortillas in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or wrap in damp paper towels. This makes them pliable and prevents cracking during assembly.
Q: Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh ones?
A: Yes, but thaw and drain frozen strawberries thoroughly first to remove excess moisture that could make the enchiladas soggy during baking.
Q: How do I know when the enchiladas are properly cooked?
A: The tortillas should be golden brown on the edges and the sauce should be bubbling around the edges of the pan after 20-25 minutes of baking.
Q: What can I substitute for the strawberry pie filling?
A: You can make homemade filling by cooking sliced strawberries with sugar and cornstarch, or substitute with other fruit pie fillings like cherry or apple.
Health Benefits
Strawberries provide excellent sources of vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber while supporting immune system health and providing natural sweetness. This dessert offers a more nutritious alternative to many traditional sweets by incorporating fresh fruit as the primary flavoring component.
- Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants from fresh strawberries
- Provides dietary fiber for digestive health
- Contains natural fruit sugars rather than only processed sweeteners
- Offers potassium and folate from strawberry content
- Lower in saturated fat compared to many cream-based desserts
Nutrition
Per serving: Calories: 485, Protein: 6g, Carbohydrates: 78g, Fat: 18g, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 52g, Sodium: 320mg
Notes
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Reheating: Warm individual portions in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or reheat in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes. Make-ahead: Assemble enchiladas without sauce up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate. Substitutions: Use gluten-free tortillas for celiac dietary needs, or substitute vegan butter for dairy-free version.
Irresistible Strawberry-Filled Enchiladas
These irresistible strawberry-filled enchiladas transform the classic Mexican dish into a spectacular dessert that will amaze your family and guests.
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Reheating: Warm individual portions in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or reheat in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes. Make-ahead: Assemble enchiladas without sauce up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate. Substitutions: Use gluten-free tortillas for celiac dietary needs, or substitute vegan butter for dairy-free version.