Go Back

Hazelnut Crunch Brownies

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

For the Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch:

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread, such as Nutella
  • 1 cup crispy rice cereal
  • Extra virgin olive oil, for greasing

For the Brownies:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp. espresso powder
  • 1-½ sticks salted butter, softened
  • 1-½ cups granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 tsp. hazelnut liqueur, such as Frangelico
  • Extra virgin olive oil, for greasing

Instructions
 

To prepare the chocolate hazelnut crunch:

  • In a medium bowl, melt the chocolate chips, either over a bain-marie (see notes) or in the microwave.
  • Mix in the hazelnut spread and the cereal; thoroughly combine.
  • Line a 9-inch by 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper and grease with a bit of extra virgin olive oil.
  • Pour the chocolate mixture into the pan, spread out evenly and place in the freezer.

How to prepare the brownies:

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350F.
  • Place dry ingredients in a large bowl; set aside.
  • In a second bowl, cream the butter with the sugar until very well-combined; add the eggs, one at a time; add the liqueur; stir until combined.
  • Mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients; mix until just combined.
  • Remove the pan from the freezer after one hour; the chocolate spread should be hardened after the hour is up.
  • Holding the parchment, remove it from the pan and place in the refrigerator.
  • Re-parchment the pan and grease with extra virgin olive oil.
  • Scrape ½ of the batter into the prepared pan.
  • Take the crunch layer out of the refrigerator and place on top of the batter.
  • Pour the rest of the batter on top of the hardened crunch layer and smooth the top.
  • Place in the pre-heated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the edges are firm and the top is shiny and slightly cracked.
  • Remove from the oven and place pan on a cooling rack.
  • Allow to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

A bain-marie is a cooking utensil containing heated water in which food, in a smaller banking utensil, is cooked.