Nutella Pretzel Brownies

You remember that Homemade Nutella I made as one of my first recipes on this blog?  Well, I also had pretzel pieces leftover from another recipe involving cookies so after a few searches on the interweb, I found this little gem that I knew would please the crowds - and pleased they were because they were finished in one fell swoop.  RIP brownies, I knew thee for such a short period of time...  Enjoy the recipe but make sure you snag one up before they disappear!

Tools needed:

• Stand mixer or large bowl with electric mixer
• Food processor
• Sifter or fine mesh sieve
• Medium bowl
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Spatula
• 8 x 8 baking dish/pan
• Olive oil spray (optional)
• Knife
• Toothpick

Ingredients:
Pretzel Crust

• 1/3 cup pretzels
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted

Brownies

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup Nutella (I used my own Homemade Nutella!)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2/3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Approximately 5-6 tablespoons of Nutella, softened
• Approximately 10-15 pretzels for garnishing

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease baking dish/pan with olive oil spray or butter and set aside.


2.  Place the pretzels in the food processor and pulse until the pieces are small, about 1-2 cm long.  Add sugar and pulse until combined with the pretzels pieces and then pour in the butter.  Pulse until everything is combined.

3.  Press the pretzel mixture into the greased pan firmly and bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the crust is firm.


4.  While the crust is baking, sift together flour and cocoa in a medium bowl and set aside.  


5.  Cream the butter and sugar together in the stand mixer or large bowl with an electric mixer.  


6.  Add eggs and blend again until completely incorporated.


7.  Add vanilla, salt and Nutella and gently mix until combined.


8.  Add flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just combined - do not overmix!


9.  Pour mixture into the baked crust and bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes - a toothpick inserted into the center will come out clean.  


10.  Allow the brownies to cool for 45 minutes and then frost with Nutella and garnish with pretzel pieces.  

(Recipe adapted from Chef in Training)