My favorite recipes tend to be simpler ones. When I can just chop up a few ingredients, throw them in a bowl, toss them about… I’m a happy man. When it gets to be too complicated, I feel like there’s a greater chance that I’ll be disappointed with the results.
Twitter (and the food blogosphere) has been abuzz about a new cookbook from the wonderful Abby Dodge. She is the author of a variety of baking related books, including The Weekend Baker and the Williams-Sonoma Dessert Cookbooks. Her latest idea is nothing short of brilliant: a book of recipes for desserts that feature just four ingredients and take about 30 minutes to make… from start to finish.
The cookbook, titled Desserts 4 Today, features a wonderful brownie recipe that I had been dying to try. Here are the ingredients: egg, flour, Nutella, and chopped nuts. These Nutella Fudge Brownies are just as simple to prepare as Abby promised and I’m so happy I made them.
For those out there who are not familiar with this ingredient, Nutella is a spread that primarily consists of hazelnuts, though it also contains cocoa, skimmed milk, and vanilla. It has a number of similarities to gianduja, a chocolate that includes hazelnut paste, which was created in the 1860s because of a high tax that was placed on cocoa beans in Italy. A hundred years later, the Italian-based company, Ferrero, modified the gianduja recipe and began to sell it in stores as Nutella.
This confection, as well as a number of other tasty treats, has turned Ferrero Chocolates into one of the most profitable companies in Italy. But Nutella is sold all over the world and, with each year, sales keep rising.
And while today isn’t World Nutella Day (it’s February 5th, if you were wondering), I think it’s easy to come up with a reason to pick up a container of it… like to bake these brownies.
Whereas a number of brownie recipes are loaded with chocolate, these are wonderfully subtle in their flavor. Don’t get me wrong, I love chocolate… but sometimes it can be a bit overpowering. Isn’t it lovely when you can bite into something and taste more than one ingredient?
Quite simply, I’ve fallen in love with these brownies (and now I have a little crush on Abby). The next time you are looking for a quick dessert to whip up, I highly suggest making these. You won’t be disappointed.
On a different note, today is the last day you can vote for my first entry for the Project Food Blog competition. Click here to view my entry and to vote. I appreciate all of the support that so many of you have given me and am incredibly grateful for that.
Nutella Fudge Brownies
(Reprinted with permission from Abby Dodge, from Desserts 4 Today: Flavorful Desserts with Just Four Ingredients)
Makes 12 Brownies
Ingredients
1/2 cup Nutella spread
1 large egg
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts (or chopped almonds or peanuts)
Directions
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup mini muffin pan with paper or foil liners.
Put the Nutella and egg in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth and well blended. Add the flour and whisk until blended.
Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tins (about 3/4 full) and sprinkle with the chopped hazelnuts.
Bake until a pick comes out with wet, gooey crumbs, 11 to 12 minutes. Set on a rack to cool completely. Serve immediately or cover and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Wow…this looks delicious! Great for afternoon tea with my friends. Looks very simple and easy to make. Thanks very much for sharing.
Brian you are trying to make me not lose the ten pounds I have set out to lose. And it's sad. Because now I'm going to have to buy Nutella. And once I buy Nutella, after making these, I will probably finish off the rest of the container in a day. Because I don't know anyone who has any self control around Nutella. Oy.
These look awesome. I'm enamored. i have a crush on Abby too now. And you.
I just added the book to my amazon list! 4 ingredients!? Thats so awesome.
Brownies look so good…just the thought of nutella & fudege in a brownie..it's heavanly! Thanks for sharing!
I love nutella, I am sure this brownie is delicious.
I made these for the first time this week too! I love them and I love how easy and quick they are to put together. Try the Sparkling Cocoa Drops next – also easy and delicious!
I can't believe how simple these are to make. I absolutely love Nutella, so I'm bookmarking this now. They look fabulous! I saw that book, but I was almost a little suspicious of how 4-ingredient desserts could actually be any good. You've definitely enlightened me.
Good luck with PFB!!
Why, hello, Nutella.
Oh now it's my turn to make these luscious babies! Yours are mouthwateringly fabulous! Yum!
There is absolutely nothing about this recipe that I don't LOVE! Looks fantastic!
oh interesting! no coco!
These look beautiful!! Wow, I need some chocolate now, I think
You had me at Nutella.
Wait, seriously? A dessert cookbook that features recipes w 4 ingredients or less? I must have this!!! Normally I'd question something like that but the proof is in your post. The desserts look delicious.
Great minds think a like
I just made Nutella and Peanut Butter Brownies!!! These looks wonderfully simple and DELICIOUS!!
This is my favorite recipe from the new book too. Gotta love how easy these are to prepare and that they taste pretty incredible as well. And I'm right there with you – I think I have a girl crush on Abby now
wow these sound so easy and delicious
You know I love these too..and yours look adorable! You know…I had thought about almonds too since I just don't typically have hazelnuts on hand! I still have the contest for the book open through tomorrow too if any of your readers would like to enter.
Mmmm, Nutella Brownies. I'm with you, sometimes the simple recipes where you throw stuff in brings about a really big taste. Love this one. Thanks Brian
It looks delicious Brian! Yes, I think September is Nutella month.
Those look absolutely amazing. My mouth is watering!
simply delicious
Wonderful!! I am always on the lookout for simple desserts for work and I am thinking I am definitely going to have to add this book to my library!!
In fact may make these for work next weekend!!
Loved your entry to FBF#2010 – got my vote!! Can't wait to see your next entry!
These nutella brownies look terrific. My kids would devour these treats, Thanks for sharing.
MMNnnn!!! – I LOVES me some Nutella. . . and I'll eat it in brownies like it was nuttin'!
¡Viva Nutella!
Nutella rocks
oh hello Nutella! love the stuff but Brian have you tried the malty spread from Ovomaltine? trust me you'll forget Nutella really fast! I love these little treats! Certainly my son will want to hug you when I make these!
Love brownies, love chocolate and LOVE this new site I have just found. Mind if I stay a while?
Just the name of this recipe takes my breathe away!
Oh my…Nutella brownies! My friends are going to go crazy when I make these gluten free.
These look so yummy – and I have some peanut butter icing in the fridge that needs a little chocolate buddy…
)
The question is whether or not I will shovel these into my mouth as quick as I can a jar of nutella? Will you bring me some to foodbuzz fest? PLEASE!!
A perfect recipe! I have to give this one a try for sure. In fact, I better double the recipe! I can tell it will be that kind of brownie!
I’ve been looking for a good nutella brownie recipe!
and I think this is a winner!
thank you for sharing your recipes
[...] Nutella Fudge Brownies from Abby Dodge via {a thought for food} [...]
I don’t know if I did something horribly wrong but I doubled the recipe and it seemed to only fill 12 cups 3/4 of the way so I have resorted to filling most of them (there isn’t even enough batter to fill the 24) just a little bit and hope they grow quite a bit in the oven. Did anyone else have this problem?
Oh well, I’m still excited to try them! [: