Happy New Year!
In the Philippines, there’s a common superstition that what you’re doing and how you’re feeling on New Year’s Eve are predictive of what you’ll be doing and how you’ll be feeling for the rest of the year.
If that’s true, then it looks like my 2014 will be sweet – I spent New Year’s Eve feeling happy and content, surrounded by the warmth of my family, eating some of my favorite foods, and licking sticky Nutella frosting from my fingers.
I made fudgy dark chocolate brownies with a sweet Nutella frosting – the brownie base is rich and dense, while the frosting is almost like melted fudge. It’s hard not to like it, and it’s easy to make!
I adapted the brownie base from one of my favorite bloggers, Averie, who also leans towards easy, one-bowl, no mixer-required recipes. I used a dark chocolate cocoa powder that I bought from one of the specialty gourmet stores here in Manila, and the resulting brownie batter had a deep dark chocolate intensity.
I wanted to offset the almost bittersweet brownie with a sweet frosting, so I whipped up an easy Nutella frosting that’s made even sweeter by condensed milk and made even silkier by butter. The frosting is done in the microwave, which makes it dangerously easy.
The Nutella frosting is thick and because I made it here in Manila where the weather is always 90 F, it is also a little melty – the better for it to drip over the sides of the brownies. However after just a minute or so, it will develop a soft, almost crackly shell. And while the brownies are wonderful while still warm from the oven (or the weather), I like it chilled and straight from the fridge (like these Decadent Dark Chocolate Flourless Brownies).
Brownies with Nutella Frosting
Ingredients
Brownie
10 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/4 sticks), melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons espresso
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon
3/4 cup all purpose flour
Frosting
1/2 cup Nutella
1/2 cup condensed milk
2 tablespoons butter
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Make the brownie base. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter on high heat, about 50 seconds. Add in sugar, eggs, espresso, and vanilla extract. Mix well, then stir in cocoa powder and salt. Whisk together until smooth. Stir in flour, and mix gently until just combined.
- Spread brownie batter in a buttered 8x8 pan. Bake 22-24 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in brownie comes out clean.
- Make the frosting. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the Nutella, condensed milk, and butter. Heat on high for 30 seconds, and stir. Heat for another 30 seconds, and stir until smooth. Spread frosting on top of brownie.
- Let cool completely, or better yet, chill in the fridge before slicing and serving.
Recipe
I’m sure that most of us have the usual resolutions of eating healthier, but I couldn’t resist starting the year with this! After all, what better way to welcome in 2014 than with chocolate and Nutella? Wishing you all a sweet 2014!
Hi! I’m Bianca Garcia. I love food, running, yoga, sangria, and my job. I'm an advertising professional, social media enthusiast, blogger, freelance writer, and obsessive list-maker. I think about dessert constantly. 
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So happy you are enjoying your trip home! These brownies sound pretty fantastic! I will need to give this Nutella frosting a go – YUM!
A sweet start to the year is spot on! And brownies + nutella = winner! (Plus…condensed milk is like nectar for the Gods – I grew up on that stuff and just the smell makes me smile. : )
I love Nutella on just about everything. These look delicious! Happy new year!
I don’t think you can go wrong with Nutella frosting!
Wow the Nutella frosting really puts these over the top!! Great idea!
You couldn’t have made that nutella frosting sound any better! Oh gosh, I need it in my life. And brownies. I need those too. They look fantastic!
Happy Friday! x
These brownies are crazy awesome! So fudgy and nutella-y…both of which are always a good thing! Happy new year!!
BTW – you were the winner of my Love With Food giveaway! If you could send me an email at jhbruno87@gmail.com with your mailing address, I’ll send it along to you!!
They look delicious.
Happy New Year and best wishes for 2014!
Cheers,
Rosa
That frosting looks amazing – I think I could eat a whole bowl of it! :)
Oh, I love the sound of that Nutella frosting!
Happy New Year, Bianca! My parents are from India, and they have a similar superstition about New Year’s there. Or maybe they were just trying to get me to be good when I was a kid :) These brownies look fantastically chocolaty!
You had me at Nutella frosting!
Oh man! A brownie and nutella? What could be better? These look incredible. I will have to make a batch soon!
Wishing you a sweet 2014 too! I can almost taste those brownies thanks to your awesome pics.
Great brownies!
I love that you used dark chocolate as the brownies base – I bet they were fantastic! Happy New Year!
Brownies are my favorite dessert…but adding nutella frosting, well that is just unreal :)
These will be the death of me!
I love my brownies chilled from the fridge too. Great recipe. Happy 2014!
Yum! What a great way to start the new year!
Happy New Year to you also. The recipe look to me yummy and delicious. Continue sharing and keep up the good work. Thank you.
Brownies with frosting are the bomb.
I mean truly, why not?
If the frosting is done right, it’s truly a treat.
I hope my 2014 is like my NYE too, I love that superstition! these brownies look amazing.
I’m drooling! Brownies and nutella frosting?! Cannot go wrong. These look so so yummy! :)
oooh yeah, looks like a sure winner.
Wow do these look amazing, Bianca! I love the addition of espresso in the brownies and that frosting looks to die for. Thanks so much for sharing at Saturday Night Fever….pinning!!
These look amazing, Bianca! Love the Nutella icing- so lush!
Mmmm! Your brownies look incredibly delicious, Bianca! I just adore chocolate desserts that involve Nutella. Cannot wait to try these! I’m so glad to be back blogging again (after illness) and will be sharing my story on the blog to help others. I have missed everyone so much! Meanwhile, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, my friend. :) Warmest wishes to you and yours for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
Bianca Garcia replied December 31st, 2014 at 10:33 am
Thank you so much my friend! Happy to hear you are back, can’t wait to read your stories again! xo