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Nutella has a way of making almost any dessert feel more tempting, but brownies might be where it truly belongs. The combination of chocolate, hazelnut spread and a dense brownie base creates something rich without requiring complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.
This Nutella brownie recipe is ideal when you want brownies with a fudgy centre and a delicate crust on top. The batter comes together quickly, making it suitable for weekend baking, house parties, family get-togethers or those evenings when a chocolate craving simply refuses to wait.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Nutella
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate, optional
- 2–3 tablespoons Nutella for swirling on top
Instructions
1. Get the oven and tin ready
Preheat your oven to 175°C. Line an 8-inch square baking tin with parchment paper, leaving some paper hanging over the sides. This will make it much easier to lift the brownies out once they have cooled. Lightly grease any uncovered sides of the tin.
2. Combine the wet ingredients
Add the melted butter, brown sugar and Nutella to a large mixing bowl. Stir until everything looks smooth and evenly combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Pour in the vanilla extract and stir again. The mixture should become glossy and slightly thicker at this stage.
3. Add the dry ingredients
Sift the flour, cocoa powder and salt directly into the bowl. Use a spatula to fold the ingredients together gently. Stop mixing as soon as you can no longer see dry streaks of flour. Overmixing can make the brownies more cakey than fudgy. If you want extra bursts of melted chocolate, fold in chocolate chips or roughly chopped chocolate now.
4. Fill the baking tin
Spoon the brownie batter into the lined tin and spread it evenly into the corners. For an extra Nutella touch, add small spoonfuls of Nutella across the surface. Run a toothpick or the tip of a knife through them to create loose swirls. Avoid overdoing the pattern or the Nutella will simply blend into the batter.
5. Bake the brownies
Place the tin on the middle rack of the oven and bake for approximately 25–30 minutes. Baking time can vary slightly depending on your oven and the depth of your tin, so start checking towards the lower end of the time range. Remember, brownies continue to set as they cool, so take them out at the right stage.
6. Let them cool
Remove the tin from the oven and leave the brownies inside it for around 15–20 minutes. Then use the parchment paper to carefully lift the whole brownie slab onto a cooling rack. Allow it to cool further before cutting. Waiting might be difficult when the kitchen smells so good, but cooling gives the Nutella brownies a much neater texture.
7. Slice and enjoy
Use a sharp knife to cut the Nutella brownies into squares. Wiping the knife between cuts helps create cleaner edges, especially if you prefer dense, gooey brownies. Serve them as they are or add your favourite topping.
How to Tell When Nutella Brownies Are Ready
- The top should appear set with a thin, slightly crackled finish.
- The sides should begin to pull away gently from the tin.
- The centre should no longer look like raw batter.
- A toothpick inserted near the centre should come out with a few moist crumbs attached.
- The brownie should feel set around the edges while remaining slightly softer in the middle.
Tips for Making Better Nutella Brownies
- Measure the flour carefully, as too much flour can dry out fudgy brownies. Spoon flour into the measuring cup and level it instead of packing it down.
- Avoid overmixing and fold the dry ingredients only until everything is combined.
- Use room-temperature eggs, as they mix more evenly into the batter and help create a smoother texture.
- Don’t overbake, as the Nutella brownies firm up significantly while cooling, so the centre doesn’t need to feel completely firm in the oven.
- Warm the Nutella slightly for swirling. If it feels too thick, microwave it for a few seconds to make swirling easier.
- Allow proper cooling time. Warm Nutella brownies taste fantastic, but cooled brownies give you cleaner slices and a denser bite.
Serving Ideas for Nutella Brownies
- Serve slightly warm Nutella brownies with vanilla ice cream and let the ice cream soften over the top.
- Add sliced strawberries or raspberries to balance the rich chocolate-hazelnut flavour.
- Drizzle a small amount of warmed Nutella over each piece before serving.
- Sprinkle chopped roasted hazelnuts over the top for extra crunch.
- Serve small brownie squares alongside coffee for an easy after-meal dessert.
- Add a light dusting of cocoa powder or icing sugar when serving them on a dessert platter.
- Warm the brownie slightly and pair it with cold milk for a simple late-night treat.
Wrapping Up
Once you see how easily these cocoa treats come together, they’ll likely become part of your regular baking rotation. The best part is how flexible this Nutella brownie recipe can be. It is up to you whether you wish to keep the batter plain, add chocolate chunks or scatter hazelnuts. Each version gives you something slightly different while keeping that rich base intact. So, whenever you have a jar of Nutella waiting in the cupboard, turn it into a batch of homemade Nutella brownies. You won’t regret it!
