Chocolate Brownies with Strawberry Buttercream
Do you like chocolate-covered strawberries? Then you’ll love these Chocolate Brownies with Strawberry Buttercream!
This post may contain paid links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
I read the most interesting article the other day. It appears that dogs actually change their facial expressions in an attempt to get human attention. More specifically, when humans are around, dogs have more facial expressions. Yup, that’s right. Our dogs are playing us. Those classic “puppy dog eyes”? Your puppy is playing you. And you know what? I’m ok with it.
We adopted two puppies last April, and the last 10 months have been a bit insane in our house. 2 hyper chihuhua mutts and a 5-year-old are enough to keep anyone on their toes. However, life is calming down a bit lately. We have finally trained Edith and Millie…although thanks to that study, I now suspect that they have trained us. Either way, life is good. Oh, and another reason life is good? These Chocolate Brownies with Strawberry Buttercream.
Chocolate Brownies with Strawberry Buttercream
Chocolate Brownies with Strawberry ButtercreamI love a good fudgy, chewy brownie. But you know what I love even more? The crust of those aforementioned fudgy, chewy brownies. I noted my love for brownie edges in a previous post, and Shashi from Savory Spin promptly sent me a brownie pan that only makes crust pieces. Delish! The only problem with the brownie edge pan is I eat the entire batch WAY too quickly. (If you like brownie edges as much as me, then you need this pan – aff. link.)
I baked this batch of brownies in a traditional 9″x13″ cake pan. (If you like thicker brownies, you can certainly go with an 8″x8″ pan, but the brownies will have to bake longer.) And while those brownies are delicious in their own right, I decided to step up the game a notch and top ’em with strawberry frosting. That’s right. A chewy chocolate brownie covered with a luscious strawberry buttercream. (Can buttercream frosting be called ‘luscious’?)
This strawberry buttercream doesn’t use extract to get it’s delicious flavor. Nope, it uses real strawberries. And the process is quite simple – even if it does take a bit of time. All you do is puree up some fresh strawberries until they’re liquid. Then you just transfer that liquid into a saucepan and let it simmer until it’s reduces down. From there, add it to the buttercream, and you’ll end up with a gorgeous (and delicious) strawberry buttercream. I might have eaten a spoonful of this frosting by itself – you know, for quality control purposes and all.
If you’re looking for a tasty (and fun) dessert, then these Chocolate Brownies with Strawberry Buttercream are an excellent option. Just don’t be surprised when they disappear way too quickly! Happy baking!
Did you bake a batch of these Chocolate Brownies with Strawberry Buttercream at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog). Cheers!
Chocolate Brownies with Strawberry Buttercream
Ingredients
For Brownies
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 4 oz. semisweet chocolate chopped
- 1¾ cups semisweet chocolate chips divided
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ Tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
For the Strawberry Buttercream
- 1½ cups fresh strawberries chopped
- ¾ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 2½-3 cups powdered sugar sifted and divided
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- additional strawberries for garnishing
Instructions
For Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease and flour a 9”x13” baking pan. Line bottom with oversized parchment paper so that the paper comes up at least 2” on all sides of the pan. (This will help you remove the brownies from the pan later.) Set pan aside.
- Using a medium saucepan, add the butter, chocolate and 1 cup of chocolate chips. Place over medium-low heat, stirring often, until butter and chocolate have fully melted; set pan aside to cool.
- Using a large bowl, mix together the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Stir the egg mixture into the warm chocolate mixture.
- Using a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture.
- Stir the remaining ¾ cup of chocolate chips into the batter.
- Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the brownies comes out mostly clean.
- Let brownies cool completely before frosting.
For the Strawberry Buttercream
- Using a food processor or mini-chopper, add the strawberries and puree until smooth.
- Transfer strawberry mixture into a small saucepan and place over medium heat.
- Bring mixture to a simmer, stirring often. Continue simmering, stirring often, until mixture reduces to ¼ cup. (Note: To test volume, just pour the mixture into a measuring cup. Reducing the strawberry puree will take ~15 minutes or so.) Set strawberry puree aside to cool completely.
