Monday 27 February 2012

Nutella Cheesecake Brownies with Toasted Hazelnuts

I was requested a Nutella themed homemade birthday gift from my Nutella loving friend last week, so I obliged with these babies.



Yes, these are as rich as they look and sound!!! But oh so yummy!!!

I searched for Nutella based recipes and found some very yummy looking baked treats. I am a huge brownie and cheesecake fan, and I love the combination of the two so I decided to do a Nutella version of this.

I found a few recipes, but none were quite what I was looking for.

This one here looked really delicious so I used it as a basis, but wanted to keep the cheesecake element white and decided to try piping Nutella on top to add a soft Nutella hit!  The toasted hazelnuts on top added a much needed darker flavour and crunch.

Nutella Cheesecake Brownies with Toasted Hazlenuts.
Adapted from a recipe from Alpineberry.

Ingredients
Brownie Layer
- 140 grams of melted butter, allow to cool
- 1/2 cup Nutella
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup of plain flour
- 1 cup of golden castor sugar (or regular castor sugar)
- 3 tablespoons of cocoa

Cheesecake Layer
- 250 grams of cream cheese at room temperature
- 1/3 cup golden  castor sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup of plain flour
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla paste

Toppings
- 1/2 cup of hazelnuts toasted, skins removed and cut in half
- Extra Nutella to pipe

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius
- Grease and line a 20cm x 28 cm slice tin
- Mix together the wet ingredients for the brownie until well combined - I just used a wooden spoon
- Mix in the dry ingredients until well incorporated
- Spread brownie mixture evenly in prepared tin

- In a mixer (or by hand!!!!) mix the cheese, sugar and vanilla together until smooth, light and fluffy
- Add the eggs gradually until well incorporated and the mixture is smooth and fluffy again
- Gently mix in the flour until well combined, but don't over beat at this point
- Pour the cheesecake mixture over the brownie mixture and spread out evenly on top

-Fill piping bag with Nutella and dip the nozzle in to the cheesecake mixture and pipe nutella dots or flowers in any formation you like.  I (clearly!) didn't go for anything too pretty or perfect looking!



- Scatter the toasted hazelnuts over the top



- Bake for about 40 minutes - depending on your oven and the tin you used.




- Allow to cool before cutting it in to small pieces






I packaged up the treats for the birthday girl in a white cardboard food box and used the stamps she gave me to add some theming to the lid!






I also had been recommended by the lovely Cat to try the homemade Nutella recipe that is David Lebowitz's wonderful blog.  I made a batch of this for the birthday girl too.  Recipe can be found here. I did sieve my Nutella, but not in a super fine sieve so there was a bit of texture which I liked.  If you are chocolate and hazelnut crazy, you should try this recipe for sure!!! My only issue with it, is that it only lasts 1 week in the fridge...I gave away 4 jars and still have some here that I don't want to eat all on my own!!!



I think (hope!!!) the birthday girl was happy with her gifts!

Love Amy xoxo

18 comments:

  1. Im not a nutella and cheese cake fan, but my god Amy i so want to eat this.. yummo
    x

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    1. It was pretty yummy! I was lucky I was giving most of it away though so I didn't eat the whole tray as it's very sweet and rich!xo

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  2. What a lovely and thoughtful friend you are. You've inspired me to start making gifts more often!
    They look AMAZING!! Definitely something I am going to need to make while I'm still pregnant and can pretend I'm eating them for baby. :) xxx

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    1. I love making gifts for people! My friend knows this, which is why she requested it.

      I will happily bake for you and your little pregnant belly!!!xoxoxo

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  3. Totally doing this for a gift too! I love that you got around to doing this before me! Xxx

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    Replies
    1. It was Christmas time that you told me about it wasn't it? I'd planned to make it then, but didn't get around to it. And you have been particularly busy since then my friend!!! Thanks for the inspiration as always!xoxo

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  4. These are the best gifts. I don't even like nutella, but this would be eaten in a flash anyway.

    What a thoughtful lovely friend and excellent baker you are.

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    1. Thanks lovely!!! The recipient is an extremely thoughtful gift giver too, so I love making her things that she'll enjoy.
      xoxoxo

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  5. I reckon we could serve these up for dinner to the kids one night....what do you say? They look so lovely!xoxo

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    1. Ha!!! Ace idea!!!! Bet the boys would be pretty happy with that!xo

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  6. I am not really a nutella fan but this looks amazing!

    And such a sweet gift idea.

    X

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    1. Thanks Melinda, these were very decadent but yummy!xo

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  7. i made these and they were fab!

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    1. Oh Tia, that's brilliant! Thanks for letting me know! Glad you enjoyed them.xoxo

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  8. I have a funny feeling that the birthday girl adored your nutella themed gifts. Yummo!
    Love the blog!

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    Replies
    1. Hee hee - so glad you enjoyed them!!!!
      Thanks so much for the blog loving too.xoxoxxoxoxo

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  9. hi i linked your recipe in my blog www.dinodaloo.blogspot.com :) thanks for sharing! mine didnt turn out like your but still.. YUMMY! :)

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  10. This sounds super delicious. Thanks for posting and sharing this recipe.

    Simon

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