Berry Much in Love Brownies

Berry sweet, ultra chocolatey, and totally satisfying.

Late one night, I felt like baking something chocolatey, so I came up with these Berry Much in Love Brownies. They’re super simple to make, with just one little addition that makes them extra rich and satisfying. Start with your favorite box brownie mix, toss in some chocolate chips, and don’t forget the sprinkles. The special ingredient? Chocolate hearts. I used Hershey’s Strawberries and Cream Hearts and placed them on top of the warm brownies. They melt just enough to blend into the fudgy brownies, making them my new favorite topper!

Berry Much in Love Brownies

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• Author: Taryn Camp

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 box of brownie mix (plus the ingredients listed on the box)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chunks (milk chocolate is my favorite, but semi-sweet or dark work too!)
• Valentine’s Day sprinkles
• 1 bag Hershey’s Strawberries and Cream Hearts (or your favorite chocolate heart candies)

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Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare an 8” square baking dish. Spray it with baking spray and line it with parchment paper so that it’s easier to remove from the dish. 
2. Prepare the brownie mix according to the package instructions. Fold in the chocolate chips or chunks. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle as many Valentine’s sprinkles as you’d like.
3. Bake the brownies as directed on the box. Once out of the oven and still warm, evenly place the chocolate hearts on top, pressing them gently into the brownies.
4. Slice and serve while warm and the chocolate will be melty which really makes the brownies extra chocolatey. If you prefer a firmer bite, let them cool to room temperature and the chocolates will still be softer.

Craving Chocolate? Semi-Homemade Brownies to the Rescue

The Late-Night Baking Dilemma
Last week, I had one of those late-night desires to bake. I was thinking of something rich, chocolatey, and seasonal, but the idea of spending hours in the kitchen? Nope. I went with a box brownie mix, and I usually choose Ghirardelli or any other brand’s fudge flavor. Quick, easy, and endlessly customizable.

Adding a Valentine’s Day Twist
To give them a Valentine’s Day glow up, I went straight to my stash of seasonal ingredients next to my photo area. (Yes, I have an entire section just for holiday specific ingredients- mixes, candies, sprinkles, etc!) I grabbed the Hershey’s strawberry chocolate hearts. They felt like the perfect addition—sweet, simple, and on theme.

The Melty Chocolate Magic
Once the brownies were in the oven, I peeled off the strawberry hearts wrappers. Here’s the thing—strawberry flavors can sometimes lean a bit too sweet for me, but paired with a rich brownie and chocolate shell definitely balances it out. While the brownies were still warm, I lightly pressed each chocolate on top, letting the bottoms melt just slightly. Now I am more of a cold dessert person or even room temp than a hot dessert person. Not this time. OMG so good. A bite that’s rich and fudgy, with a pop of strawberry sweetness and gooey chocolate…irresistible.

Sprinkles: The Happiness Hack
No dessert is complete without sprinkles, in my opinion. They’re an instant mood booster and add another element of texture. Plus, they’re an easy way to tie a dessert to any theme. If strawberries aren’t your thing, don’t worry—there’s an entire world of flavors in these seasonal chocolate hearts. It seems like every year, companies are expanding the product lines, plus adding seasonal limited edition flavors.I am most definitely not complaining because it gives you tons of options. 

Taking It Over the Top
If you want to take these to the next level, top them with a scoop of ice cream while they’re still warm. Classic strawberry or chocolate works perfectly, but if you’re looking for a fun flavor, try something like dark chocolate cookies and cream. The combination of warm brownies, melting ice cream, and those strawberry hearts…better than you can imagine.

Semi-Homemade or Scratch? How about both?
I’m all about balance. Some days I’m all in for scratch baking, while other times, a semi-homemade shortcut is the way to go. At the end of the day, dessert is dessert, and it’s always a win in my book. What about you—do you prefer semi-homemade, scratch, or a mix of both?