If you could have watched our two girls when they walked in the front door, home from a day at school, and their eyes locked on these Brownie Bites with Strawberry Marshmallow Fluff Frosting. Their mouths gaped open as their backpacks dropped to the kitchen floor with a “thud” and a “thud”, and they quickly grabbed seats at the counter. Eyeing my camera next to the brownie bites, they asked, with hopeful yet pleading eyes, “Do we have to wait?”
Because they know anything that good looking and delicious smelling had to be considered a success, and must first be photographed. ;)
Lucky for them, I had just wrapped up my photos, so I gave them the go-ahead to dig in. While I poured each girl a glass of milk, Hatti and Tessa almost simultaneously asked where I got the pretty heart candies sitting on top. “Did you make them, Mom?”
While, yes, their sweet assumption did make me smile…I explained that, no, I opened the front door earlier that day to find a box…
A “box of anticipation”.
From Harry and David.
My ho-hum morning had suddenly started sparkling. Because I knew that whatever was in that box was going to be both beautiful and delicious. That’s just how Harry and David rolls.
I was all smiles.
It’s been a loooooooooong time since I’ve received a heart-shaped box of chocolates. And never in such a pretty package.
The chocolates were all so beautiful. But it was especially fun to recognize the colorful heart-shaped ones, as I witnessed the Harry and David test kitchen working on them when I visited their Oregon headquarters last fall. My memory instantaneously reached back to the sweet smells and wonderful people I met there.
My dad used to give Mom a box of chocolates every now and then when I was a kid. And I always loved the key that was included, describing the flavors of each piece. (That’s how I became an expert at searching out my favorite dark chocolate pieces.) Harry and David does the same, with full color photos and explanations of each incredible chocolate. Our girls had so much fun matching up the descriptions and tasting them, and then showing their grandparents how to do it, too, when they came for a visit. This box of chocolates was a topic of conversation, and a very special and delicious treat for my family.
(photo by Harry and David)
Just take a look at all the beautiful Valentine’s Day gifts that Harry and David has to offer! There are exquisite chocolate dipped strawberries, their signature (and juicy and perfect!) Oregon pears, striking red amaryllises in a handcrafted cedar box, tempting cheesecakes, and a fabulous line of new Harry and David wines (I was able to sample them when I visited Harry and David – they’re awesome!). There is something for everyone!
Disclosure: Thank you to Harry and David for providing my family with a beautiful box of chocolates to enjoy, and the chocolates for this giveaway. All text and opinions are 100% my own.
And here’s that recipe for you!
My family loved the Valentine’s Day treats I made with the Harry and David chocolates. Comprised of our favorite family brownie recipe in mini cupcake form, with a swirl of pillowy strawberry marshmallow fluff frosting…well let’s just say they were a sweet little party in our mouths. The frosting is quite simple to make and has wonderful texture and flavor. I’ll definitely be making these again!
Enjoy the sweets. And Happy Valentine’s Day!
Brownie Bites with Strawberry Fluff Frosting
Ingredients
- for the brownie bites:
- 2 c. sugar
- 1 c. vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 1.5 c. all-purpose flour
- 10 T. unsweetened baking cocoa
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- for the strawberry marshmallow fluff frosting:
- 1 c. unsalted butter at room temperature
- 14 oz. marshmallow fluff
- 1 c. powdered sugar
- ½ c. seedless strawberry jam
- pink or red food coloring if desired (I used Americolor #164 Electric Pink)
- small nonpareils in pink red, and white
- heart-shaped chocolates I used these from Harry and David
Instructions
for the brownie bites:
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Line 2 mini muffin tins with 48 mini paper liners and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, oil, and eggs. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until incorporated. Stir in the vanilla. Spoon into 48 prepared mini paper liners.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Then turn the heat off and leave pan in the oven for another 5 minutes. Remove pan from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before removing individual brownie bites to a rack to cool completely.
for the strawberry marshmallow fluff frosting:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter until smooth and creamy. Add marshmallow fluff and beat just until combined. Add powdered sugar and jam, and mix until combined.
- Frosting will be a delicate light pink color. If you want the frosting to be a darker pink, add a little food coloring and mix to combine.
to assemble the finished brownie bites:
- Spoon frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a medium plain tip – I used a Wilton #12. Swirl frosting onto the tops of each brownie bite and then immediately sprinkle with nonpareils.
- Gently press a heart-shaped chocolate into the top of each swirl of frosting. Beautiful!
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I would send the chocolate to my beau. Or my best friend she loves chocolate. Of course, I’d secretly want to keep them for myself.
Whew! Who would get the chocolates? Tough decision for sure! I would love to have them but I can think of no better person to give them than my younger sister Angela. She has am 18 month old and a 2 month old. Her and her husband recently decided to have her leave her job and stay home with them for a while. I would love to give her a beautiful valentine treat!
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These are soooooo adorable — my girls would adore them!
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I would have them sent to me…BUT would give them to my bf of 3 years. He brings me soup when I am sick, brings me grocery shopping since I have no car, and is the best listener I know ! The list could go on and on but he deserves a sweet treat this V-Day more then anyone in my life :) Great giveaway thanks ! And those browie bites look amazing !
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These are so pretty! Gorgeous idea!
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I would share them with my family. But I get first choice
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I would love to enter to win this lovely box of chocolates! I have family members who I would LOVE to share this with (I just cannot keep it all to myself!), and would greatly enjoy a little something sweet to eat. :)
I have always wanted to try Harry and David’s tasty looking treats, as I have heard such great things about them, and this certainly would be a blessing to win!
Thanks for hosting such a wonderful giveaway!
~Miss Antoinette~
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