Strawberry Chocolate Petit Fours are charming, bite-sized chocolate cakes layered with strawberry buttercream and topped with a glossy chocolate ganache. These elegant treats are perfect for high teas, weddings, baby showers, or simply as an indulgent sweet bite at any celebration. Despite their polished look, they are surprisingly simple to make at home. The chocolate cake base is tender and rich, the buttercream is bursting with real strawberry flavor, and the ganache adds a decadent finish. These petit fours are a delightful blend of flavor, texture, and visual appeal.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cake
130 g plain (all-purpose) flour
40 g cocoa powder
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
113 g unsalted butter, melted
100 g white granulated sugar
100 g brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs, room temperature
¾ cup whole milk
For the Strawberry Buttercream
113 g unsalted butter, softened
1¼ cups icing sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract (optional)
¼ cup freeze-dried strawberry powder
1 tbsp milk
¼ cup thickened (heavy) cream
For the Chocolate Ganache
150 g dark chocolate, finely chopped
½ cup thickened (heavy) cream
Directions
Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C fan). Grease and line a 26×40 cm (10×15 inch) sponge roll tin with baking paper.
Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt together. In a separate bowl, mix melted butter with both sugars, then beat in eggs one at a time.
Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk to the wet ingredients, mixing gently just until combined.
Pour batter into prepared tin and bake for 12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let cool, then chill in the fridge.
Cut the cooled cake in half width-wise. Dust one side with cocoa and flip it to be the base.
For the buttercream, beat butter and ¼ cup of icing sugar for 3 minutes until creamy. Gradually add remaining sugar, strawberry powder, vanilla, and milk. In a separate bowl, whip the cream to soft peaks and fold it into the buttercream.
Spread the buttercream evenly on one cake half, top with the second half, and freeze until firm.
Heat cream until bubbling, pour over chopped chocolate, and let sit for 2–3 minutes. Stir until smooth.
Remove cake from freezer, cut into squares or triangles with a clean warm knife. Spoon ganache over each petit four, allow to set, then top with a fresh strawberry slice if desired.
Nutrients (Per petit four, approx. based on 40 servings)
Calories: 139
Fat: ~8g
Saturated Fat: ~5g
Carbohydrates: ~15g
Sugar: ~11g
Protein: ~2g
Sodium: ~35mg
Fiber: ~1g
Calcium: ~20mg
Iron: ~1mg
A Timeless Classic with a Contemporary Twist
Petit fours, originally a French creation, refer to small bite-sized cakes that are often elaborately decorated and served during dessert courses or afternoon teas. Traditionally, they are known for their intricate designs and layered textures, often combining sponge cake, jam or cream, and fondant icing. This modern version trades fondant for a rich chocolate ganache and uses naturally flavored strawberry buttercream for a more contemporary and flavor-forward experience.
By pairing chocolate with strawberry, this recipe captures a time-tested flavor combination in an elegant, accessible format. The deep, cocoa-rich cake acts as a grounding layer, while the strawberry buttercream introduces fruitiness and lightness, enhanced further by the luxurious finish of dark chocolate ganache. It’s a refined take on a nostalgic flavor duo, made with real ingredients and thoughtful technique.
Chocolate Sponge Cake: The Foundation of Flavor
The chocolate cake base of these petit fours is both tender and sturdy enough to support layering and slicing into small portions. It’s designed to be soft but not too delicate, ensuring it holds its shape after chilling and cutting. This makes it ideal for assembling petit fours, which require clean, neat layers for the final presentation.
The use of both white granulated sugar and brown sugar in the cake batter contributes to a rich, caramel-like depth that complements the chocolate, while the combination of cocoa powder and melted butter ensures a moist crumb and a satisfying density. Whole milk adds additional richness and helps bind the dry and wet ingredients into a smooth, even batter.
After baking, chilling the cake in the fridge is essential. This step firms up the texture, making it easier to slice and layer without crumbling. A dusting of cocoa powder on the bottom layer adds a slight bitterness that balances the sweetness of the buttercream and enhances the chocolate flavor overall.
