Strawberry Blondies

These chewy strawberry blondies are perfect for strawberry season! Made with fresh berries and topped with a sweet, pink glaze, the recipe is the ultimate easy treat to celebrate the fruity summer flavors.

The best strawberry blondies

If you’re looking for a strawberry fix, these strawberry blondies will satisfy your dessert hankering! They are so, so good, with golden brown edges, a gooey center, and sweet flavor in every bite.

The bars are brimming with strawberries, and the texture is perfectly dense, chewy, and fudgy. Just like a blondie should be – but with a fun summer twist!

I love making cookies, but on those extra busy days, it’s nice to just mix everything up, slap it in a pan, and bake it rather than scooping out individual cookies.

Strawberries are fresh and fruity! If you’re looking for more recipes for strawberry season, this strawberry banana cheesecake salad, strawberry cobbler, and strawberry lemonade pound cake are some of our other favorites.

Ingredients

The key to these is using brown sugar and fresh, aromatic strawberries. The rest are simple pantry staples that you likely have in your kitchen. Please refer to the recipe card below for exact measurements.

• Butter: I always use salted butter to make blondies to cut through the sweetness. Of course, unsalted butter + a pinch of salt work too. I found that melting the butter rather than creaming it creates a moister texture.
• Sugar: You need a mix of granulated and light brown sugar. Brown sugar keeps the texture nice and chewy, creating a subtle toffee flavor.
• Egg: An egg gives the blondies structure without making them too cakey.
• All-purpose flour provides a soft, tender crumb. When measuring the flour, fluff it up and spoon it into your measuring cup to avoid over-measuring.
• Cornstarch contributes to the tenderness and allows us to cut back on the flour.
• Baking powder: A little baking powder will give your blondies a slight rise while still maintaining that fudgy texture.
• Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla perfectly complements the strawberries to round out the flavor.
• Fresh strawberries give these blondies the perfect summer makeover. Cut small and medium strawberries in half and large ones into quarters.
• Glaze (optional) is a simple yet pretty finish for these blondies. Powdered sugar, 2 to 3 teaspoons of milk, and a few drops of red food coloring is all you need.

How to make strawberry blondies

Strawberry blondies are a great summer recipe when fresh, sun-ripened strawberries are available. Let’s go over the instructions step-by-step so that you can enjoy this delicious treat:

#1: Mix blondie batter

1. Mix butter and sugar. Whisk together the melted butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add liquid ingredients. Add the egg and vanilla extract and stir until well incorporated.
3. Add dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cornstarch, and baking powder. Gradually stir the dry mixture into the wet until combined.
4. Fold in strawberries. Gently fold the strawberries into the batter, being careful not to squish them.

#2: Bake blondies

1. Fill pan. Spread the batter evenly into a parchment paper-lined 8-inch sqaure baking pan and transfer to the oven.
2. Bake. Bake the blondies in a 350°F oven for 22 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick sintered in the center comes out clean, save a few fudgy crumbs.

#3: Cool & glaze

1. Cool. Remove the blondies from the oven and let cool in the pan for 20 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
2. Glaze. Mix the powdered sugar with the milk until smooth. If desired, add a few drops red food coloring to tint the glaze pink. Pour over the blondies and allow to set.
3. Serve. Cut the strawberry blondie into slices, and enjoy!

How to know when strawberry blondies are done

I’m a firm believer that overbaked, dry goodies are one of the worst things. So noting down the baking time for recipes is always my least favorite part. Every oven bakes differently, and different pans bake quicker than others.

You want these blondies out of the oven when the edges are golden brown, and the center has puffed up. It’s okay if the middle still looks a bit undercooked.

My blondies take about 25 minutes, but you’ll want to check them at 20 minutes and keep an eye on them from there.

How much does this recipe yield?

My recipe makes a small batch in an 8-inch pan, so you don’t have to worry about being tempted by dozens of strawberry blondies lying in waiting for you.

If you’d like to bake more bars, double the ingredients and bake in a 9-inch x 13-inch pan. Increase the baking time to 25 to 30 minutes.

Tips for success

This fresh strawberry recipe is pretty simple. I don’t think you’ll have many questions when you whip up a batch, but I want to share a few simple tips to ensure your strawberry blondies turn out perfect.

• Boost the strawberry flavor: The blondies have a lovely, natural strawberry flavor. If you love the taste of boxed strawberry cake and want it stronger, add 1/2 teaspoon of strawberry flavoring or so to boost the flavor.
• Get that perfect blondie texture: Blondies are meant to have a chewy, fudgy texture, but adding too much flour will lead to cakey blondies. To achieve that, be sure to measure your flour correctly.
• Don’t overmix: Be careful not to overmix the blondie batter. Too much mixing causes gluten to develop in your batter, which can lead to tough or doughy blondies. Only mix until the batter is just combined. This will keep the texture tender and moist.
• Watch the baking time: As mentioned, the blondies should be slightly underbaked in the center when you take them out of the oven. They will continue to bake and set up as they cool, leaving you with a perfectly soft, moist treat.
• Wait to glaze until the blondies are cool: If you glaze the blondies while they are still warm, the glaze will melt into the blondies. It’s still delicious, but may not be the look you’re after.

Variations

I bet this strawberry blondie recipe will become a new summer favorite. If you find yourself baking them often, check out the variation ideas below to change them up each time.

• White chocolate: Try adding 1 cup white chocolate chips to the blondie batter before baking. Milk and semisweet would be tasty as well.
• Nuts: For a little crunch, stir 1 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, or hazelnuts into the batter.
• Lemon zest: Add 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest to flavor the bars with hints of citrus.
• Cake flour: For softer, more cake-like blondies, substitute cake flour for the all-purpose flour.
• Jam swirls: For an extra punch of strawberry flavor, stir some strawberry jam on top of your blondies.
• Cream cheese frosting: Swap the glaze for a fluffy cream cheese icing.
• Strawberry sundae: Create a strawberry sundae with small cubes of blondies, vanilla ice cream, strawberry sauce, and fresh strawberries.

Storage instructions

How to store strawberry blondies

I don’t think these strawberry slices will last very long. But if you do have any leftover, they store well and are a great recipe to make ahead.

Once cool, place your easy strawberry dessert in an airtight container. They will store at room temperature for 1 to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I recommend refrigerating them because of the fresh fruit.

Freeze strawberry blondies

To freeze, wrap the sliced and cooled strawberry bars in plastic wrap, then put them in a freezer-friendly container or freezer bag. Freeze for 2 to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or in the fridge overnight.

FAQ

What is a strawberry blondie?

Strawberry blondies are a soft and chewy dessert bar. Blondies are sometimes called blonde brownies as they are made without cocoa, but they are a delicious treat in their own right.

While brownies are all about chocolate and cocoa, blondies depend on brown sugar for their flavor. The molasses in brown sugar gives them their distinctive toffee-like flavor.

Can I make strawberry blondies without brown sugar?

Yes, technically, you can make this recipe without brown sugar, but the flavor and texture will be different. You can easily make your own brown sugar if you don’t have brown sugar.

All you do is mix 1 cup of regular granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of molasses. Easy, right?

Can I make the blondies with frozen strawberries?

No, I recommend sticking to fresh strawberries for this one. Frozen strawberries release more water during baking, which can offset the texture and prevent the blondies from setting properly.

More strawberry recipes you’ll love

We love strawberries and have a few other delicious strawberry recipes on the site you definitely should try! Especially since they are so easy and just perfect for the summer months when fresh berries are in season.

• Bisquick Strawberry Shortcake
• Easy Strawberry Cobbler with Bisquick
• Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad