When in doubt, always add chocolate! 

We love nothing more than celebrating our favorite fruits and vegetables coming into season each year, and with spring and summer upon us, we want you to be ready to bake when strawberry season strikes! The Harvest Chocolate Strawberry Spoon Cake is one of our go-to summer recipes that we make every single year. It's easy, it's summery, and we add a chocolatey twist at the very end because when in doubt, we always add chocolate! 

Choosing your Harvest Chocolate Variety: 
Before we dive in and bake, here are a few tips when selecting which chocolate to add to the recipe.

Costa Rica: Flavor Profile - dark chocolate with bright citrus notes

Haiti:  Flavor Profile - notes of jam and texture like chocolate pudding

Ecuador: Flavor Profile - a little bit nutty, with notes of cinnamon.

Ghana: Flavor Profile - rich + fudgy like an oreo cookie dipped in ganache.

Final Thoughts:
When baking with bean-to-bar chocolate: you. can't. go. wrong.

Now let's bake! 

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup / 115 grams (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus an extra scoop for greasing the baking dish. You can also use plant based butter.
• 8 ounces / 145 grams strawberries 
• 1/3 cup / 75 grams light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup / 75 grams of light brown sugar - don't worry, this is intentionally listed twice! Keep them separate to keep it easy, and we will use them both!
• 1/2 cup whole milk (or your favorite alternative milk) at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup / 130 grams all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup or a hefty handful of Harvest Snacking Chocolate - pick your favorite variety, chop it slightly or keep it deliciously chunky!

Optional: Ice cream of your choice

Directions: 

Up First: 
Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8 inch baking dish with butter. Don't be shy, then set aside. 

Up Second: 
Using the back of a fork, mash the berries to release the juices, then stir in the first 1/3 cup of brown sugar. Let it sit - we'll be back for this later! 

Up Third:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter, and the second 1/3 cup of brown sugar, milk, and salt, then add the flour and baking powder and continue whisking just until the batter is smooth. Fold in your favorite Harvest Chocolate Snacking Chocolate. Transfer the batter (it's not much) to the greased baking dish, and spread evening. 

Last Step: (seriously, it's this easy!) 
Spoon the strawberries and all their juices over the top of the cake batter. Place in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean in the center and the cake is golden brown. (Baking times vary by oven). 

Remove from the oven, and as always, when in doubt, add more chopped chocolate to the top! As much or as little as you'd like. Best enjoyed warm, with a scoop of ice cream in your backyard with your favorite person.