- Using a countertop mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy (~2-3 minutes on medium speed).
- Add 2½ cups of powdered sugar; beat until smooth.
- Add cooled strawberry puree and vanilla extract; beat until smooth.
- Add remaining powdered sugar in ¼ cup increments (beating after each addition) until frosting reaches desired consistency.
- Remove brownies from pan and place on a large plate or cutting board. Slice into 12 squares and then frost the top of each brownie with strawberry buttercream.
- Garnish with brownie with a halved strawberry before serving.
Looking for more tasty brownie recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
Oooohhh….that strawberry buttercream! That sounds delish, especially paired with a brownie. I’m checking out that brownie pan, because I’m all about the edges!
Yes! If you love brownie edges, Kathy, then get that pan. I know it seems like a ridiculous pan, but man is it fun! Make a batch of brownie edges and then slather ’em with strawberry buttercream frosting. Sounds like a pretty good way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, right? 🙂
Truth be told, I’d WAY rather have one of these brownies than chocolate covered strawberries. These look all kinds of incredible, David! Middle slice for me, please.
I’m with ya, Marissa! Chocolate-covered strawberries are fun and all, but I’m usually over ’em after 1 or 2. Plus, they aren’t necessarily the easiest thing to eat. These brownies? I’ll eat the whole pan! And you can have the middle slice – that’ll work well. Edges for me, middle for you! 🙂
Can you save this one to bring samples to the curling club (hopefully) next year? Thanks!
Haha – that might be able to be arranged, Brian!
you won me over with buttercream! i loooove buttercream icing. these brownies sound heavenly. i know what you mean with puppies. i reckon they don’t get any sense till they’re about 2.5 years old then they get really sensible at 5! brave taking on two at once…
cheers
sherry
Haha – brave for taking on 2 puppies at once? I might go with a different word. Perhaps stupid. 🙂 We do love the pups, though!
And thanks for the kind words on the brownies. This strawberry buttercream is amazing – and I love that it uses real strawberries for flavor. Cheers back at ya, Sherry!
What an interesting study! I love dogs and I know they’re super smart but I also know that even though all they want is their people’s attention, dogs don’t play games. One of the many things I like about dogs, really. I am glad things are going well with your puppies – it certainly sounds like between the pups and Robbie, you’ve got your work cut out for you, David. I am grateful you still find time for cooking and baking – these brownies look amazing. I love the flavour combo (I’d never think to match strawberries with brownies) and the fact that your buttercream uses real strawberries. It looks beyond delish!
You can say that again, Katerina! Between Robbie at home full-time with us right now + 2 puppies, our house is a bit wild. But at least it’s active and fun! 🙂 I think baking/cooking is my release as I get to go into my own little world in the kitchen. Thanks so much, my friend!
Ah, I saw these on Pinterest and added them to my “Favourite Home Baked Recipes” folder. Looks like a great recipe for me to do for Lynne for Valentines Day, David. As we can’t get out yet I’m sure this will go down a treat. Thank you!
Why thank you so much, Neil! I had fun coming up with the strawberry frosting for these brownies. We can’t go out either, so we’ve been looking for ways to celebrate at home. Chocolate + strawberries is always a winner! 🙂
Yessssss these brownies are perfection! So decadent and beautiful wow! Does it get better than strawberries and chocolate??? Talk about the perfect Valentine’s treat, a pan of these would certainly not last long in our house!
I’m with ya on the strawberries + chocolate combination! Truthfully, though, I prefer the flavors baked together rather than say a chocolate-covered strawberries. While they look impressive, I find them rather difficult to eat! These brownies, though? Not difficult to eat at all. 🙂 Thanks, Shannon!
Ohhh nice, share the photos of those puppies specially when they do that “Puss in Boots” looks. I bet they are adorable.
Haha – will do, Raymund! I’ll have to post some updated photos of the pups soon. 🙂