Strawberry Buttercream: Fruity, Fluffy, and Naturally Pink
What truly sets these petit fours apart is the use of real strawberry powder in the buttercream. Freeze-dried strawberry powder imparts intense, natural fruit flavor without adding excess moisture. This means the buttercream stays light, fluffy, and stable enough to spread, layer, and hold up under the ganache topping.
The buttercream is whipped for several minutes to achieve a creamy consistency, and the addition of whipped cream folded in at the end creates a mousse-like texture that is luxuriously smooth without being overly heavy. This strawberry layer introduces a burst of tangy sweetness that enlivens the entire dessert.
The pastel pink hue of the buttercream is naturally derived from the strawberries, making the final dessert not only delicious but also visually appealing. This splash of color contrasts beautifully with the dark ganache and cake layers, making each petit four a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.
Glossy Ganache for a Showstopping Finish
Ganache is the crowning glory of these petit fours. Made with just two ingredients—dark chocolate and cream—it adds a touch of luxury and elegance to each bite. The ganache is smooth, shiny, and deeply flavorful, providing a bold counterpoint to the sweet, airy buttercream.
Applying the ganache is where the artistry of petit fours really shines. Spoon it over each chilled square or triangle to create a smooth coating that drapes the dessert without overwhelming it. A fresh strawberry slice on top not only echoes the flavor inside but also adds a pop of color and a touch of natural elegance.
Ganache also acts as a sealant, preserving the freshness of the layers beneath and giving the petit fours their glossy, refined finish. Once set, it creates a slightly firm top that gives way to the softness inside, completing the trio of textures that make these petit fours irresistible.
Perfect for Special Occasions and Elegant Events
Strawberry Chocolate Petit Fours are ideal for occasions where presentation matters. Their uniform size and polished look make them suitable for tea parties, baby showers, engagement parties, or as a delicate addition to a wedding dessert table. They can also be packaged in small boxes as edible favors or gifted to friends and loved ones for birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays.
Because they’re made in a large pan and cut into individual pieces, petit fours are surprisingly efficient to produce in large batches. The recipe yields about 40 pieces, making it perfect for entertaining or for preparing ahead. Once assembled, they can be stored in the refrigerator and served chilled or at room temperature.
For added flair, consider customizing your presentation. Top with edible gold leaf, drizzle with white chocolate, or use piped chocolate decorations for a more intricate design. However you present them, these petit fours are guaranteed to impress.
A Balanced Treat That’s Rich but Not Overwhelming
Each petit four clocks in at around 139 calories, with a balanced profile of fats, carbs, and a touch of protein. The small portion size makes them ideal for enjoying a sweet treat without overindulging, and their richness means just one or two is usually enough to satisfy.
Using real ingredients like butter, dark chocolate, and freeze-dried strawberries ensures the flavors are authentic and vibrant. The addition of heavy cream provides a silky texture while contributing to the dessert’s overall creaminess. These petit fours strike a delightful balance—rich without being too dense, sweet without being cloying, and elegant without requiring complicated techniques.
They’re also a great example of how high-impact presentation doesn’t have to mean difficult execution. With a few simple steps and a bit of care, these petit fours come together in a way that feels professional and homemade at the same time.
Conclusion
Strawberry Chocolate Petit Fours are the perfect union of flavor, texture, and visual beauty. With layers of rich chocolate cake, real strawberry buttercream, and glossy ganache, they offer a bite-sized escape into indulgence with every mouthful. Ideal for celebrations, special gatherings, or as an elegant treat to enjoy at home, these petit fours prove that great things truly do come in small packages.
From their naturally vibrant pink centers to their shiny chocolate tops, these mini desserts deliver maximum flavor and appeal in a neat, polished format. Whether you’re hosting a tea party, planning a wedding spread, or simply craving something sweet and luxurious, Strawberry Chocolate Petit Fours will always rise to the occasion. Beautiful, delicious, and delightfully simple to prepare, they are sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone lucky enough to enjoy them.