Why it works: Vanilla and chocolate are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 5% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 10,020 recipes. Both carry sotolon, which smells curry, maple. The science ↓
Strawberries and Cream Brownie Sandwiches
8 barsIngredients
Directions
Bake the brownies
Heat oven to 350°F.
Line two 8" square baking pans with foil and coat with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine brownie mix, egg, butter and water, stirring until smooth.
Divide batter between pans.
Bake 20 minutes.
Cool completely on wire rack; invert cakes onto a cutting board and peel off foil.
Make the strawberry cream cheese filling
In a mixer bowl, with an electric mixer on medium, beat the heavy cream to soft peaks.
In another mixer bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar substitute, vanilla extract and 1/3 cup of the whipped cream.
With an electric mixer on low, beat just until blended.
Add the remaining whipped cream and continue to beat on low just until combined.
Divide and spread cream cheese mixture over brownie squares.
Top one of the brownie squares with strawberries.
Place second cake (cream cheese side down) over berries.
Chill, cut and decorate
Wrap well in plastic wrap and freeze 2 to 3 hours, until set.
Remove brownie sandwiches from freezer and cut into 8 bars.
Place Endulge bar in a small plastic bag.
Microwave on HIGH 30 to 60 seconds, until melted.
Cut a tiny piece off corner of bag and pipe chocolate swirls over brownies.
Place in freezer 5 minutes to set chocolate.
Wrap each bar in plastic wrap and store in freezer until ready to serve.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 8 of 11 ingredients. The other 3 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate | 1 oz (28g) semisweet | 155 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Cream Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 99 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Cream | 1 tbsp (15ml) heavy | 51 |
| Sugar Substitute | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Strawberry | 1 cup (152g) | 49 |
| Vanilla | 1 tsp extract (4ml) | 12 |
| Fudge | not in our table | 0 |
| Water | not in our table | 0 |
| Candy Bar | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Vanilla + chocolatetop 5% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together10,020 recipes
Shared aroma: sotolon (curry, maple).
-
Butter + creamtop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together41,516 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Butter + cream cheesetop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,747 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl octanoate (fruity, wine).
-
Cream + chocolatetop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together5,466 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-decalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Cream cheese + vanillatop 13% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,929 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl caproate (fruity, apple peel).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Eggs
- Binds the brownie batter and helps give it structure as it bakes.
- Unsalted butter
- Adds fat for a rich, tender brownie texture.
- Cream cheese
- Gives the filling a thick, tangy body that holds its shape when chilled.
- Heavy cream
- Whipped to soft peaks, it lightens the filling and adds moisture.
- Strawberries
- Add fresh fruit flavor and moisture between the brownie layers.
The step that matters
Beat the cream cheese mixture on low just until blended. Overbeating cream cheese or whipped cream incorporates too much air and can make the filling grainy or loose, so it should be mixed gently until combined.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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