4-ingredient Strawberry Sando

Jump to Recipe Video

Fluffy milk bread stuffed with thick whipped cream and sweet strawberries. This Japanese strawberry sando is delicious and made with only 4-simple ingredients. A delightful dessert or snack stunning to the eye! [Dairy-free adaptable]

Jump to:

Ingredients & Substitutes
Expert Tips
Instructions
Storage
Pairing Suggestions
FAQ
More like this
📖 Recipe
💬 Reviews

Strawberry sando is an indulgent dessert made of fluffy milk bread, heavy whipping cream, sugar and ripe strawberries. It's a popular Japanese fruit sandwich and it's sold at many convenience stores.

Locals love this Asian treat as it's beautiful, refreshing and delicious! There are many varieties of this dessert sandwich, some featuring oranges, grapes or kiwis. Sometimes the fruits are also shaped into gorgeous flower patterns.

This strawberry cream sandwich almost tastes like a cake, thanks to the fluffy bread and thick sweet cream but there is no baking involved!

Why you'll love this recipe:

easy to make with minimal ingredients!
a no-bake dessert.
great to impress guests.
fun to enjoy for kids and adults.
a delicious way to enjoy strawberries during strawberry season between (late May to July).
dairy-free adaptable (see substitute below).

Ingredients & Substitutes

Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.

Large Fresh Ripe Strawberries: that smell sweet, vibrant and are around the same size. Or substitute with other fruits like peeled oranges, kiwis or large green grapes.
Chilled Whipping Cream (M.F. 30-35%): or substitute with heavy cream (M.F. 36%). Avoid table cream (18%) or half-and-half cream as it won't thicken. If you're dairy-free: substitute with 1 can whole fat coconut milk chilled in the fridge the night before and only use the fat portion, not the liquids!
Fluffy Milk Bread or Japanese Milk bread (aka Shokupan): available at Asian bakeries and get the thickest cut. The bread can also cube in a cube that you slice yourself. Or substitute with Texas toast white bread or regular white bread.
White Granulated Sugar

Expert Tips

Use fresh ripe strawberries similar in size so the sandwich looks even.
Use fluffy thick cut bread for best texture and avoid using thinly sliced bread.
Chill the whipping cream at the back of the fridge or even freeze it for 20 minutes before whipping and keep it in the fridge while preparing other ingredients.
Use a chilled metal or glass bowl, whisk or beaters. The cold helps with the whipping process.
Use an electric mixer or stand mixer to quickly and easily whip the cream.
Don't over whip the cream as it'll turn to butter.
Make sure to fill all holes with the whipped cream.
Wrap sandwich tightly in plastic wrap.
Rest the sandwich in the back of the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set the cream or 2-3 hours if you have extra time (overnight works too). You can also quick-freeze it for 15 minutes.
Use a large sharp chef knife, santoku knife or serrated knife to help you cut the sandwich.

Instructions

Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make strawberry sando:

In a large bowl, add chilled whipping cream and white granulated sugar. Whisk until you have firm stiff peaks but don't over whip it. Chill the cream in the fridge as you prepare the other ingredients. Tip: if you have an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, start whisking on low speed and work your way up to medium-high speed.

In a large bowl, add chilled whipping cream and white granulated sugar. Whisk until you have firm stiff peaks but don't over whip it. Chill the cream in the fridge as you prepare the other ingredients. Tip: if you have an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, start whisking on low speed and work your way up to medium-high speed.

Slice off the bread crusts off with a sharp knife or serrated knife.

Slice off the bread crusts off with a sharp knife or serrated knife.

Lay out a large sheet of plastic wrap on a cutting board and place a slice of bread on top. Spread a thin layer of the whipped cream on top of the bread and then place the strawberries in an 'X' shape pointing in the same direction. Remember which direction they’re pointing in.

Lay out a large sheet of plastic wrap on a cutting board and place a slice of bread on top. Spread a thin layer of the whipped cream on top of the bread and then place the strawberries in an 'X' shape pointing in the same direction. Remember which direction they’re pointing in.

Cover the strawberries with the chilled whipped cream ensuring all holes are filled. Cover with the remaining slice of bread and fill in any gaping holes with more whipped cream, especially on the sides and corners.

Cover the strawberries with the chilled whipped cream ensuring all holes are filled. Cover with the remaining slice of bread and fill in any gaping holes with more whipped cream, especially on the sides and corners.

Tightly wrap the sandwich with plastic wrap. Draw a diagonal line on the plastic wrap indicating which direction the strawberries are pointing. Rest the sandwich in the back of the fridge for at least 30 minutes or 2-3 hours (or overnight) to set the cream. You can also quick-freeze it for 15 minutes.

Tightly wrap the sandwich with plastic wrap. Draw a diagonal line on the plastic wrap indicating which direction the strawberries are pointing. Rest the sandwich in the back of the fridge for at least 30 minutes or 2-3 hours (or overnight) to set the cream. You can also quick-freeze it for 15 minutes.

Remove the plastic wrap. Slice the sandwich where the diagonal line was with a large sharp knife or serrated knife. Enjoy immediately!

Remove the plastic wrap. Slice the sandwich where the diagonal line was with a large sharp knife or serrated knife. Enjoy immediately!

Storage

This sandwich is best consumed immediately as the whipped cream will melt. But if you made extra sandwiches, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store them in the back of the fridge and they will last up to 2 days. Any longer and the bread will go soggy.
Freezer-friendly? I don't recommend freezing the sandwich for prolonged periods of time as the strawberries and bread will go mushy.

Pairing Suggestions

Strawberry sando serves well on its own but you can enjoy this dessert with:

coffee, tea, milk, or fruit juice
fresh fruit like berries, bananas, grapes, citrus and more
baked goods like cookies and cakes
pastries or danishes

FAQ

Can I make this in advance?

This sandwich can be made a few hours in advance or the night before. Just store it in the fridge in the plastic wrap and when ready to serve, slice and unwrap it.

Why isn't my whipped cream thickening?

If your whipped cream isn't thickening, it can be due to a few reasons. These include not chilling the whipped cream, not using a cold bowl or beaters, using a cream with a low milk fat percentage, under whipping or over whipping the cream.

📖 Recipe