If you are a fan of nuts and brownies I can guarantee you will be mad for these Chocolate Fudge Double Hazelnut Brownies. Since they are packed with an almost obscene amount of chocolate, giving the dense fudgey texture and taste required in all great brownies. Also add in a ridiculous amount of chopped and whole hazelnuts and the resulting flavour is Ferrero Rocher in a brownie. Resulting in a gooey, crunchy combination of chocolate and hazelnut flavours.
Since eating a brownie is an indulgence, it makes sense to eat only the best. Made using 400 grams of good quality chocolate, dark, treacly sugar and aromatic vanilla extract, the basic brownie is already exceptional. In addition, by adding roasted, chopped hazelnuts to the brownie batter, not only does the flavour resemble Nutella, the hazelnuts add crunch to the texture. Finally, whole hazelnuts, roasted during the baking process, completes the exceptional flavour profile.
Preparing The KItchen For Brownie Making
While brownies are fun to make, things can get messy! So wearing an apron, or if you are like me with chocolate in the kitchen, overalls, is advisable. Also a sink full of soapy water is handy. Furthermore, mentally preparing for a ‘bit’ of kitchen mess relaxes the mind for the chocolate bomb to come! Since it is impossible for me to make brownies without creating a mess, I assume the same of everyone. Finally, know that the clean up process takes less time than baking the brownies. š
Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Double Hazelnut Brownies makes 15
200g/7oz Dark Chocolate minimum 70% Cocoa Solids
200g/7oz Milk Chocolate minimum 35% Cocoa Solids
225g/8oz Unsalted Butter
2tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey
4 Large Free Range Eggs
1/4tsp Sea Salt – 1/8tsp Free flowing salt – I use Maldon
225g/8oz Dark Brown Muscavado Sugar – I use WaitroseĀ as their dark sugarās are made by BillingtonsĀ
75g/3oz Plain White Flour
1/2tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
100g/4oz Ready Roasted Chopped Hazelnuts
100g/4oz Whole Blanched Hazelnuts
Method: Preheat the oven 170C/150 fan, gas mark 3.5, 325F
You will need a 22.5cm x 30cm (9″ x 12″) deep tin, lined with foil or baking parchment.
Making The Hazelnut Studded Brownie Batter
- First of all break or chop the chocolate into chunks and place in a medium, heatproof, microwaveable bowl.
- Add the butter to the chocolate.
- Heat, using a microwave, on medium power, for 30 second bursts. Stir between each heating period.
- As soon as the chocolate starts to melt remove the bowl from the microwave. Continue to stir until all of the chocolate is melted and combined with the melted butter. Set to one side to cool.
- Next, into a separate bowl, add the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract. Stir to combine the ingredients.
- As soon as the chocolate mixture is cooled to body temperature pour the egg mixture in and stir constantly until the mixture is combined.
- Sieve the flour and bicarbonate of soda on to the combined mix. Now add the chopped, roasted hazelnuts.
- Stir the flour and nuts into the chocolate mix.
- Pour the brownie batter into the prepared tin.
Tips On Baking The Ultimate Brownies
- Unlike baking a cake, where air bubbles are needed to help the cake rise, brownies are rich and dense with very little rise. To encourage an even bake, rap the filled baking tin sharply on the worktop. Doing so encourages any air bubbles present to rise to the surface of the batter.
- Place the baking tin in the centre of the oven and bake for 10 minutes exactly.
- Remove the baking tin after the initial baking time has elapsed. The surface of the brownies will have just started to set.
- Sprinkle over the additional whole hazelnuts, use the back of a spoon to gently press into the surface of the brownie. Take care as the brownie tin will be very hot.
- Return the tin to the oven and continue to bake for 20-25 minutes.
- The brownies are baked when set, with only a hint of a wobble in the centre.
- As soon as the brownies are baked remove from the oven and place the tin on a cooling rack.
- Leave the brownies to cool in the tin. Or if you simply cannot wait, cool slightly, scoop portions of brownie into bowls and top with vanilla ice cream!
Serving Suggestions
Cut the cooled brownie slab into 3 even sized widths, then cut across at 5 evenly spaced lengths. Use a palette knife to slide between the base of the brownie and foil. Although the foil/baking parchment should easily peel away.
Serve slightly warmed (20 seconds in the microwave) with a scoop of ice cream for dessert. Alternatively, serve with a cold tumbler of milk.
Once cooled keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Although, who’s kidding that they will last that long? Definitely not in this house!
If you have enjoyed this recipe for Chocolate Fudge Double Hazelnut Brownies then you may like these:
Chocolate Biscuit Base Mini Egg Brownies
Bakery Style Soft Triple Chocolate Cookies
I really enjoy baking cakes, brownies, muffins and cookies at home. And once I haveĀ mastered a particular recipe I can then adapt it to include other ingredients. Since you are the baker, you get to decide if hazelnuts or alternatively peanuts are used in your bake. As a result you get to create your own, personalised feast. And that is part of the fun of baking at home!
So, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.
Sammie xx
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