Is there anything better than an ice cream treat on a hot day? Whether it was scanning the pictures on the side of the ice cream truck or digging through the chest freezer at the corner store, picking a frozen treat was serious business as a kid. My top choice was always the Strawberry Shortcake Bar. A sweet and crunchy layer on the outside with a silky ice cream center… heavenly. My love for this summertime classic really hasn’t faded over the years, so when I was introduced to a brownie version, I needed to experiment with it ASAP. Let me tell you, they did not disappoint!
These delectable bars are made up of three layers. We start things out with a dense and buttery brownie layer made from a strawberry cake mix, melted butter, and an egg. The dough will be thick like cookie dough! Press the mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish and pop it in the oven for about 20 minutes.
Next comes the cream layer. A velvety blend of cream cheese, frozen whipped topping, and a hint of vanilla extract for a smooth and dreamy filling. Spread the mixture over the cooled strawberry brownies and then get started on the final layer…
Last, but certainly not least, the strawberry crunch layer. You have two options here for the strawberry flavor: strawberry jello powder or crushed freeze dried strawberries. Whichever route you choose, you’ll want to crush the golden oreos into a fine powder and mix it with some melted butter. Stir in your strawberry flavoring and sprinkle the mixture over the cream layer. At this point your bars are ready to be sliced and served. Get ready for all the childhood memories to come rushing back with the first bite!
Strawberry Crunch Bars
Brownie Layer
- 1 (15.25 oz) strawberry cake mix
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 egg
Cream Layer
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
- 1 (8 oz) package frozen whipped topping
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Crunch Layer
- 20 golden oreos
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 1 (3 oz) box strawberry jello
- or
- 1 (2 oz) bag freeze dried strawberries
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- For the brownie layer: In a large bowl, mix together cake mix, butter, and egg until fully combined, dough will be thick. Transfer dough to the prepared baking dish and press into an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through the center. Set aside to cool.
- For the cream layer: In a large bowl, whisk cream cheese until smooth then mix in frozen whipped topping and vanilla until fully combined.
- Spoon cream topping onto the cooled cake layer and spread into an even layer.
- For the crunch layer: Place oreos in a gallon-sized ziplock bag and crush into a sandy texture. Pour into a large bowl and mix in melted butter and dry jello. Alternatively, add freeze dried strawberries and 1 tablespoon sugar in place of jello.
- Sprinkle crunch topping over the cream layer and chill until ready to serve.
Recipe adapted from Thedomesticrebel.com