Description
Delight in these charming Strawberry Frosted Heart Shaped Brownies, perfect for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion. Rich, fudgy chocolate brownies are baked to perfection, cut into adorable heart shapes, and topped with a luscious strawberry buttercream frosting that adds a sweet, fruity touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Brownies
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons fresh strawberry puree
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: a tiny drop of pink food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on the sides for easy brownie removal after baking.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk the melted butter and granulated sugar together until well combined. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, and mix until the batter becomes glossy and smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gently stir in the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, and salt, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the batter. Fold in the semisweet chocolate chips carefully.
- Bake the Brownies: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 20 to 24 minutes, until the center is set but still fudgy. Avoid overbaking to maintain moist brownies. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan.
- Cut Brownie Hearts: Once cooled, lift the brownie slab out using the parchment overhang. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out individual brownie hearts gently. For sharper edges, chill the brownies before cutting if desired.
- Prepare Frosting: In a bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, fresh strawberry puree, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy. Add a tiny drop of pink food coloring if you want a deeper pink shade.
- Frost Brownie Hearts: Spread or pipe the strawberry frosting onto each brownie heart evenly. Place the frosted brownies in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to help the frosting set firmly.
Notes
- For very sharp heart shapes, chill the brownie slab before cutting.
- If the frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar to thicken it.
- If the frosting is too thick, add a little more strawberry puree to loosen it.
- Use brownie scraps leftover from cutting by incorporating them into parfaits or crumbling over ice cream for extra treats.
