Best Brownie Parfaits

Ingredients

• Makes 6-8 servings

Brownies

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Vanilla Cream Layer
• 1 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• Whipping Cream Layer
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar, or to taste (you can omit if desired)
• 12 fresh strawberries (more or less) you want to make
• 4 Tablespoons of fresh processed strawberries (or you could use a seedless jam of your choice)

Directions

Brownies

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Grease a 8 inch square baking pan with a little butter.
3. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Shut off and pour into the mixing bowl.
4. In the mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and cocoa powder until smooth.
5. Add in sugar, eggs and vanilla, mix until well incorporated. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt until well incorporated.
6. Pour batter into prepared baking pan place into the preheated oven.
7. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, or until brownies until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Don't over bake.
8. Remove from the oven and place onto a cooling rack.
9. Let cool before cutting into pieces for the parfaits.
10. The Vanilla Cream Layer
11. Scald the milk in a saucepan.
12. In a separate saucepan combine the flour sugar and salt.
13. Gradually add the scaled milk. Cover over medium heat stirring constantly until thickened.
14. Cover and cook for 2 minutes longer stirring occasionally.
15. Stir a small amount of hot mixture into 1 egg that is lightly beaten in its own bowl.
16. Then blend this egg mixture back into the hot mixture.
17. Cook one minute longer, stirring constantly.
18. Remove from heat and blend in the butter and vanilla.
19. Let cool to room temperature before assembling the parfaits.

Strawberry Whipped Cream Topping

1. Wash the strawberries, remove the stems and put them into a blender or use a hand processor. Pulse until they are a thick seedy liquid. Mash the strawberries through a fine sieve to remove the seeds.
2. Pour the cream into a chilled mixing bowl, and whip on high speed. Sprinkle in the sugar gradually as the cream whips. Mix in 4 Tablespoons of the mashed strawberries just until combined.
3. If you have extra berry sauce you can spoon in between the layers.

Assembly

1. Cut the brownies into chunks.
2. Layer brownies, vanilla cream and whipped cream. Garnish if desired.