nutella brownie heaven

Nutella.  That rockstar chocolate hazelnut spread that is delectable on toast, on brownies (see below) or, let's be honest, just on a spoon.  Is there anything better?    I'm gonna walk you through an amazing brownie recipe that's slathered with that spreadable heaven and topped with toasted, fragrant hazelnuts.  Go ahead, indulge your chocolate craving...

This recipe makes about 16 smallish brownies (they're so rich that small's okay, I promise).  Here's what ya need to make these chocolatey squares of goodness:

5 ounces (150 grams) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup (1 stick) (113 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

2 tablespoons (15 grams) cocoa powder

1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs

3/4 cup (95 grams) all-purposeflour

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (125 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips (they call these "optional": I do not!)

Here's some of what ya need.  This is the chocolate I used (and I went ahead and put all 6 ounces in the brownies).

(It even has cute little mountain goats on it.)

Finely chop that fantastic chocolate.

Now, you're going to set up a double boiler, which is a foolproof way to melt chocolate.  If you get chocolate too hot, it will separate on you.  Not good.  So you just boil water in a pan and put a stainless bowl on top of it, being sure that the water doesn't touch the bowl.

Melt the chocolate and butter together, stirring all the while.  This will only take a couple of minutes.

It's done melting when it's glossy and liquid.  Immediately remove from the heat.

Add 2 T cocoa power...

...and one cup of sugar, stirring well to mix together.

Next, add three eggaroos and 1 t of vanilla.

Whisk well to incorporate it all together.

Almost done!  Add 3/4 cup flour and a pinch of salt.  Stir just to incorporate and add in chocolate chips.

Pour into a greased 8 inch square pan and bake in a preheated 350 degrees F/180 degrees C oven and bake for about 35 minutes (that's how long it took me) until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with a bit of clumps on it.  They're meant to be gooey brownies, so you don't want them to dry out.

While they're baking, hydrate, y'all.  If you're in Texas like me, it's ridiculously hot and baking in the middle of summer's hard work, so drink lots of water!

They look amazing, no?  But just you wait, 'enri 'iggens, just you wait! (If you don't get this reference, you should know that I love Audrey Hepburn.  If you're still confused, you need to get a little more Audrey in your life!)

Spread a layer of nutella on top and scatter toasted hazelnuts on top.  Get ready for hazelnut-chocolate heaven!

Bon appetit!

lilrevchef