I love baking with my kids.
I especially love baking with my kids when its food that I will actually let them eat.
Now, brownies and cream cheese aren't exactly the ideal foods for little growing bodies, but I do love that they can eat massive amounts of strawberries!
And this Brownie Dessert Pizza is so easy to make! (I adapted a recipe from here)
I simply made my favorite brownies in a flat sheet pan. Katie from goodlifeeats.com has this fantatic recipe that is a must try. I don't know about you but I adore fudgey brownies!
Using cookie cutters, cut out various sizes of hearts.
I then grabbed a container of big, luscious, juicy red strawberries and cut them into heart shapes.
Next I made a cream cheese spread.
1 8oz package of cream cheese
1/2 cup powder sugar
1/2 tsp clear vanilla extract
Blend all ingredients well.
(You have no idea how hard it was to add ONLY 1/2 cup powder sugar. My favorite cream cheese ever has FOUR cups! But the above recipe definitely works with the rich brownies and naturally sweet berries)
Simply spread the cream cheese over the brownie getting as close to the edges as you want.
I read on other recipes that you are to only go to within 1/2 inch of the edge, but to that I say hoo-ey. Spill it over the edge if you want!
Next I added some of my sliced "heart" strawberries.
This is where you can get creative! Make fun designs, add more fruit, drizzle with melted chocolate or pink candy heart sprinkles. The sky is the limit!
(I personally love the LOOK of sprinkles, but cant stand eating them. I realize I probably just offended the world with that admission. You may dislike me for the next 7 minutes. But then lets be friends again ok???)
If you want everything to set all pretty for a nice romatic Valentines dessert you can throw this in the fridge for a bit.
If you have no self control whats-so-ever you can just take a bite right here and now.
If you remembered that you were actually going to share with the kids, it might be good to go help them with their assembly.
I just gave each kid a brownie pre-frosted. I also gave them a mini brownie treat so they knew what they were making. Once they tasted the deliciousness they were SO excited to assemble their own!
Hint: Have extra strawberries on hand. My kids kept asking if they could just eat the strawberries and I kept saying, "YES!!" eat as many as you want! (in my head thinking, yay! Please get full on the one healthy part of this treat!)
Colton loved to pile the strawberries high.
Parker just liked eating them. The kids had such fun spending time with me in the kitchen and then getting to eat the final product.
Overall, this is such a fun and easy treat for mom and kids!
(If you want to make things even easier on yourself, make the brownies the day before, cut out your shapes and refrigerate them. For extra motivated moms, make it weeks before and freeze the brownies!)
Absolutely adorable. I love the way you cut the strawberries into hearts :) Always fun to bake with the kiddos!
Posted by: Courtney | February 06, 2011 at 03:17 PM
Ah! So pretty! We love brownie pizza. What a fun way to eat it. This may be out dessert for Valentine's Day!
Posted by: Jessica @ How Sweet | February 06, 2011 at 03:18 PM
So cute! And LOVE the heart strawberry!
Posted by: Wenderly | February 06, 2011 at 03:24 PM
This is beautiful. I am about to head to the store, so I am making this! I am not kidding, my town ran out of cream cheese the other day, so I went and got a LOAD. So I have that part covered!!!
You are awesome!
Posted by: SweetSugarBelle | February 06, 2011 at 03:25 PM
oh I'd love this brownies are my favorite!
Posted by: Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com} | February 06, 2011 at 03:28 PM
And I wish I could have recorded the family's reaction when I showed them!!!
Posted by: SweetSugarBelle | February 06, 2011 at 03:31 PM
I am definitely not that extra motivated mom and would probably end up including the kids in the brownie making process too just because I'd have waited until the last minute to do anything. That me, procrastinator extraordinare!
Posted by: Ruth | February 06, 2011 at 03:40 PM
mmmm I don't like strawberries, but these look really good!
Posted by: Renee | February 06, 2011 at 03:41 PM
Oh my gosh yummmmmmy! So gonna have to make one--maybe even with my favorite little guy. Looks delish!
Posted by: Libby | February 06, 2011 at 04:33 PM
What a great idea! Looks yummy. I think I'm going to have to try it with the kids.
