Ingredients
For The Brownies:
- 1 1/3 cups 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate baking chips (230g)
- 2 cups large avocados (about 1 1/3) mashed
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 pinch sea salt
For The Chocolate Strawberry Filling:
- 3 tablespoons 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate baking chips (25g)
- 1/4 cup large avocado mashed
- 1/4 cup fresh strawberries chopped
- 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon sugar
For The Cheesecake Filling:
- 1/4 cup reduced-fat cream cheese softened at room temperature
- 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons sugar or to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 large strawberries for garnish
Instructions
For The Brownies:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 9 x 13-inch pans with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the 1 1/3 cups of chocolate chips in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth.
- Mash the avocados until smooth, then transfer them to a large food processor.
- Add the melted chocolate, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, sugar, eggs, almond milk, and a pinch of salt to the food processor. Blend until smooth and well combined. Ensure there are no lumps of avocado. The batter will be thick and rich.
- Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans, spreading it close to the edges but not all the way to prevent overly thin edges.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the tops are set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The edges will be slightly crispy.
- Let the brownies cool in the pans, then transfer them to the refrigerator to cool completely for at least 1 hour.
For The Chocolate Strawberry Filling:
- Melt 3 tablespoons of chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl using the same 20-second interval method.
- In a small food processor, combine the melted chocolate, mashed avocado, chopped strawberries, vanilla extract, and sugar. Blend until smooth and well mixed.
- Transfer the filling to a small bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
For The Cheesecake Filling:
- Clean the food processor, then add the softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Transfer the cheesecake filling to a small bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.
To Assemble:
- Use a medium-sized circular cookie cutter (approximately 3 inches in diameter, preferably metal to prevent sticking) to cut 6 circles from each pan of brownies, yielding a total of 12 circles.
- Use a smaller circular cookie cutter (about 2 inches in diameter, preferably metal to prevent sticking) to cut the centers out of 6 of the brownie circles, creating 6 solid circles and 6 with cut-out centers.
- Spread 2 teaspoons of the chocolate-strawberry filling onto one solid brownie circle and smooth evenly.
- Add 1 teaspoon of the cheesecake filling on top and gently swirl it into the chocolate filling with a knife or toothpick.
- Place a cut-out brownie circle on top of the filled solid circle. Repeat with the remaining brownies and fillings.
- Cut the strawberries into small heart shapes (or pieces) and place them in the center of each cut-out brownie.
- Serve and enjoy!
