Strawberry Brownies

Chocolate covered strawberries are one of my favorite treats to make for fancy celebrations. The combination of juicy strawberries and smooth chocolate is irresistible, which is why I knew I needed to find a way to incorporate this flavor combo another into one of my favorite desserts: brownies.

Nothing is more satisfying then a perfect, fudgy brownie. Except, perhaps these chocolate strawberry brownies with a rich ganache topping. I love the combination of textures — soft from the fudgy brownies, creamy from the chocolate ganache, and delicious fresh and sweet from the fresh strawberries. All that’s missing is a scoop of 3-ingredient vanilla ice cream on top!

How to make strawberry brownies

The first thing you’ll need to make for the strawberry brownies recipe is the brownie base. Similar to my classic brownie recipe, this one-bowl recipe is easy to make and doesn’t require any extra mixing tools, besides a whisk and a spatula.

1. Prepare your pan and preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F/180° and line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving enough to hang over the sides for easy removal.
2. Melt the chocolate and butter. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and chopped chocolate in the microwave, stirring in between 20-30 second intervals. Continue this process until melted (you can also place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water).
3. Whisk in sugar and eggs. Once melted, add the sugar and whisk until combined. Add in the eggs, one at a time, whisking vigorously after each addition until well combined.
4. Add in the dry ingredients. Finally, add in the flour and salt and fold, using a spatula, just until combined. You don’t want to overmix the brownie batter, which is why I like to switch to a spatula at this point.
5. Bake. Pour the brownie batter into the pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs. The brownies will firm as they cool, so you want to see crumbs on the toothpick! Let the brownies cool completely before moving to the chocolate strawberry layer.

Make the chocolate strawberry layer

To make these chocolate covered strawberry brownies, you need to add an extra special layer of chocolate ganache on top of the cooled, fudgy brownies. Similar to a truffle, the ganache has a smooth, luscious texture that pairs perfectly to the chewy brownies.

1. Remove the stems from the strawberries and cut them in half.
2. Place the halves, cut side down, evenly over the brownies. Make sure to place them close together, using enough strawberries to cover the entire surface.

Make the chocolate ganache layer

Next, we’re going to make an easy chocolate ganache.

1. Heat the cream in a saucepan over low heat, just until it starts bubbling on the edge.
2. Immediately remove it from the heat and add the chopped chocolate, stirring until melted. You may need to place it back over the heat for a few seconds to help the chocolate melt completely.
3. Pour the smooth chocolate mixture over the strawberries and spread evenly. If it doesn’t cover all the strawberries completely, that’s ok.
4. Refrigerate the chocolate strawberry brownies for at least 4 hours, until the ganache is completely set. I like to slice them into 16 squares since they are so rich, storing any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Tips for making strawberry brownies

• Use good quality chocolate and cocoa powder. I like using chocolate bars cut into chunks for both the brownies and the ganache layer, and Dutch-processed cocoa powder for its extra rich, chocolatey flavor. The better quality these ingredients are, the better your brownies will taste.
• Don’t over bake the brownies. Remove the brownies from the oven when a toothpick inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs – this means they are still moist and chocolatey but baked through. If you bake much longer, the brownies will be dry.
• Serve the brownies within 1-2 days of making. Since you’re using fresh strawberries, the juice from the strawberries begins to seep into the brownies after a day or two, making them mushy and not as pretty.
• Additional serving tip: These brownies taste amazing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I highly recommend :).

Can you freeze strawberry brownies?

I don’t recommend freezing these brownies because they contain fresh, uncooked fruit. If you freeze them, the water from the fruit will seep into the brownies and become mushy as they thaw.

More of my favorite brownie recipes

• Spice Brownies: Ultra fudgy brownies with cinnamon and ginger.
• Peanut Butter Pretzel Brownies: The combination of chocolate and salty, and sweet flavors is irresistible!
• Cheesecake Brownies: Rich brownies marbled with creamy, luscious cheesecake. 
• Pecan Pie Brownies: Chocolatey brownies topped with ooey, gooey pecan pie filling.
• Nutella Brownies: Layered with creamy, rich Nutella for pure decadence.