Ultimate Fudgy Nutella Brownies: Your New Go-To Recipe

Prepare yourself for an irresistible treat: these are the ultimate Nutella Brownies, meticulously crafted to deliver an explosion of rich chocolate-hazelnut flavor in every single bite. Wonderfully fudgy and studded with generous melty chocolate chips, this recipe ensures each square is a decadent experience. Requiring just 8 simple ingredients and a mere 10 minutes of active prep time, this Nutella brownie recipe is not only incredibly delicious but also remarkably easy to master, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels.

If you’re a true Nutella enthusiast, you might also enjoy my Ferrero Rocher Brownies for another elevated hazelnut-chocolate delight!

As a devoted fan of Nutella, I understand the joy of having ample amounts on hand. That’s why I often stock up at Costco, where Nutella comes in massive 33.5 oz. two-packs – ideal for tackling ambitious Nutella dessert projects! While having such generous quantities might not be ideal for the waistline, it’s undeniably fantastic for satisfying those intense sweet cravings. And if you ever find your Costco-sized jars nearing their expiration date (a rare, tragic event!), don’t fret! I have a collection of other delightful Nutella recipes to help you use it up deliciously. Be sure to explore my creamy Nutella cheesecake, Nutella stuffed cookies, Nutella cupcakes, and pumpkin crepes with whipped Nutella!

Why This Nutella Brownie Recipe Stands Out

There are countless brownie recipes out there, but these Nutella brownies truly distinguish themselves. Here’s a closer look at what makes this recipe an absolute must-try:

• Effortless and Exceptionally Delicious: Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just beginning your journey into homemade desserts, this brownie recipe is incredibly approachable. With just 8 core ingredients and a mere 10 minutes of prep, you can achieve professional-quality brownies that taste like they took hours. It’s the perfect blend of simplicity and indulgence, guaranteeing a delicious outcome every time.
• A True One-Bowl Wonder: Say goodbye to stacks of dirty dishes! One of the most beloved aspects of these easy Nutella brownies is that the entire batter comes together in just one bowl. This significantly streamlines the baking process and, more importantly, makes cleanup an absolute breeze. Spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying your delectable creation.
• Pure Nutella Dominance – No Extra Cocoa Powder: Unlike many “Nutella brownie” recipes that surprisingly include a significant amount of cocoa powder alongside a minimal splash of Nutella, this recipe puts Nutella front and center. By omitting additional cocoa powder, we ensure that the rich, unmistakable hazelnut-chocolate flavor of Nutella is the undisputed star, delivering an authentic and intense taste experience that other recipes often miss.
• Brownies with Nutella – And Lots of It!: Our secret to an intensely flavored brownie lies in a double dose of Nutella. We not only incorporate a generous amount of Nutella directly into the brownie batter, but we also swirl spoonfuls of it on top before baking. This ingenious technique amplifies the Nutella flavor, making it incredibly prominent throughout the brownie. The top swirls also bake into a beautiful pattern, adding an appealing visual contrast and a delightful textural variation to each square. This dual approach ensures these are truly the best Nutella brownies, both in taste and appearance.
• Achieve the Ultimate Fudgy Texture: If your ideal brownie is dense, moist, and wonderfully fudgy, you’ve found your match. This recipe is specifically designed to maximize fudginess. The key lies in the careful balance of ingredients, particularly the flour content. A general rule of thumb in brownie baking is that less flour yields a more dense and fudgy brownie, while more flour results in a lighter, cake-like texture. We’ve perfected the flour ratio here to give you that coveted ultra-fudgy bite.

Essential Ingredient Notes for Perfect Brownies

Understanding the role of each ingredient is crucial for baking success. Here’s what you need to know about the stars of our Nutella brownies:

• Nutella: This iconic chocolate-hazelnut spread is the cornerstone of our recipe, acting as the primary source of chocolate and flavor. It infuses the brownies with its signature creamy texture and rich, nutty sweetness. Using it both in the batter and swirled on top guarantees that sensational Nutella punch in every mouthful.
• Brown Sugar: Opting for brown sugar over granulated white sugar is key to achieving that desirable dense and incredibly fudgy texture. Brown sugar contains molasses, which not only adds a deeper, more complex caramel-like flavor but also contributes moisture, resulting in a chewier, more tender brownie.
• All-Purpose Flour: The amount of flour directly impacts your brownie’s final texture. In this recipe, we use a carefully measured amount of all-purpose flour to ensure maximum fudginess. Remember, a higher flour content tends to create a more cake-like brownie, which is not what we’re aiming for here.
• Unsalted Butter (Softened): Butter contributes richness and structure. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall salt content of the recipe. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature for easier creaming with the sugar, which creates a smooth, airy base for your batter.
• Eggs (Room Temperature): Eggs are vital for binding the ingredients, providing structure, and contributing to the rich texture. Using room temperature eggs helps them incorporate more evenly into the batter, leading to a smoother, more uniform consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla extract enhances and complements the rich chocolate and hazelnut flavors, adding depth and warmth to the overall profile of the brownies. Don’t skip this flavor booster!
• Salt: A small but mighty ingredient, salt balances the sweetness of the Nutella and sugar, bringing out the complexities of the chocolate. It’s essential for a well-rounded flavor.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: These melty pockets of chocolate add another layer of indulgence and texture to the brownies, creating delightful bursts of rich chocolate throughout.

