Hazelnut Brownies

Hazelnut brownies are an excellent variant of the classic dark chocolate brownies. Here you will find a recipe with an Italian touch, given the use of hazelnuts, which are very popular in some regions of our country, such as Piedmont which is famous for its ‘Tonda Gentile’.

Ingredients

• 200 g of good quality dark chocolate
• 150 g of butter
• 3 eggs
• 150 g of granulated sugar
• 1 packet of vanillin or a teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 100 g of flour
• A pinch of salt
• 150 g of roasted and coarsely chopped hazelnuts

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C and line a 20 cm square baking tin with parchment paper.
2. Melt the chocolate in a bain-marie or in the microwave together with the butter. Allow the mixture to cool down slightly.
3. In a bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.
4. Add the melted chocolate and butter to the egg mixture and mix well.
5. Add in the sifted flour and pinch of salt, stirring until there are no lumps.
6. Finally, fold in the toasted and chopped hazelnuts.
7. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and level it with a spatula.
8. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, but check after the first 20 minutes, as the cooking time can vary depending on the oven. The brownies are ready when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, but with a few crumbs attached.
9. Allow to cool completely in the tin on a wire rack, then cut into squares and serve.

Remember that the brownies might seem soft when they first come out of the oven but will set as they cool. If you prefer your brownies more fudgy, reduce the baking time by a few minutes.

Curiosity

It is said that brownies were invented in the United States at the end of the 19th century. The most famous legend traces them back to a kitchen mistake where the baking powder was forgotten and hazelnuts were accidentally added; hence the birth of a dense and moist dessert enriched with these crunchy nuts. In Italy, we have embraced and adapted the recipe by introducing our prized hazelnuts which give an even more intense and distinctive flavor.