Name: Strawberry Brownies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 28 min
Total time: 38 min
Ingredients: 1 box (15.25 ounces) strawberry cake mix; ⅓ cup (73 g) vegetable oil; 2 large eggs, (room temperature); 1 cup (125 g) confectioners' sugar; 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Strawberry Brownies are soft, chewy dessert bars (called a brownie based on the chewy texture!) bursting with strawberry flavor, made with just three ingredients and a simple lemon glaze. They are easy to make, and I love their beautiful pink color–perfect for Valentine’s Day, Easter, or a springtime treat! If you love easy, flavorful dessert bars like these Strawberry Brownies, you will definitely want to try my Strawberry Mousse Brownies too.

Strawberry Brownies on a white counter cut into squares from overhead.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Cake Mix: Look for a box of strawberry cake mix. It is the base of the brownies and gives each bite that sweet strawberry flavor! Do not follow the box instructions; simply mix the cake mix with the amount of oil and eggs in this recipe.
Oil: Vegetable oil helps keep the brownies soft and moist. If you don’t have oil, substitute 1/3 cup of melted butter instead. You could also try apple sauce, but the texture may be slightly softer.
Eggs: Eggs are like a binder to keep the batter together and give the brownies a chewy texture.
Glaze: I chose a lemon glaze for these strawberry brownies to help balance the sweetness (and they are sweet!). The glaze is just made with two ingredients–confectioners’ sugar (also called powdered sugar) and lemon juice.

Stack of Strawberry Brownies close up showing tender texture.

Can You Add Mix-Ins To Strawberry Cake Mix Brownies?

Yes, you can add mix-ins to the batter. We did test a batch with white chocolate chips, but our taste testers found that to be a bit too sweet. (It is the reason a lemon glaze was added; these brownies really needed a citrus to cut some of the sweetness of the strawberry brownie!) Some other options are chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or even small pieces of fresh fruit like strawberries or raspberries. Just fold them into the batter before spreading it in the pan. Keep in mind that adding too many mix-ins can change the texture, so try not to overdo it!

How To Tell When Strawberry Brownies Are Done Baking

To know when your Strawberry Cake Mix Brownies are done baking, insert a toothpick into the center of the brownies. If it comes out with just a few moist crumbs (not wet batter), they’re ready. If the toothpick comes out clean, the brownies may be overbaked, so it’s best to check a little earlier. (I start checking at 27 or 28 minutes.) They should be soft and slightly firm to the touch when done.

Stack of Strawberry Brownies with top brownie having a bite taken out of it.

How To Store Strawberry Brownies

To store strawberry cake mix brownies, first, let them cool completely. Next, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will last up to 3-4 days. You could refrigerate them for a few extra days, but that tends to dry out the bars faster.

Can You Freeze Strawberry Brownies?

Yes, you can freeze strawberry cake mix brownies, but I recommend freezing them without the glaze. To freeze the brownies, first, let them cool completely. Next, wrap the brownies tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then, store them in a freezer bag; they will last up to 3 months in the freezer. When ready to enjoy them, let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours or microwave them for a few seconds to warm them up. Finally, don’t forget about the glaze, if adding!

Strawberry Brownies

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 28

Total Time 38

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Ingredients

Brownies

▢ 1 box (15.25 ounces) strawberry cake mix
▢ ⅓ cup (73 g) vegetable oil
▢ 2 large eggs, room temperature

Lemon Glaze

▢ 1 cup (125 g) confectioners' sugar
▢ 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

Strawberry Brownie

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the strawberry cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs. Mix until no dry cake mix remains. The batter will be thick but smooth.
Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan, using a spatula to press the batter evenly.
Bake for 28-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.

Lemon Glaze*

In a medium bowl, whisk together confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice until smooth.
Pour the glaze over the warm brownies and spread into an even layer.
Let the glaze set before slicing and serving.

Notes

As cake mix is the base for these brownies, they tend to be sweet. I highly recommend the lamon glaze to offset the sweetness and round out the flavor profile of this recipe.

Did you make this recipe?

Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.

What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:

Autumn

These are really sweet, but I love the lemon glaze over the top; it is a flavorful combination!

Elizabeth

These are so pretty (but also really sweet)! But, they do not get much easier to make!

Annabelle

If you need a simple dessert to share, these would be perfect! And, the lovely pink color really stands out.

Bella

I like these strawberry 'brownies' with the lemon glaze. I thought they were too sweet with the white chocolate chips, but the lemon glaze really works!