Simple Step-by-Step Instructions to Bake Your Brownies

Creating these sensational Nutella brownies is a straightforward process. Follow these easy steps for perfect results every time:

1. Prepare Your Pan and Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing some overhang on the sides to easily lift the brownies out once baked. Set the prepared pan aside.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, using either a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter and packed light brown sugar on medium-high speed. Beat for approximately 2 minutes, or until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure everything is thoroughly incorporated.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the room temperature eggs and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture. Beat until just combined, ensuring not to overmix at this stage.
4. Mix in Nutella and Salt: Now, add 1 cup of the Nutella and the salt to the bowl. Mix on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure all ingredients are fully blended.
5. Fold in Flour and Chocolate Chips: Gently add the all-purpose flour to the batter. Mix on low speed until the flour is *just* combined. It’s crucial not to overmix, as this can lead to a tougher brownie. Once the flour is mostly incorporated, use a rubber spatula to gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.

6. Assemble and Swirl: Pour the luscious brownie batter into your prepared 8×8-inch baking pan, spreading it evenly. Take the remaining ⅓ cup of Nutella and drop small teaspoonfuls randomly over the top of the batter. Using a knife or a skewer, gently swirl the Nutella into the batter to create beautiful, marbled patterns. For an extra touch of gourmet appeal and flavor, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt evenly over the swirled top.

7. Bake to Perfection: Transfer the pan to your preheated oven and bake for 32-35 minutes. It’s essential not to overbake for maximum fudginess. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the brownies. You’re looking for a toothpick that comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, but not wet batter. Avoid testing in an area where Nutella was swirled, as it will always appear wet.
8. Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove the brownies from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling is crucial for the brownies to set properly and achieve their optimal fudgy texture. When thoroughly cool, carefully lift the parchment paper (along with the brownies) out of the pan and cut them into squares.

Expert Tips for the Best Nutella Brownies

Achieving bakery-quality Nutella brownies is easier than you think with these expert tips:

• Embrace Flaky Sea Salt: If you’ve ever salted your chocolate chip cookies, you know the magic a tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt can work. This small addition goes a long way, elevating the flavor profile of these rich brownies by providing a subtle contrast and enhancing the chocolate and hazelnut notes. While you can omit it if you’re skeptical, I strongly encourage you to give it a try – it truly adds an incredible depth of flavor that you won’t regret!
• Avoid Overbaking at All Costs: This is perhaps the most critical tip for fudgy brownies. Overbaking is the enemy of fudginess, leading to dry, cakey results. Keep a close eye on your brownies during the last few minutes of baking. When testing for doneness with a toothpick, remember that you’ve swirled extra Nutella into the batter. If your toothpick hits a Nutella swirl, it might come out looking wet, which doesn’t necessarily mean the brownies are raw. Aim to insert the toothpick into a section of the brownie batter where there’s no visible Nutella swirl. It should come out with a few moist crumbs, not liquid batter, for perfectly fudgy brownies.
• Cool Completely: While it’s tempting to dive into warm brownies, allowing them to cool completely on a wire rack is essential. This process allows the brownies to set properly, firming up to that ideal dense, fudgy consistency that’s easy to cut and even more satisfying to eat.
• Use a Metal Baking Pan: For brownies, metal pans are generally preferred over glass. Metal heats up and cools down more quickly, which helps in achieving that perfect fudgy center and crisp edge without overbaking. Glass pans retain heat for longer, which can sometimes lead to a drier brownie.
• Parchment Paper is Your Best Friend: Always line your pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This not only prevents sticking but also allows you to easily lift the entire batch of cooled brownies out of the pan for clean, precise cutting.
• Serve with Ice Cream: For an extra special treat, enjoy these brownies alongside a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream. The contrast of warm fudgy brownie and cold creamy ice cream is pure bliss!

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing

These Nutella brownies are excellent for making ahead and store beautifully, ensuring you always have a delightful treat on hand.

• Storing: Store the cooled brownies in an airtight container or tightly covered with plastic wrap at room temperature for 3-4 days. For optimal freshness, keep them out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.
• Freezing Baked Brownies: Brownies freeze exceptionally well for up to 3 months. To freeze, allow them to cool completely. For best results and to prevent freezer burn, wrap the entire pan (if not already cut) tightly twice in plastic wrap, then once more in aluminum foil. Alternatively, cut them into individual squares, wrap each tightly in plastic wrap, and then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container.
• Thawing Frozen Brownies: To thaw, transfer the wrapped brownie pan or individual brownies to the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed, bring them to room temperature before serving for the best texture and flavor. Thawing in the fridge helps minimize condensation. Freezing the brownies in one large pan generally yields better results as it exposes less surface area to air, reducing the possibility of freezer burn compared to freezing individual pieces.
• Freezing Brownie Batter (with a note of caution): You can also freeze brownie batter, either covered tightly in the brownie pan or transferred to a heavy-duty freezer bag, for 2-3 months. When ready to bake, thaw the batter in the refrigerator overnight, then let it come to room temperature before baking as directed. You may need to remix the batter slightly, as some ingredient separation can occur during freezing and thawing. Be aware that freezing batter can sometimes result in a baked brownie that is slightly crustier, denser, and with a minor variation in flavor due to the ingredients being frozen together for an extended period. Liquid-based ingredients can also “sweat” when frozen and then thawed. (I haven’t personally tried freezing the batter, but it sounds like a potential time-saver for future baking!)

Frequently Asked Questions About Nutella Brownies

More Irresistible Brownie Recipes to Try

If you’ve fallen in love with these Nutella brownies, you’re in for a treat with these other fantastic brownie variations:

• BYU Mint Brownies
• Cosmic Brownies
• Lunch Lady Brownies
• Buckeye Brownies
• Biscoff Brownies

This recipe was originally published on June 8, 2018. It was republished on Dec. 18, 2021, to include additional information and photos.