Easy Nutella Brownies that are so soft and chewy! Only 7 ingredients is all you need for these perfectly fudgy brownies with a swirl of Nutella!
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I had you at Nutella didn’t I? I know, my heart skips a beat when I hear that magical word too. The first time I had Nutella I was sitting in a little french bistro in Paris- err I wish. Ok maybe my first time wasn’t magical but it was memorable. My sister actually turned me on to this stuff after she had taken a cooking class in highschool.
I remember the first spoonful. The first thought that ran through my head was I can’t believe my entire childhood had gone without this chocolate hazelnut spread! I mean I love peanut butter. Don’t get me wrong. I love it so much I stuffed it in a cupcake.
But Nutella. Oh man. Spread this stuff on a shoe and I would eat it.
So when you go and stuff it in a brownie. That’s a no brainer.
Now I wish I could say I dreamt up this crazy ridiculously good brownie recipe with swirls of Nutella running through it. But I didn’t. Instead this is the mad genius work of a fellow food blogger, Shelly over at Cookies and Cups and her fabulous new cookbook, Cookies and Cups.
When she released the cookbook back in April 2016 I knew I had to get my hands on it. And I as flipped through all the glossy photos I mentally dog eared a bunch I couldn’t wait to make. But the one that stood out that I needed to make like YESTERDAY- these Nutella Brownies.
Brownies are simple right? Fudgy, chocolatey heaven. Perfect on their own. But then she went and swirled in Nutella. Like I said. My heart skipped a beat.
Ingredients for these Nutella brownies
Yes you really only need 7 ingredients! Here is what you should round up from the pantry:
- Salted butter – If you don’t have salted butter, then use unsalted butter, but add a little extra salt. And no they aren’t the same! You can read more here about Unsalted Butter Vs. Salted Butter In BakingMake sure it’s softened. Here is to soften butter fast (3 ways!)
- Light brown sugar – I have only made these with light but I’m assuming dark brown sugar would also work. And if you have run out you can always make your own brown sugar.
- Eggs – You want two room temperature eggs. I place mine in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes before I start.
- Vanilla – Of course, vanilla is always a great addition for flavor! I do recommend pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Nutella – Of course Nutella brownies need that chocolate hazelnut spread!
- Salt – Yes a little extra salt. I used kosher salt for the best flavor of salt. You can read more here about The Role Of Salt In Baking.
- Flour – Flour is the #1 ingredient bakers measure wrong so I always recommend measuring by weight for best accuracy. But if you are measuring flour, make sure to not pack the flour into the cup. You can read more here about How To Measure Flour.
How to make Nutella Brownies
Creaming your butter and sugar together. These brownies start with creaming your butter and your brown sugar together in your stand mixer for about 2 minutes. If you use your hand mixer, this will take a couple more minutes. Be sure to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl. This is an important step during creaming that is often overlooked. You want to make sure that your ingredients are being evenly creamed together. You can read more here about What Is The Creaming Method?
Add eggs and vanilla. Once your butter and sugar has been creamed, it’s time to add your eggs and vanilla extract. Be sure your eggs are at room temperature so they incorporate into the mixture easily. You want to make sure to add each egg and incorporate before adding the next and scraping down the bowl as needed to make sure all is mixed evenly,
Add Nutella! After your eggs and vanilla extract have been incorporated, it’s time to add my favorite part. The chocolate hazelnut spread. Nutella has it’s own milk, and sugar added to it, so it’s basically like adding a few ingredients all at once. But make sure you save 1/4 cup of the spread to swirl on at the end.
Time for the flour and salt. Once your Nutella has been mixed in, reduce your mixer to low and add your flour. Be sure to measure your flour correctly, otherwise it could result in a tough dry brownie instead of a chewy soft one.
Swirl on more Nutella. Once the batter is made, spread it into your pan. And then dollop on the 1/4 cup of the remaining Nutella. Use a butter knife to swirl the Nutella throughout the batter.
