4 February 2009

Celebrate World Nutella Day..... Mascarpone Brownies with Nutella & Toasted Hazelnut Topping






I very seldom make dessert so when I do it has to be special and there has to be a reason. February 5th has been designated World Nutella Day so what better excuse to have some chocolaty goodness and make dessert. Forget about counting calories and "Go Big or Go Home", as they say!!!!!

Nutella is that hazelnut spread that we longed for as children smeared onto warm bread fresh from the oven or in between crepes. As if a spoonful of this chocolate-hazelnut spread gianduja isn’t delicious enough straight off the spoon!!!! Think Nutella and Ferrero Rocher!!!! Nutella is the brand name of a hazelnut-based sweet spread created by the Italian company Ferrero in the 1940s. At the time, chocolate was very limited due to World War II. Nutella is now marketed in over 75 countries across the globe. Other countries even have their own versions of this spread.
Sara from Ms. Adventures in Italy, and Michelle from Bleeding Espresso (and Shelley from At Home in Rome, in spirit) solemnly declare Thursday, February 5th “World Nutella Day 2009″ - a day to celebrate, to get creative with, and most importantly, to EAT Nutella. The idea of spreading Nutella on my brownies came from Giada de Laurentis on the Food Network. She used brownies from a mix which are still good but don't have the lighter crumb and texture of these mascarpone brownies. These are my favourite by far!!! Toast a few hazelnuts add them to the batter, reserving a few choice specimens for the top!!

**Mascarpone Brownies with Nutella and Toasted Hazelnut Topping**

1 cup unsalted butter
3 ounces best-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese, softened
 3 large eggs, at room-temperature
 2 teaspoons vanilla
 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
 1/4 tsp salt
 3/4 cup hazelnuts, toasted and chopped
1 cup Nutella or other chocolate hazelnut spread

 Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter an 8-inch square cake pan.

Add the chopped chocolate to a large bowl. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and bring it to just below a boil. Pour the hot butter over the chocolate and let stand for 30 seconds. Stir until chocolate is completely melted.

Sift in the sugar and cocoa powder (I do this through a sieve, not with a sifter). With a wooden spoon, beat in the mascarpone, eggs (30 minutes on the counter brings them to room temperature) and vanilla, mixing until smooth. Gently fold the flour and salt into the batter. Add chopped hazelnuts, reserving 1/4 cup for decoration.

Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly--this is important since, if the batter isn't spread evenly, it won't bake evenly. Place into preheated oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean (45 minutes did it for me). Place pan on a cooling rack and let brownies cool for 10-15 minutes.

 Spread Nutella over entire surface of brownies or cut into slices as I did and spread each piece with Nutella separately. Decorate with remaining chopped hazelnuts.
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40 comments:

  1. Oh, so tempting! I love hazelnuts, mascarpone and brownies, so that dessert's for me!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. I bought a bottle of Nutella today and that was before I knew it was Nutella day.. I do not keep it in the house.....to sinful. Speaking of sinful...these brownies are soooo tempting!!!

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  3. Those cupcakes are beautiful, but I think I'll celebrate Nutella Day with a spoon. :)

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  4. OMG, I grew up eating nutella, this sounds so delish.
    Cheers,
    Elra

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  5. Yum those brownies look so good!

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  6. I love mascarpone cheese in baked goods because of the creaminess it imparts.

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  7. This is a great dessert. I bought Nutella at Costco. We could eat this by the spoon. It's so good.

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  8. there's always a jar of a nutella-type spread in our house (we usually buy the greek version called merenda), although i never ever knew it in new zealand as a child. when i went back to nz in 2004, i noticed that ferrero chocolate had come onto the market there too, so i guess kiwi kids are eating it now

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  9. ah, decadence. i had no idea it was nutella's special day. i shall celebrate appropriately. :)

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  10. Val u changed your profile pic.looks nice.
    I love nutella but hesitate to buy it coz I cant stop eating it.
    Thats a sinful brownie.

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  11. Oh, that's droolicious! Thanks for the heads up on World Nutella Day - I definitely need to celebrate!

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  12. Nutella in a brownie is heaven sent!

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  13. Ohh my gawd. I loveee nutella, that stuff is the best, and making brownies with it!? Amazing!!!!

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  14. I'd love to celebrate w/thsi - looks amazing!

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  15. Mmmm ... those mascarpone brownies look so good with that Nutella on top! World Nutella Day ... all I need is a spoon! YUM!

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  16. Oh Valli, those look amazing. Between you and Bunny I am a goner.

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  17. You're killing me sis.. I want to dive into the screen and grab a bite :)

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  18. Mmmmmm, I'm with Heather here ;D... give her one spoon and give me the brownie ;D

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  19. Oh that looks really good!
    Gotta love Nutella!

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  20. Happy Nutella Day!! What a great way to celebrate!! The dessert looks awesome!

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  21. Ah something I used to make many years ago in big sheet trays. Now a small recipe that I might actually enjoy after so many years away from this indulgence. Gotta try it thanks.

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  22. I've just subscribed to your site so I can keep up. As I said on Food Buzz just now, I'm so excited to find another BC foodblogger out there!

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  23. What a great holiday, I am drooling over all these nutella dishes, this one is fabulous.

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  24. I love seeing all the wonderful nutella recipes!
    What a heavenly recipe. The two most delectable Italian dessert ingredients together. You rock!

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  25. Ohhhh Val! These.are.amazing. Seriously. Mascarpone AND Nutella? If I had mascarpone in the fridge I would be whipping these up right this second, even though half my jar of Nutella accidentally landed in my mouth last night. ;P

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  26. Your talking my language here!!
    I love these, when you do dessert you do dessert!!

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  27. Those look so decadent and delicious!!

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  28. Love the picture! That brownie looks really good.

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  29. Pardon me whilst I roll my tongue back into my mouth- brownies- nutella- must be heaven!!
    xo

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  30. I love this! Wonderful recipe. And mascarpone too! Yummy, Val!

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  31. OMG this is so awesome! I love Nutella so just wow!

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  32. THUMP...........my jaw dropped...me want.

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  33. Brownies with Nutella and Macarpone? Heaven.

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  34. Deliciously decacent! I can't keep Nutella in the hosue as it's faaaaar too dengerous :)

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  35. I made these last night for my movie night, and they were incredible! The only addition was a little bit of strong coffee to the batter and a tad extra salt... I don't like things too sweet. The Nutella on top really made it! This is a keeper... thanks!!!

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  36. Stumbled upon this recipe by chance and decided to try it out since Marscarpone & Nutella are two of my very favorites - I was not disappointed! These brownies were amazinnggg and my friends, family and boyfriend loved them! He is addicted to another popular store bought brownie mix, but I think he has found a new favorite. Thank you so much very this recipe :) I will be trying more of your recipes very soon!

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  37. You must love Nutella Day, always coming up with such fantastic Nutella recipes :D
    I am just eating my Nutella ice cream wishing this brownie could be there with it... can't wait to see this year's post :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru
    Latest: Nutella Baking Week

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  38. I was looking for a receipe for nutella. This one looks heavenly. Yum yum

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Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

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