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Strawberry Brownies are a super simple springtime dessert that comes together easily with just a few pantry ingredients (cake mix!) and some fresh strawberries.

Want more strawberry treats? Try my Strawberry Shortcake or my Fresh Strawberry Cake!

recipe for strawberry brownies made from cake mix
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Why These Are The Best Strawberry Brownies Ever

These epic strawberry brownies are a new favorite because they are super easy to make and so delicious. Everyone loves them!

  • Sweet and Creamy – The recipe starts with cake mix, eggs, and oil. I love to add cream cheese to cake mix bars to give them a super moist and creamy texture. These strawberry brownies are rich like a brownie, with the sweet tanginess of strawberries.
  • Fresh Strawberries! The addition of the fresh strawberries on top not only just looks really pretty but they add a bit of texture as well and they are perfect for strawberry lovers!
  • Party Perfect – These gorgeous pink bars are perfect for parties, baby showers, and high tea because they look so elegant. No one will know they actually came from a box of cake mix!
  • Snack or Dessert – But they are a delicious after-school snack too, or served as a dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Don’t you just love a treat that is as versatile as these strawberry brownies?

Ingredients For Strawberry Brownies

Craving a dense, chewy brownie but all you have is cake mix? Follow this simple recipe to make brownies from any flavor of cake mix:

  • 1 box of strawberry cake mix – You can really use any flavor you like here! Chocolate cake mix for chocolate brownies, lemon, white, yellow. The possibilities are as vast as your cravings!
  • 1 egg
  • 4 ounces cream cheese – The cream cheese will make for a more gooey brownie.
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
  • Thinly sliced strawberries – I like to top the brownies with very thinly sliced strawberries for a beautiful presentation. Make sure to let them sit and dry out first.
Strawberry brownies recipe

How Do You Make Brownies From Cake Mix?

This formula can of course be adjusted to any flavoring or fillings like lemon extract or chocolate chips. This is really a base recipe for cake mix brownies, but today we’re using it for strawberry brownies.

  • If using the strawberry topping, thinly slice a few strawberries and lay them out on paper towels for about 15-30 minutes to dry them out, and pat with paper towels.
  • Grab an 8-inch baking pan and line it with parchment or grease it well.
  • Mix together strawberry cake mix, vegetable oil, egg, and softened cream cheese.
  • Spread the batter into the baking dish. It will be thick, so you may need to use your fingers to help spread it to the corners of the pan.
  • If using the strawberries, arrange them on top of the batter. Arrange the thinly sliced strawberries on top of the batter.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes. The edges should just begin to brown and the center should be mostly set. Cool completely before slicing and serving.

How To Store Strawberry Brownies

These brownies are best eaten within a couple of days. Because of their soft and creamy texture, I store these in the refrigerator. They will last up to 5 days if you can keep from devouring them right away.

You can also freeze them, but the moisture from the strawberries may alter the texture as they defrost.

Tips For Making Brownies From A Cake Mix

This strawberry brownie recipe is so easy! Instead of icing, I added cream cheese to the batter for a soft and gooey bar. With this easy recipe, you can make strawberry brownies in about 30 minutes!

  1. Use an electric mixer. This mixture is thick, which gives the brownies their dense texture, but it does make it a little difficult to mix by hand. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer will save your arms a workout.
  2. Don’t over mix. Over-mixing will result in a tough brownie, and no one wants that. Mix the strawberry brownie batter in a medium mixing bowl just until no more of the dry powder is visible.
  3. Add mix-ins. For extra texture and flavor contrast, add a cup of white chocolate chips or mini semi-sweet chocolate chips to the batter and fold them in just until combined. Freeze-dried strawberries would be a great addition too.
  4. Do not use fresh strawberries IN the batter – the moisture will keep the brownies from baking up properly.
  5. Strawberry tips – If you have the time, lay out the sliced strawberries on a paper towel to dry them out a little bit. Press a second towel gently on top to help with moisture. This will keep your strawberry brownie from getting soggy.
  6. Cake Mix Brownies – If you’re not loving the gooeyness from the cream cheese, omit it and replace with an additional egg.
Strawberry Brownies with Fresh Strawberries

More Brownie Recipes

Recipe
Social media image of strawberry brownies

Strawberry Brownies Recipe

4.56 from 38 votes
Strawberry Brownies are a super simple springtime dessert that comes together easily with just a few pantry ingredients (cake mix!) and some fresh strawberries. 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 15 brownies

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box strawberry cake mix
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
  • 1 egg
  • 4 ounces cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh strawberries
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Instructions
 

  • Thinly slice a few strawberries and lay the slices out on paper towels. Lightly pat dry and let sit for 15-30 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 350℉. Line a 7×11" or 8-9" square baking dish with parchment paper or foil and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl with an electric mixer set to medium speed, combine the strawberry cake mix, vegetable oil, egg(s), and cream cheese (if using) until well combined.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly with a spatula. The batter will be thick, so use your fingers if necessary.
  • Arrange the thinly sliced strawberries on top of the batter.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until edges are starting to brown and center looks mostly set. Strawberries should be somewhat dried out.
  • Cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

For a less gooey brownie, omit the cream cheese and add an extra egg. 
Make sure to dry out the strawberry slices. This will help keep your brownies from becoming soggy.
 
Keyword strawberry brownies

Nutrition

Calories: 194kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 2gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 223mgPotassium: 22mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 117IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.

