Add the water and sugar to a small saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.
Add the strawberries and let simmer on low for 10 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, mash the strawberries and whisk occasionally while they simmer.
Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
Allow the sauce to cool. You'll be dividing the sauce into ¼ cup for brownies and 1 tablespoon for glaze.
Strawberry Brownies
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8 inch or 9 inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Grease well with nonstick baking spray.
Add the cake mix, eggs, ¼ cup strawberry sauce, and lemon juice to a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
Fold in the fresh strawberries until evenly distributed.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and evenly spread to the edges of the pan.
Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25-27 minutes or until the center is set. To double check, insert a toothpick in the center of the brownies. If it comes out clean, they're done.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for 20 minutes.
Carefully lift the parchment paper out of the pan and place on a cooling rack.
Glaze
Add the powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon strawberry sauce, and 2 tablespoons of water to a mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth. Add more water, if needed, for a thinner consistency of glaze.
Pour glaze over brownies and spread out evenly.
Cut brownies into 9 pieces.
Notes
Add more water to glaze if it is too thick. If it gets too thin, add extra powdered sugar.
Add 1 drop of red gel food coloring to the glaze to enhance the pink color.