Sweet and tangy Carlota de Limón, also known as a Charlotte Russe dessert or icebox cake, is a classic Mexican no bake dessert recipe with layers of vanilla wafers, condensed milk, dulce de leche, and lime juice, topped off with fresh strawberries and lime!
Photos and recipe by The Rustic Foodie
What is Carlota de Limón?
Carlota de Limón, or Pay de Limón, is a Mexican dessert with layers of Maria biscuits, vanilla wafers, or tea cookies, condensed and evaporated milk, and lime juice. It is an easy icebox cake recipe served chilled a delicious strawberry lime topping.
Typically, a charlotte is a type of dessert you can serve hot or cold. In this case, we kept it an icebox cake.
What does Carlota de Limón taste like?
Containing condensed and evaporated milk, lime juice and, in the case of this recipe, a little dulce de leche, Carlota de Limón is a decadent, sweet and tangy dessert. It has a creamy consistency similar to ice cream, with layers of texture from vanilla wafers, tea biscuits, or Maria cookies.
The flavor of Carlota de Limón is similar to a key lime pie, with additional richness from condensed and evaporated milk.
Ingredients for a Charlotte Cake
To make Carlota de Limón, you only need a few simple ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
- 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup dulce de leche (or sub with more sweetened condensed milk)
- Zest of 2 large limes
- Juice of 2-3 large limes (equals 1/2 cup lime juice)
- 1 package vanilla wafers, tea biscuits, or Maria cookies
For the Strawberry Topping with Lime:
- 1 package strawberries (about 2-3 cups)
- Zest of 1 lime
- Juice of 1 lime
What are Maria cookies?
Maria biscuits, also known as Maria cookies or galletas María, are simple, subtly sweet cookies that make a delicious snack, and pair well with tea, coffee, or a glass of milk.
In Carlota de Limón, vanilla wafers, tea biscuits, or Maria biscuits layer with the other ingredients for a pleasant texture and subtle flavor.
Where to Buy Maria cookies
You will easily find Maria cookies at any grocery store or supermarket. Look in the snacks section, where the cookies are. If you can’t find them there, check the international aisle.
Many brands make Maria cookies, and you can usually find them in an orange box or a red or gold package. If you can’t find Maria cookies, we recommend looking for vanilla wafers or tea cookies.
In this recipe, we use vanilla wafers.
How to Make Carlota de Limón
Making Carlota de Limón is so easy! Best of all, there’s no baking involved.
- Combine evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and dulce de leche in a bowl. Beat with hand mixer or the whisk attachment of a Kitchen Aid mixer until combined.
- Add the zest of 2 large limes along with the juice of the limes (about 1/2 cup) to the bowl. Continue to mix until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Wrap a piece of tinfoil around the bottom of a spring form pan.
- Arrange a layer of the wafers or cookies across the bottom of the pan. Pour 1/3 of the mixture over the cookies and smooth with a spatula. Repeat 2 more times, ending with the mixture. Smooth with a spatula.
- Pop the dessert in the freezer and allow to chill for an hour or two.
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- Continue to mix until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
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- Arrange a layer of the wafers or cookies across the bottom of the pan.
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- Smooth with a spatula.
For the Strawberry Topping with Lime:
- Cut 1 package (about 2-3 cups) of strawberries into quarters. Place the strawberries in a bowl. Add the zest of 1 lime along with the juice of 1 lime to the strawberries. Stir until completely combined.
- To serve: Remove the dessert from the freezer. Top with the strawberry lime mixture. Cut into pieces and serve.
Love recipes like this? Try these other dessert favorites:
- Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake
- Homemade Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits
- Chocolate Ganache Covered Strawberries
- Strawberry Dole Whip
- No Bake Strawberry Desserts
- Butterscotch Sauce Recipe
- How to Make Strawberry Sauce
For other Cinco de Mayo recipes, try:
- Mexican Lasagna with Corn Tortillas
- Puerto Rican Baked Empanadas
- Chorizo Cheese Dip with Spinach
- Chilaquiles Rojos Mexican Skillet
We would love to know what you think of this recipe! Leave a comment below to let us know!
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Sweet and tangy Carlota de Limón is a classic Mexican NO BAKE dessert recipe with layers of Maria biscuits, condensed milk, dulce de leche, and lime juice!
- 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
- 1 can condensed milk 14 oz.
- 1/2 cup dulce de leche or sub extra sweetened condensed milk
- 2 large limes zested
- 3 large limes juiced (equals 1/2 cup lime juice); about 2 to 3 large limes
- 1 package vanilla wafers or tea biscuits, or Maria cookies
- 1 package strawberries about 2-3 cups
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 lime zested
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Combine evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and dulce de leche in a bowl. Beat with hand mixer or the whisk attachment of a Kitchen Aid mixer until combined.
-
Add the zest of 2 large limes along with the juice of the limes (about 1/2 cup) to the bowl. Continue to mix until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
-
Wrap a piece of tinfoil around the bottom of a spring form pan.
-
Arrange a layer of the wafers or cookies across the bottom of the pan. Pour 1/3 of the mixture over the cookies and smooth with a spatula. Repeat 2 more times, ending with the mixture. Smooth with a spatula.
-
Pop the dessert in the freezer and allow to chill for an hour or two.
-
Cut 1 package (about 2-3 cups) of strawberries into quarters. Place the strawberries in a bowl. Add the zest of 1 lime along with the juice of 1 lime to the strawberries. Stir until completely combined.
-
To serve: Remove the dessert from the freezer. Top with the strawberry lime mixture. Cut into pieces and serve.
Recipe Video
Post updated on April 16th, 2019.
Recipe and photos updated on June 22nd, 2019, by Christine Rooney of The Rustic Foodie.
Such a beautiful and impressive dessert! I love lime anything.
Never heard of this dessert before Stacy, looks absolutely delicious. I know that I would love it. The Kuala Lumpur celebration sounds similiar to Cinco de Mayo
What a delicious dessert! I love the fresh flavors and the ease of this recipe!
#yummy!!! Love this recipe, Stacy. Maria biscuits are the best…Yes, please to the topping of whipped cream =)
Stacy, what an elegant, irresistible dessert!!
What a gorgeous cake! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it!
That is one gorgeous cake! I love the addition of the cookies into the cheesecake for crunchy bits. Crunchy bits are always good.
What a pretty dessert! Love the zip of the lime!
I love lime and dulce de leche – this looks so good!
My mom and I could eat this in one sitting!
You’ve got to love a dessert that’s impressive yet secretly simple to do!
This looks like one perfect desert, perfect for spring!
Looks wonderful, I will be trying this!! Silly question though, how do you get it out of the round pan and onto the plate without messing it up and/or leaving the aluminum foil underneath it??
Thank you, Nikole! I’m glad you like this recipe and are going to try it. We can’t wait to hear how you like it. To get it out of the pan just lift up with the aluminum foil and then you can slide it off the foil onto a serving plate. It’s frozen, so it is quite easy to handle. I hope that helps! Thanks for stopping by 🙂