Kristin Maxwell

Kristin Maxwell is the creator and main recipe developer, writer, and photographer of Yellow Bliss Road. A self-taught cook and self-appointed foodie, she specializes in easy, flavorful and approachable recipes for any home cook.

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Comments

  1. Celeste says:

    Made these ‘pinkies’ with choc chips and my hubby loved them. Yum!

    1. Kristin says:

      Nice! Thanks for stopping by Celeste.

  2. Laika says:

    I am super excited to try and make this for an upcoming party I have to attend. I am wondering, if I make the brownies by following the cream cheese recipe, can I still add white chocolate chips or would it not mesh well?

    1. Kristin says:

      The brownies with the cream cheese are pretty chewy and gooey. I think the chips might sink to the bottom.

  3. Karen says:

    In one area it says use one egg and in another area it says two eggs?
    Thanks,

    1. Kristin says:

      The section that says two eggs is actually just a basic brownie recipe for any cake mix. When I make the strawberry version, I add cream cheese and one less egg.

  4. Karrie Packer says:

    Ohh that’s great thanks for the update

  5. Ky says:

    Hello! These look lovely and will be made in my kitchen hen VERY soon! I have a quick question. The recipe states to use a “7×11-inch square baking dish.” Well, those measurements, by definition, do not make a square. What size/shape pan is actually recommended? I saw many comment they had to adjust the cooking time. I am sure it’s because they had to use a different size dish than the recipe states. Thank you! I am looking forward to making these!!

    1. Kristin says:

      There should be an “or” in there. Sorry about that! You can use either size.

  6. JRH says:

    Made a double batch for my church coffee hour. Quite a few declined trying any, I think based on the unusual appearance, some asking if they were watermelon flavored. But those who tried them, many took seconds.

    I bought a pound of strawberries and after taking 20 center slices for the topping, cut up the rest for over ice cream.

    I’m lovin’ Yummly!

  7. SDMomma says:

    I question the pan size too! 20 minutes in a 9×9 pan, the dough is far from being done. I’m cooking longer and crossing my fingers they get done.

  8. Gabby says:

    Hi! I am trying to make this recipe without using the Strawberry cake mix to avoid the food coloring which all cake mixes use. I was wondering if I would use a vanilla cake mix MIXED with freeze dried strawberries through the food processor if it would change the cook time?

    Thanks!

    1. Kristin says:

      I haven’t personally tried that so I can’t say if it would work or not.

  9. Jen says:

    Does it need to be refrigerated or is it ok to leave out? I wanted to make for a party at work.

    1. Kristin says:

      You could leave them out. You could also refrigerate but I’d leave out the strawberries on top because the juice could get runny if refrigerated.

  10. Charlotte says:

    I call them Strawbies or Pinkies. Everybody loves them.

    1. Kristin says:

      Thank you Charlotte!

  11. Tastebud1979 says:

    OMG!!! This is exactly what we needed. They are moist, crunchy on the edges, and the perfect amount of sweetness. This recipe is easy to put together. I was a little skeptical of how the mixture was coming together, but I stuck it out and the end result was perfect. Thanks for sharing.!!:)

  12. Ruth Kenyan says:

    I have made this recipe several times and REALLY like it. I have received a lot of compliments. When I find a recipe I really like, I try to figure out how I can make different versions. Lemon came to mind with this one. I used lemon cake mix and added the zest and juice and zest of a small lemon. I think I like the lemon version as much, if not more!

    1. Kristin says:

      So awesome to hear!

  13. Liz P says:

    These look YUMMY! I will try making these for our next baked dessert treat. But I do have a question. The recipe states to use a 9in square pan but the picture looks like like a rectangular pan was used. Did you mean to use a 9 x 13 inch pan? I think this will affect the baking time.
    Thank you.

    1. Mary says:

      I thought the same thing since people commented about how much longer it took to cook

  14. Jan says:

    Can you do the same with yellow cake and mangoes with cream cheese?

    1. Kristin says:

      I’m not sure, but you could try it.

  15. Shelby says:

    Does it matter if the pan is glass or metal? Can we cook this in a larger pan? And if so, would you have any idea of the temperature changes? I am also going to make a quadruple batch for a softball team and would love to pick your brain on the best way to do that! Thank you!

  16. Viola Williams says:

    My brownies weren’t done in 20 minutes so I left them in at 5 minute intervals for 15 more minutes. The only thing I did different from the recipe was use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil. Do you think that mattered?

    1. Kristin says:

      Hard to say, but when you deviate from the recipe there could potentially be issues. However, after 20 minutes my brownies were tender and almost under-baked, but that’t the texture I like.

      1. Viola Williams says:

        Thanks, I believe the problem is our oven. We got a thermometer and tested it. I made another batch and things worked better when I adjusted my oven. Another question though. How do you properly store these. in the refrigerator or at room temperature?

        1. Kristin says:

          Oh that’s great to hear! I prefer them stored in the fridge. They taste better cold.

  17. Gauthami says:

    Hi! These strawberry brownies look amazing but there’s one tiny problem… The place where is live there are no strawberry cake mixes available can I get an alternative for it.

    1. Kristin says:

      Oh no! Can you buy on Amazon?

  18. Amanda Layfield says:

    This is awesome! A great alternative to the normal chocolate brownies. I’ve recently found out that I’m allergic to chocolate so having this makes life with allergies better.
    Thank you!

  19. Adree | The Keele Deal says:

    These delicious! Nextime I get strawberries I’m making these!

  20. Natalie says:

    YUM! These strawberry brownies are gorgeous and look so delicious!