Nutella Pretzel Brownies

Wow, it's been basically half a year since my last post - RIDICULOUS!!

Sorry I haven't had the chance to update, I haven't baked anything new to be quite honest. 

I just finished a long period of essay deadlines and exams, and I'm now free!! 

I had a horrific essay to write on Labour Party politics when I was home for the winter holidays, but took a much-deserved break one evening to whip up a batch of brownies. It was the best de-stress method; there is definitely some positive correlation between happiness and baking.

I stumbled upon a lovely Nutella brownie recipe a while back - Nutella is literally my favourite thing in this world. My housemates last year, on numerous occasions, would discover me in the kitchen with a near-empty jar of Nutella in one hand and a big spoon in the other. I think it's hereditary.. My parents never allowed us to have Nutella in the house because it wouldn't last longer than a day! We were (still are) undeniably a Nutella-loving family.. 

Chocolate brownies are amazing anyway, but adding Nutella makes them THAT much better. I added some pretzels on top for a little extra salty crunch.

These are so easy.

INGREDIENTS

For the base

1 and a half cups of pretzels

1/3 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

For the brownie

1/2 cup or 113g unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

2eggs

dash of vanilla extract

1/3 cup cocoa powder (I used bourneville)

1/2 cup flour

1/3 cup nutella - and more for snacking!!!

pinch of salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

More pretzels, set aside

METHOD

Line a brownie tin with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 180C.

In a food processor, pulse the pretzels into a fine dust and add the sugar. Pour in the melted butter and keep pulsing until it is all combined. 

Flatten out the mixture into the baking tin, and bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes, or until it turns golden around the edges and is firm-ish to the touch.

While it's baking, start on the brownie mixture.

In a saucepan, melt the butter. Remove from the heat and add in the sugar, whisking until combined. It'll be a paste-like consistency, but that's fine. 

Whisk in the eggs one at a time, and add in the vanilla.

Add in the dry ingredients and the Nutella (does that count as a dry ingredient?) and whisk until combined.

Pour the batter into the brownie tin, on top of the pretzel base and baked for 35-40 mins at 180C. It's ready when a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the brownie will be firm.

Leave to cool on the side for ten minutes, and then slather the top with more Nutella!! It'll melt because of the heat of the brownie, YUMMY!

Stick the pretzels on top and leave to cool fully.

Mmmmmmmm

I brought these back up to Leeds for everyone. They were particularly yummy as a library snack!!!
I've had no work since last tuesday, so I've just been relaxing lots! 
Hope everyone's had a lovely start to the new year, and that the snow hasn't screwed up your plans too much. Keep posted!
J xx