Delicious Chocolate Covered Strawberry Brownies

I’ve always had a soft spot for brownies. There’s something special about the way chocolate makes any day better, especially when you’re craving something sweet. But sometimes regular brownies just aren’t enough, you know? That’s when I started playing around with this chocolate covered strawberry version.

These brownies combine two of my favorite treats into one easy dessert. I love making them for Valentine’s Day, but honestly, they’re perfect any time you want to make someone smile. The best part? They’re not as complicated as they look. I usually prep the strawberries while the brownies are in the oven, so there’s no extra fuss or waiting around.

Whether you’re a chocolate lover, a strawberry fan, or just someone who enjoys trying new twists on classic desserts, these brownies hit all the right notes. And trust me, they disappear pretty quickly at parties – I learned that lesson the hard way!

What Kind of Chocolate Should I Use?

For these brownies, you’ll want to stick with high-quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips with a cocoa content between 60-70%. While milk chocolate might seem tempting, it’s typically too sweet and doesn’t provide the deep, rich chocolate flavor that makes these brownies special. Regular supermarket chocolate chips will work in a pinch, but premium brands like Ghirardelli, Guittard, or Valrhona will give you noticeably better results. Just make sure to check the ingredient list – good chocolate should list cocoa butter, not vegetable oils, as one of the first ingredients. If you’re working with chocolate bars instead of chips, that’s perfectly fine too – just chop them into small, even pieces before using.

Options for Substitutions

Let’s talk about what you can swap in this recipe if you need to:

• Chocolate chips: For both the brownie base and topping, you can use milk chocolate if you prefer a sweeter taste, or dark chocolate bars chopped into small pieces. Just make sure to use good quality chocolate since it’s the star ingredient here.
• Unsalted butter: If you only have salted butter, that’s fine – just reduce the added salt in the recipe to 1/4 teaspoon. You can also use margarine, though the texture might be slightly different.
• Fresh strawberries: While fresh strawberries work best, you can use frozen ones in a pinch. Just make sure to thaw and pat them very dry first to prevent excess moisture in your brownies. You could also try raspberries for a different twist.
• Heavy cream: For the ganache topping, you can substitute heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk (the canned kind) for a dairy-free option. Half-and-half won’t work here as it’s too thin.
• All-purpose flour: You can swap in cake flour for a more tender brownie, but avoid whole wheat flour as it will make them too dense. For gluten-free needs, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend that contains xanthan gum.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest challenge when making chocolate covered strawberry brownies is preventing moisture from the fresh strawberries from making your brownies too wet – combat this by patting the strawberries completely dry with paper towels before adding them to your batter. When melting chocolate for both the brownie batter and the ganache topping, keep a close eye on the temperature and remove it from heat as soon as it’s mostly melted, as overheated chocolate can become grainy and lose its smooth texture. To achieve that perfect fudgy texture, avoid overbaking – take the brownies out when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs (not completely clean), as they’ll continue cooking slightly while cooling. For the smoothest ganache topping, make sure your heavy cream is truly at room temperature before combining it with the chocolate, and let the brownies cool completely before adding the topping to prevent the ganache from becoming streaky or separating.

What to Serve With Chocolate Covered Strawberry Brownies?

These rich brownies are definitely a dessert that can stand on their own, but there are some fun ways to make them even more special! A scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side creates a perfect temperature contrast with the fudgy brownies, and the cold cream really brings out the chocolate flavor. If you’re serving these at a party, consider putting out some fresh whipped cream or a drizzle of warm caramel sauce for people to add as they like. For a cozy night in, try pairing these brownies with a hot cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk – both drinks help balance out the sweetness and make each bite even better.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These chocolate covered strawberry brownies stay good in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The fresh strawberries make refrigeration necessary, but trust me – the cold actually makes the chocolate coating extra snappy and gives these brownies an amazing texture!

Prepare Ahead: You can make the brownie base a day ahead and add the strawberries and chocolate coating just before serving. This is super helpful when you’re planning for a party or special occasion. Just wrap the cooled brownie base tightly in plastic wrap and keep it at room temperature until you’re ready to top it.

Serve: For the best taste and texture, let these brownies sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving. This allows the chocolate topping to soften slightly and the strawberries to come to a perfect temperature. The brownies are even better on day two when all the flavors have had time to mingle!

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	30-35 minutes
Total Time	95-120 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 3500-4000
• Protein: 30-40 g
• Fat: 240-260 g
• Carbohydrates: 400-450 g

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups high-quality chocolate chips (200g, either semisweet or bittersweet)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature, divided into four pieces (113g or 1 stick)
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, unsweetened (18g)
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar (250g)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (125g)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups strawberries, fresh and halved (150g)
• 2 cups premium chocolate chips (300g, either semisweet or bittersweet)
• 6 tablespoons heavy cream at room temperature (90 ml or 3 oz)

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring the edges hang over the sides for easy removal later.

Set the prepared pan aside.

Step 2: Melt the Chocolate and Butter

Using a double boiler or a medium heatproof bowl set over a pot of almost simmering water, melt together the chocolate and butter.

Stir occasionally until the mixture is completely smooth.

Once melted, whisk in the cocoa powder until well combined.

Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.

Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until they are well combined, about 30 seconds.

Gradually whisk the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, ensuring a smooth blend.

Using a wooden spoon, gently stir in the flour until just combined, taking care not to overmix.

Step 4: Bake the Brownies

Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan.

Use an offset spatula to spread the mixture into the corners and level the surface.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the brownies are slightly puffed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few sticky crumbs clinging to it.

Allow the brownies to cool on a wire rack to room temperature, approximately 2 hours.

Step 5: Add Strawberries and Chocolate Ganache

Once the brownies are completely cooled, place halved strawberries cut side down evenly over the surface of the brownies.

In a saucepan over low heat, warm the heavy cream for about 2 minutes.

Remove from heat and immediately add chocolate chips, stirring until they are fully melted.

If necessary, return to heat for an additional 30 seconds to ensure complete melting.

Pour the warm mixture evenly over the strawberries.

Step 6: Slice and Serve

Once the chocolate ganache has set and you are ready to serve, cut the brownies into one-inch squares.

Enjoy these delicious, rich brownies with the fresh taste of strawberries and smooth chocolate ganache.