If you want the best Hazelnut Brownie recipe, look no further. These brownies will put a smile on anyone’s face.
Hazelnuts may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about brownies, but that is about to change. Do you like Nutella? If so, you are already familiar with the combination of chocolate and hazelnuts, so a hazelnut brownie makes perfect sense.
Hazelnut brownies offer the best of both worlds—decadent, gooey, chewy chocolate treats with the crunch of delicious hazelnuts. With only eight ingredients and less than 45 minutes, you can bake a batch of brownies that will have your family saying, “More, please!”
Why You’ll Love Hazelnut Brownies
If you are a brownie lover, adding crunchy hazelnuts to the batter brings a delightful change from the traditional walnuts and pecans many people use. Hazelnuts have a warm, buttery flavor that is distinct from other nuts. They taste sweeter than walnuts and are a perfect match for chocolate, which is why hazelnut chocolate spreads are so popular worldwide.
Another reason to love hazelnuts is for your health. Hazelnuts contain crucial antioxidants that help protect the body from oxidative stress. The phenolic compounds in hazelnuts can help reduce inflammation and cholesterol in some cases. Since cocoa powder also contains beneficial antioxidants and flavonoids that protect the body and brain, combining the two in these brownies can make you feel good about eating something so decadent.
Brownies from Scratch in 40 Minutes!
Baking a batch of delectable brownies from scratch does not have to be an all-day project. With this simple recipe, you can accomplish this in far less than an hour. The nuts do not require toasting, which is another time-saver. Ditch the boxed mix with unwanted preservatives and chemicals, and let’s start.
Hazelnut brownies are fun to make with your children. I like to put my hazelnuts in a freezer zipper bag (more durable than regular plastic bags) and let them bang it with a mallet to chop the nuts. It’s a great exercise in dexterity. They can help stir the batter and pour it into the pan. Of course, the best part for the kiddos is being the official taste testers when the brownies are done. They will love watching the kitchen timer ticking down as the brownies bake.
How to Make Ahead and Store
Brownies are a great make-ahead treat when you need a quick dessert, bake sale item, party treat, or picnic dish. You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 4 days. Hazelnut brownies can be frozen when wrapped tightly in freezer wrap and placed in an appropriate freezer container for up to 3 months. You can defrost them in the refrigerator or on the counter. I don’t recommend eating them frozen due to the nuts, which can sometimes be too hard to bite while frozen. Remember to let your brownies cool overnight before freezing to prevent moisture buildup.
Serving Suggestions
These brownies are so good they don’t need anything else. However, if you want to frost them for the ultimate decadence, check out the recipes for Decadent Dark Chocolate Brownies with Fluffy Peanut Butter Frosting, Sweetheart Brownies, and Strawberry Frosted Heart-Shaped Brownies. They all contain frostings you can use for hazelnut brownies. You can also cover the brownies with mini chocolate chips when they come out of the oven. The chips will melt quickly, and you can spread them over the top with a spatula.
Hazelnut Brownie
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.
- In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Pour the butter mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, until the mixture is smooth.
- Fold in chopped hazelnuts.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
- Allow to cool in the pan, then cut into squares and serve.
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