I’m in the midst of reviewing a brownie book (can’t name it just yet) but with tons of brownies lying around from several batches I’ve prepared paired with the strawberries in season, it’s a sign to make our all-time favorite dessert.
This recipe has become a bit of a strawberry season ritual for me. I usually like to make a few glasses glasses and stick it in the fridge; reward for long days at work. The sweet mascarpone whip pairs well with the tart berries. I particularly love the use of orange zest in this recipe. Skip this step at your own risk!
Changes and variations: This is a quick dessert that can be prepared a few hours before or a day in advance. You could set it in a large trifle bowl but I like the idea of individual desserts so I use glasses. Replace the fruit with raspberries, cherries or a berry of your fancy. You could also do a combination of berries. Top with toasted coconuts, nuts, or chocolate shavings. Add a different extract every time you make this depending on the fruit you plan to pair it with. Lemon, coconut, and raspberry are a few options.
Over to the recipe: Crumbly brownies laced with a sensational mascarpone whip topped with tart strawberries and chocolate shavings(!)
- 2 cups brownie chunks
- 18oz strawberries, (If you’re using frozen fruit then it needs to be thawed)
- ½ cup sugar, divided
- Zest of one orange
- 8oz mascarpone cheese
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Cut your favorite brownies — either made from a box or homemade — into about ¾” to 1″ cubes. Set aside.
- Combine the strawberries, orange zest, and ¼ cup sugar in a bowl. Stir until well-mixed, and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the mascarpone, heavy cream, vanilla, and remaining ¼ cup of sugar.
- Beat the mascarpone mixture with an electric mixer until medium-firm peaks form.
- To assemble, place a few brownie chunks in the bottom of 6 individual dessert cups or glasses. Top the brownies with about 21/2 tablespoons of the mascarpone mixture, then with about 3 tablespoons of strawberries.
- Repeat until all the elements have been evenly divided among the cups.
- Refrigerate until serving. Serve chilled.
Happy Baking!
Love Mascarpone girlie. These dessert looks for perfect for New Year’s Eve. Wish K a happy birthday and to bot of you all the very best in 2012. Mwah!!
So not fair – strawberries right now taste like cardboard here, and this recipe looks like I need to eat it immediately! Sigh. Looks amazing – keeping it bookmarked.
mascarpone is wonderful and creamy and your dessert is so elegant. xx
This sounds and looks delicious! I love that you have used mascarpone here instead of simply whipped cream for an extra deliciousness factor :)!
I love desserts that can be thrown together quickly like this. Brownies, strawberries, and mascarpone are a great combo!
I love mascarpone and some whipped cream with fruits. Your parfait looks gorgeous. I subscribed thru email but did not yet receive any information about this post.
These look very tasty!
I haven’t ever made anything with mascarpone. I’ve eaten it, and really liked it, but have never bought it. I think that will change. These parfaits look great! Thanks for all of the variation ideas! Have a very Happy New Year!
Isn’t the variety of brownies and what we can do with them amazing?! I LOVE these parfaits…and I think they are perfect in your pretty glasses as an individual serving. And I am so impressed at your perfect chocolate curls…..you will have to teach me your technique! : )
Lovely parfait. Looks indulgent. Wishing the Muffin Hostess a Brilliant New Year in advance
That looks seriously good! Now I have a weak spot for anything mascarpone so this tempts me to!!
What a gorgeous presentation! I love mascarpone cream, and though I never thought to pair it with brownies, this sounds like a dreamy combination!
Beautiful and delicious!!! Yum, yum!
Not only pretty and festive but the best combo of flavors! Delicious! Happy New Year!
Not a thing I would change about this treat! It does have some great layers of flavor and makes an awesome presentation. I can understand why it is a strawberry ritual-yum!
OMG! I wish I could eat that right now! I will keep the recipe handy, some food shopping to do first ;-)
This looks like heaven!! I love the combination of fruit with chocolate! I never had mascarpone cheese, but I’ll have to give it a try! Your deserts look beautiful!
This sounds heavenly. A simple but indulgent dessert with some of my favorite things!
This looks amazing!! I think I’ll make these today for my girls! :)
What a wonderful combo of flavors and color! Happy 2012 to you and yours, An.
Gorgeous colors and perfect for entertaining! Happy 2012!
You’ve combined three of my favourite ingredients – brownies, strawberries and lots of cream. Yum! I often crumble leftover brownies into creamy desserts, but usually with less elegance than this :-)
Yum! Glad to see the leftovers are going to good use ;)
YUM!!! I’ll have 2 please!
Ooh, that is fabulous with the chocolate curls and the red from the fruit. Yum!
What an elegant dessert, perfect for New Year’s Eve. I love the garnish of chocolate curls.
Ooh, the mascarpone whip frosting sounds divine!
What a lovely parfait! You had me at mascarpone!
This looks delicious and it sounds like we have a brownie mystery on our hands!
How I’d love to dig a spoon into one right now. What a treat and the mascarpone whip is fantastic. Happy New year, Anuradha!
Gorgeous parfait! I love how versatile it is – I’d love to try it with Meyer lemons.
Mascarpone, you say? I’m in. Happy New Year!
Mascarpone is one of the worlds greatest delights, and these are a fantastic way to prove it! The look amazing :)
Happy New Year!
Fantastic photos – they look so delectable. Wish I had some strawberries lying around now. :) Happy New Year!
Omg this is amazing! I love mascarpone so much, esp when paired with sweet goodness! :) Happy New year!
Love this…but will have to either table it til spring OR…use raspberries. That would be yum too wouldn’t it?
Happy New Year to you!
Happy New Year An and all the best for you in 2012. Thanks for all the wonderful posts in 2011 including this lovely parfait.
here i’m trying to be good and then you dangle THIS in front of me… *sigh* i guess the strawberries make it OK, right? :)
As always,I love brownies,and probably all the recipes that use them.The combination with strawberries and cream will be delicious,I am sure.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year!:-)
Thanks Fahad! Happy new year to you too!
What a pretty and easy dessert, wish for one right now.. bookmarking this for my next friends gathering.. thanks for sharing
Happy New Year to you! Thanks for making time to visit my blog, I really am honoured for you support and great to know you as a blogger friend.
Likewise Shannon. I’m sure you and your guests will love it.
Wow this beautiful picture caught my attention immediately! My mom and I were just talking how much we miss eating brownies (we try to avoid to lose weight). Now that I saw this post, I feel like I “NEED” to eat one right now. This parfait is perfect solution to my cravings… wish I can find this in the nearest store. Hehee.
Absolutely gorgeous! I love the parfait glasses, individual portions look so much cuter.
Now that is one sensational dessert. It looks gorgeous with those colours and layers and it has got to taste fantastic. Just the thought of strawberries has my mouth watering – we’ve got to wait another 6 months!
Looks so good! I can’t wait for strawberry season!
Let’s see, I just bought some new tasting glasses yesterday I need to “try out” I have strawberries and mascarpone in the fridge. I always keep boxed brownie mix in the pantry for chocolate emergencies. Looks like I am off my diet today. Thanks for sharing
Parfaits are so easy to make and this looks decadent. Want some :D
This is a perfect dessert!! Thank you!
This is so lovely and perfect for Valentine day’s dessert!
I have a question: Do you know where can I get mascarpone cheese in Los Angeles?
Thanks :)
Fantastic parfaits! Every one of my family members would cheer if those appeared on the table for dessert.
Oh, man, this is my kind of dessert! Mascarpone and berries are a match made in heaven…and then with brownies???? Divine!
So gorgeous and so sophisticated! I feel like I’d impress anybody I serves this too!
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