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Decadent Valentine’s Strawberry Hot Cocoa Brownie Cups

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These brownie cups combine rich chocolate and sweet strawberry hot cocoa filling for a cozy, indulgent dessert perfect for Valentine’s Day or any special occasion.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (120g)
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (50g)
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar (150g)
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (85g), melted and slightly cooled
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries (150g), hulled and chopped
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons hot cocoa mix
  • ¼ cup heavy cream (60ml), chilled
  • 2 ounces cream cheese (56g), softened
  • Optional toppings: mini marshmallows, chocolate shavings or chips, fresh strawberry slices

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your muffin tin or line with silicone cups.
  2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In another bowl, whisk sugar with melted butter until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in vanilla extract.
  4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Spoon the brownie batter evenly into the prepared muffin tin, filling each about halfway (roughly 2 tablespoons or 30g per cup).
  6. Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges set but centers remain slightly soft. Remove and let cool slightly.
  7. Puree chopped strawberries in a food processor or blender until smooth.
  8. In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until creamy. Add hot cocoa mix and chilled heavy cream, then fold in strawberry puree until smooth and fluffy.
  9. Once brownie bases are cool, spoon about 2 tablespoons (30g) of the strawberry hot cocoa filling into each cup, smoothing the tops.
  10. Refrigerate the filled brownie cups for at least 1 hour to set and meld flavors. Cover loosely with plastic wrap to avoid drying out.
  11. Before serving, optionally top with mini marshmallows, chocolate shavings, or fresh strawberry slices.

Notes

If brownie batter is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk to loosen. Do not overbake the brownie base to keep centers soft. Use room temperature eggs and softened cream cheese for smooth filling. Chilling the filled cups is essential for flavor melding and texture. For dairy-free version, substitute butter with coconut oil and heavy cream with coconut cream.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry, hot cocoa, brownie cups, Valentine’s Day dessert, chocolate dessert, easy dessert, date night dessert

Find it online: https://tessierecipes.com/decadent-valentines-strawberry-hot-cocoa-brownie-cups-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-date-night/