Food Network star Katie Lee shares her recipe for strawberry brownie cake
You could call Katie Lee the younger version of Ina Garten, with her shingled, beach house in the Hamptons, love of all things French, and penchant for throwing easy, breezy summer soirees in her elegant garden. This summer Lee shares some of the recipes that make recurring appearances in her kitchen and backyard patio every year.
After hosting countless, sunset dinner parties for friends and family, Lee, co-host of The Food Network's "The Kitchen," compiled some of her favorite summer recipes and entertaining tips into the "Endless Summer Cookbook" released earlier this year.
"I am a notorious doctorer of brownie mixes. Every year when strawberries came into season, my grandma would make a strawberry shortcake, and I have followed her tradition. Then I got to thinking . . . I love chocolate, I love strawberries, and I especially love chocolate and strawberries, so why not do a chocolate shortcake? And why not just use a brownie mix? This is so good and ridiculously simple to make and people go c-r-a-z-y for it."
-- Katie Lee
Serves 8-10
2 boxes brownie mix
4 large eggs
2⁄3 cup (165 ml) canola oil
1 cup (240 ml) sour cream
1 cup (240 ml) prepared whipped cream (I have been known to use Cool Whip on occasion)
1 pint (335 g) strawberries, hulled and sliced
Preheat the oven to the temperature indicated on the brownie mix box. Spray two 8-inch (20-cm) round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray.
Using an electric mixer, combine the brownie mix, eggs, 1/4 cup (60 ml) water, and the oil. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake according to the box instructions. Let cool on wire racks, then turn out of the pans. Put one brownie on a serving platter for the bottom layer.
Fold the sour cream into the whipped cream. Spread the brownie with about half of the whipped cream mixture and half of the berries. Place the second brownie layer on top. Add a scoop of the whipped cream mixture and a few berries. Slice and serve with the remaining berries and whipped cream mixture.
