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This strawberry brownies recipe is a simple yet deliciously sweet treat, perfect for Valentine’s Day or anytime you’re craving a fudgy dessert with a fruity twist. Made with strawberry cake mix and topped with a smooth pink glaze, these brownies bake up soft, chewy, and full of strawberry flavor, the ultimate sweet treat for strawberry lovers.
If you love dessert bars, make sure to check out my cream cheese brownies, these super fudgy chocolate brownies for two, these viral lemon brownies, as well as this fruity and fudgy lemon brownie recipe.
Why you’ll love these strawberry brownies
- Easy to customize with different toppings or mix-ins
- Ultra fudgy texture with a soft center
- Made with simple ingredients and a cake mix shortcut
- Topped with an easy strawberry glaze
- Perfect for Valentine’s Day and special occasions
Strawberry brownies for Valentine’s Day
These strawberry brownies are especially popular for Valentine’s Day thanks to their pink color, rich glaze, and soft fudgy texture. They’re perfect for date nights, gifting, baby showers, or anytime you want a fun, fruity dessert that feels a little extra.
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’Tis the season for everything pink, and these strawberry brownies totally fit the vibe. They’re simple, delicious, and super pretty, especially with the white chocolate chips mixed throughout.
Using a box of strawberry cake mix is a shortcut I use often when I want something quick but still indulgent. The texture stays incredibly fudgy, and the strawberry flavor really shines once the glaze goes on. While they’re a Valentine’s Day favorite, I honestly make these year-round whenever I want an easy dessert that feels festive without a ton of effort. If you love boxed mix brownies but want something more fun and festive, these strawberry brownies are the perfect upgrade.
Ingredients for these Strawberry cake mix brownies
Here are the ingredients you will need to make these chewy pink brownies. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed ingredient measurements.
- Strawberry cake mix – Creates the perfect fudgy brownie texture
- Butter – Melted; salted or unsalted both work
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Large eggs – Helps bind the batter and keep it moist
- White chocolate chips
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
- Freeze-dried Strawberries – Adds concentrated strawberry flavor to the glaze
Variations & swaps
- Add a small amount of strawberry extract for stronger strawberry flavor
- Frost with vanilla or strawberry buttercream instead of glaze
- Swap white chocolate chips for chopped milk or dark chocolate
- Top with fresh strawberries if serving right away
How to make strawberry brownies with cake mix recipe
This is how you can make these pink brownies. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions!
- Line a square baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together strawberry cake mix, melted butter, salt, and eggs until smooth.
- Fold in the white chocolate chips.
- Spread the strawberry brownie batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake in a preheated oven until just set.
- Let the brownies cool completely before glazing.
Make the strawberry glaze
- In a medium bowl, mix powdered sugar and crushed freeze-dried strawberries.
- Slowly whisk in milk until a thick glaze forms.
- Pour over cooled brownies and sprinkle with extra freeze-dried strawberries.
- Let set before slicing.
The glaze should be thick but pourablem if it runs too quickly, add more powdered sugar; if it’s too thick, add milk a teaspoon at a time.
What can I use instead of freeze-dried strawberries?
If you don’t have freeze-dried strawberries, you can use strawberry jam or strawberry preserves. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more as needed to avoid a runny glaze.
You can also use chocolate ganache, a plain glaze with pink food coloring, or decorate the brownies with fresh sliced strawberries.
Tips for the best strawberry brownies
- Always bake in a preheated oven
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the brownies tender
- Bake just until set, overbaking will dry them out
- Use the toothpick test: a few moist crumbs are perfect
Frequently asked questions – FAQ
Fridge: 4–5 days in an airtight container
Freezer: up to 3 months
Tip: separate layers with parchment paper to avoid them sticking.
Yes, this recipe freezes very well. Wrap individual brownies in plastic wrap then place in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container and reeze for up to 3 months.
For best texture, thaw overnight in the fridge.
Yes. These brownies actually taste better once fully set, making them great for prepping 1–2 days in advance.
Dry brownies are usually caused by overbaking or overmixing. Pull them from the oven as soon as the center is just set and avoid excessive mixing.
Yes, any standard strawberry cake mix works. Results may vary slightly by brand, but the texture will still be fudgy.
Strawberry brownies are done when the edges look set and the center no longer jiggles. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out with a few moist crumbs, not wet batter. Overbaking will result in dry brownies.
Fudgy Strawberry brownies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box strawberry cake mix 15.25 ounces
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips optional
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoon milk or cream
- 2 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberries ground up
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F then grease and line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, salt, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined. Fold in the white chocolate chips if using then spread into the prepared baking pan. Press the mixture evenly into the pan.1 box strawberry cake mix, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs. Be careful not to overbake to keep them fudgy.
- Allow the strawberry brownies to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Glaze
- In a medium bowl whisk the powdered sugar, ground freeze-dried strawberries, and the milk until a thick glaze forms.1 cup powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoon milk or cream, 2 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberries
- Spread the glaze on top of the brownies once they are fully cooled down and allow that to set before slicing into the brownies.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I was confused as salt (with no amount noted) was listed in the ingredients list under the picture of the ingredients . It also said this “In a large bowl, whisk together strawberry cake mix, melted butter, salt, and eggs until smooth.” by the pictures showing the steps to make it. Do I need to add salt and if so how much? Also, do you know what if any adjustments I need to make for a high altitude?
Thank you so much for pointing that out! 🤍
Yes, you do add salt. The correct amount is ¼ teaspoon, and I’ve updated the recipe to make that clearer.
For high altitude (above ~3,500 ft), I recommend:
• Start checking at 18–19 minutes
• Pull them when the center still has moist crumbs
• If the batter seems very thick, add 1 tablespoon milk
So easy to make and SOOO good! My crowd loved these!
I only cooked a couple minutes extra – others have commented they added 10 more mins – not needed!! Naturally the centers are more fudgey than the sides.
I served them a bit chilled as I prepped them the day before and put in the fridge overnight; I agree with the advice to let these set well before serving!
This is really great feedback! I really appreciate you taking the time to write this 🙂 thank you
If I doubled the recipe what size baking dish could I use to make this? 13×9 or would I just have to do two 8×8?
Two 8×8’s would be the safest option to guarantee the best result. You can do a 9×13 for a double batch, but you might need to bake for an extra minute longer or so. Just check the brownies at the normal baking time and assess if you can.
This sounds great but can you use strawberry powdered jello instead of the freezes-dried strawberries?
I wouldn’t swap in strawberry Jell-O powder here. It’s mostly sugar + gelatin, so it won’t give that real strawberry flavor and can make the glaze oddly sweet or slightly gummy. Freeze-dried fruit really gives the best natural flavor without changing the texture.
Can I use cherry chip cake mix instead?