Strawberry Brownie Loaf

A loaf of goey, soft and sweet brownie that is overloaded with chocolate and hints of strawberry. If there's any type of brownie in world that you need to try, It's definitely this one. I can't name a better pair then dark chocolate and strawberries. They elevate each other to create a beautiful balance of flavour. The smooth mascropone frosting ensure light texture in contrast to the dense, gooey brownie. I made this dessert for a friend I met after Four years. She enjoyed it to the last bite. If you have a friend that loves sweet, goey brownies this dessert is will make their day!

Serves: 12

Ingredients

Strawberry Compote

250g chopped Strawberries

¼ cup Granulated sugar

⅓ cup Water

3 tbsp Orange zest

1 star Anise

Brownie Loaf

3 Eggs

300g chopped Dark chocolate

300g unsalted Butter

½ cup Cocoa powder

1 cup Flour

1 tsp Baking powder

Pinch of salt

2 tsp Vanilla extract

1 cup Brown sugar

¼ cup Granulated sugar

Mascarpone Frosting

250g Mascarpone

1 cup Heavy cr am

⅓ cup Cocoa powder

⅔ cup Powder sugar

4- tbsp Strawberry compote

Method

Step-1 Strawberry Compote

Add water, strawberries, sugar, orange zest and star anise to a saucepan and place on medium heat. Mix well and place on medium heat—Reserve ¼ of all berries.

Step 2

Stir and mash the berries occasionally. Once all the berries dissolve into a thick puree, add the reserved berries and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then take off the heat and keep it aside to cool down.

Step 3- Brownie Loaf

Preheat the oven to 200℃. Line a 9x5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper and grease the sides with butter. Add chocolate and butter to a heatproof bowl. Using the double boiler method, melt the two till smooth and combined. Transfer to a mixing bowl and whisk in one egg at a time.

Step 4

Then add vanilla extract and whisk till smooth. Now add brown sugar and granulated sugar and whisk till soft and thick. Then sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Using a whisk, mi in the dry ingredients till smooth.

Step 5

Now layer the loaf tin with half of the brownie batter and make a well in the middle. Add the strawberry compote in the middle of the well. Then add in the rest of the brownie batter and some of the compote on the surface.

Step 6

Place the tin in the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes or till the brownie sets. Take the tin out of the oven and let the brownie rest in the tray for 40 minutes, then transfer it to a cooling rack till entirely at room temperature.

Step 7- Mascarpone Frosting

Add mascarpone and, with a hand blender, beat until combined. Add heavy cream and beat until stiff peaks. Then add icing sugar and beat till the frosting is stable. Fold strawberry compote with a rubber spatula.

Step 8- Assembly

Place the brownie loaf on a plate/cake board and add the frosting on top with an offset spatula to flatten the frosting. Now add frosting to the sides, and with a scraper, level the frosting. Add some fresh strawberries and orange zest on top and serve.

Tips

1. When making a compote, stir the strawberries occasionally.

2. Reserve ¼ of the berries for later.

3. You can also use the microwave to melt the chocolate and butter.

4. If using the double boiler method, ensure your water isn’t touching the heatproof bowl and reduce the heat once you place your bowl over the saucepan.

5. You can also use a wooden spoon to mix the brownie batter.

6. Cover your loaf tin with aluminium foil after 30 minutes of baking.

7. To check if your brownie is done, insert a toothpick in the middle, and it should come out with a few crumbs.

8. Make sure your mascarpone and heavy cream are cold before making the frosting.

9. If making the dessert ahead of time, make sure to serve at room temperature.