Bake! You want to bake these for about 30-35 minute, on a center rack in your oven, until the center is just set. Then let them cool in the pan on a cooling rack.
Tips for making these Nutella brownies
- Measure flour correctly. As always, measure your flour correctly. I recommend using a kitchen scale for best accuracy. But if you want to use your dry measuring cups (no shame in that) but make sure you spoon the flour in and level off with a flat edge. Do not pack the flour down in to the cup which results in too much flour and results in a dense cakey brownie. It’s one of my top 10 baking tips.
- Do not overmix. When it comes to any kind of baking, overmixing can result in too much gluten (protein in the flour that results in how chewy a baked good can end up being) forming. So I always stir just until the flour is mixed in and then I stop.
- Reserve some Nutella. It’s easy to accidentally just add it all in and forget! Make sure to reserve a 1/4 cup to dollop and swirl in at the end.
Nutella Brownie FAQ’s
Can I use unsalted butter?
I used unsalted butter as I never salted butter on hand, and I simply just add an extra 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
How do I store these brownies?
Store at room temperature, in an covered container, for up to 3 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months. Then thaw at room temperature.
Can I add chocolate chips?
You can, although I think they are wonderfully chocolatey as is! But yes you would stir them in at the end.
Can I make these gluten free?
Absolutely. Just simply swap out the all purpose flour and use gluten free flour instead. My favorite is this brand.
Why did my brownies come out dry?
This is probably due to overbaking. They will still appear a bit soft when you pull them out of the oven, but they will set up as they cool. Mine were perfect at 30 minutes but every oven can be different. Be sure to bake them on a middle rack. And I always recommend using an oven thermometer to double check that your oven is reading the correct temperature.
Why did my brownies comes out chewy?
That is most likely due to overmixing. If you continue to mix your brownie batter, you will end up with tougher chewier brownies then intended. So I mix just until the flour in incorporated.
More Chocolate Recipes To Try
- Caramel Chocolate Oatmeal Bars
- New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Nutella Scones
- Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies
- Sea Salt Nutella Fudge
- 3 ingredient Nutella Brownies
Tools needed to make these brownies
- 8×8 Pan- This is the pan I own and love
- Stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment
- Rubber Spatula <– I love a 100% silicone spatula because it’s sturdier and the handle never separates!
- Cookies and cups cookbook
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Nutella Brownies
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup (37 g, 5 1/3 Tbs.) salted butter room temperature
- 1/2 cup (107 g) packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups (400 g) Nutella divided
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 cup (90 g) all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper and coat with baking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix the butter and brown sugar on medium speed for 2 minutes. With the mixer still on medium, add the eggs and vanilla and continue mixing until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Turn the speed to the medium-low and add 1 cup of the Nutella and the salt mixing until smooth and fluffy.
- Turn the speed to low and add the flour, mixing until just combined.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Drop the remaining 1/4 cup Nutella by the teaspoon evenly over the batter, then swirl the Nutella into the batter, using a butter knife.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the center is just set.
- Allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into squares when ready to serve.
Notes
- Tools: 8x8 pan | Stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment | Rubber Spatula |Cookies and cups cookbook
- Butter: I used unsalted butter as I never salted butter on hand, and I simply just add an extra 1/4 teaspoon of salt. The recipe already has salt in it as well, so you could try omitting it if you would like.
- Storage: Store at room temperature, in an covered container, for up to 3 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months. Then thaw at room temperature.
Seraphine says
Thank you. Your recipes always deliver! (From a fellow Bostonian)
Heather says
Aw that means so much!! You’re welcome and glad you like the recipes!
Agness of Run Agness Run says
Simple and delicious, I couldn’t ask for more. Definitely on the menu for tomorrow.
Heather | Boston Girl Bakes says
Thanks Agness! Yes they were so simple and so chocolatey and fudgy and everything you want in a brownie..these disappeared quickly!