Blessings to you, Kari
Posted by: Kari | February 06, 2011 at 04:50 PM
super cute ... this might just go on the Valentines Day Party list. :)
Posted by: Stephanie | February 06, 2011 at 04:54 PM
I can't believe you made little hearts out of the strawberries! What am I talking about, of course you would, you always pay attention to the little details.
Posted by: Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen | February 06, 2011 at 05:03 PM
These are darling! Can't wait to make!
Posted by: Darla | February 06, 2011 at 05:38 PM
Love love LOVE it! Too bad I just made super-thick brownies in a tiny 9x9 pan... I'll have to bookmark this for next Valentine's Day.
Posted by: Catherine | February 06, 2011 at 06:55 PM
This is something that I will make with my kids. I think that they will like to make and to eat this!!
Posted by: Meera | February 06, 2011 at 07:09 PM
LOVE the pic of your son! And what an adorable and gorgeous dessert! Aside from that I love that it's a brownie dessert and it's easy!
Posted by: naomi | February 07, 2011 at 03:17 AM
That looks absolutly fantastic!!
Aw I miss summer.. :)
Posted by: Sabina | February 07, 2011 at 05:47 AM
superb recipe and idea of making kids eating this wonderful dessert !
Posted by: sonia | February 07, 2011 at 09:23 AM
Absolutely adorable idea - bookmarking for summer, for sure.
Posted by: Jan Scott | February 07, 2011 at 10:58 AM
I think I could eat this all day long, because I love such delicious looking things :)
Posted by: Paula | February 07, 2011 at 01:02 PM
How ingenious to use a little heart cookie cutter for the strawberries!
You blow me away with your gorgeous (and yummy), ideas!
Posted by: Marian (Sweetopia) | February 07, 2011 at 01:15 PM
YOU GAVE THEM TO YOUR KIDS??? I'd totally hide them for me and hubby :o) Just kidding. They could have one. Maybe.
very cute, love the idea!
Posted by: Jenney | February 08, 2011 at 05:13 PM
How in the world did I miss this?!? And how cute are you with those heart shaped strawberries??!? Pretty darn CUTE! I could go for a big ol' slice of that right now!
Posted by: Bridget {bake at 350} | February 09, 2011 at 02:38 PM
Too cute for words!
Posted by: Maria | February 09, 2011 at 02:41 PM
What a delightful experience it must be for your children to grow up in a household where Mommy bakes such wonderful, beautiful and delicious treats for her children.
Posted by: Paula | February 09, 2011 at 02:52 PM
It looks so pretty and yummy too! Great idea! Kerri
Posted by: Kerri | February 09, 2011 at 03:02 PM
Have I told you lately that I <3 you?!? well, I do!! Because even though I smile at EVERY. SINGLE. THING. you do on i am baker, I just can't even come close to that beauty. but these little babies? These I can do! And my kids will LOVE me for it!!
Praying for you and baby!!
Posted by: Jana | February 12, 2011 at 10:00 PM
This is so cute in a TASTY way!! Mmmmm YUM! =-D
Posted by: ClassiclyAmber | February 14, 2011 at 09:48 AM
I don't like sprinkles either! Look cute, taste awful! I just made a heart-shaped, pink-frosted chocolate cake with Hannah and thought of you. The strawberry brownie looks wonderful. Happy V-Day to everyone!
Posted by: Leah | February 14, 2011 at 03:16 PM
So yummy looking!!! Thanks for showing the steps .. I may venture this on and create oen myself. Looks DELISH!!
Posted by: Ada @ New York | February 16, 2011 at 05:40 PM
Hmm yummy it make me hungry when i saw the pictures. Your baby is cute holding the brownie pizza. I will try to make this thanks for sharing the recipe!
Posted by: wool suits | April 28, 2011 at 06:41 AM
Beautiful,delicate,enigmatic
Posted by: | May 18, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Aside from that I love that it's a brownie dessert and it's easy!
Posted by: | May 19, 2011 at 08:32 AM
I wish my mom made this for me!! Looks delicious!!
Posted by: Mary | September 20, 2011 at 06:14 PM