Nutella Brownies

I'm having a hard time keeping up with posts. I've got a virtual stack of recipes awaiting publication. So it's not for a lack of cooking...I'm keeping up with that (a girl's got to eat!). It's the writing about it that slows me down. So occasionally, posts will show up without any comments. In case you were worried-I always come back later to add my spiel (I just had to look up how to spell that one).

These brownies are brownie-licious! Chocolaty and yummy and slightly nutty. (Especially if you sprinkle hazelnuts on top or add them to the batter.) The Nutella flavor didn't come through very strong though- subtle enough that you might miss it. So next go-around I think I'll add more Nutella (perhaps reducing the cocoa and butter slightly). The blog that I got this recipe from (titled Noble Pig) used half Nutella and half peanut butter. A noble idea, but I feared the Nutella would be completely lost in the mix.

INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup nutella
chopped hazelnuts, for sprinkling (optional)

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl combine all-purpose flour, cocoa (sift this in to get rid of lumps), baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2. Over low heat, melt butter and stir in sugar and vanilla extract until well combined.

3. To the butter-sugar mixture add eggs, one at a time. Vigorously mix in each egg until well-combined. Whisk in the cocoa mixture until fully combined. Stir the Nutella into the batter (warming it in the microwave for a few seconds will make it easier to incorporate).

4. Pour the batter into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes in a 350 degree oven, or until the center is set. Let cool before cutting.

Makes 1 9x13 pan.

(Adapted from Noble Pig)