Nutella Pretzel Triple Chocolate Brownie Bites

 

Pregnancy has done strange things to me.  Besides the obvious physical stuff, there’s the psychological.  More specifically, when I see something that makes my mouth literally water, I need to have it.  If they don’t sell it at a restaurant or store, I need to find a way to make it…at any cost.

 

Pinterest has become my drug of choice lately.  It’s crackie.  It is turning my willpower into jello and my kitchen into a mess.

 

 

On the flip side, these random acts of baking have made me much more popular at picnics and family gatherings.

 

As I’m sure you’ve already noticed the title of this post, the nutella pretzel brownie has been my latest high (sorry about all of the drug references, I know that makes you so proud mom).    I pinned this recipe a few months back, and rediscovered it about a week ago.  That was that.  I was at the grocery store within minutes.  I even contemplated opening one of the two tubs of nutella and slathering it on my lips on the way home.  Nice visual I know.  I didn’t thankfully, but only because I can’t do two things at once (especially if driving is one of those things).

 

I began gathering the ingredients and realized that my condition was worse than I thought.  By nature, I am an improvisor, a bit of a deviant if you will.  I usually never follow a recipe to a tee.   This was no exception.  In fact, the next time I make these, I know another way I’ want to change it up. Click this if you’d like to see the original recipe, I’m positive it is fabulous the way it is.  My way is only a slight variation.

 

Hold on you your bloomers folks.

 

For the salty pretzel crust, put pretzels into a food processor and pulse until pieces are pretty small.  Add in your brown sugar and melted butter.  Pulse until it looks like this:

 

 

I couldn’t choose if I wanted brownie bites (mini cupcakes) or bars.  So I did what any insane and hormonal pregnant lady would do.  I made both.

I sprayed my mini muffin pan with nonstick spray and pressed some pretzel mix into each.

 

With the remaining pretzel mix, I ate a few spoonfuls, then lined a small baking pan with parchment paper and pressed the rest of the sweet and salty crumbs into the pan.

 

 

Pop this into the pre-heated oven for about 20 minutes or until they start to brown and firm up.

 

While that is baking, I made the brownies.  I think if when I make these again, I’ll just use a boxed mix and add the nutella and chocolate bits in.  If I can make the prep time go by faster, I will.  If you want to make the brownies from scratch, this is what I did…

 

Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, blend well. Add vanilla and  salt.  Mix until combined.  I used 2 kinds of baking cocoa.  Regular & special dark.  Oh yeah.

 

 

Mix in the flour, then add in your nutella.

 

 

 

Once it’s a smooth consistency, add in some chopped chocolate.  I used the Hershey bars left over from the Disappearing S’mores Cookies.

 

 

Fill your baking dishes…

 

 

Bake until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool completely.  If you are making bars, slice them.

 

 

Frost the brownies with nutella.

Garnish with crushed pretzels.

 

Ingredients:

 

PRETZEL CRUST

1/2 c pretzels

1/3 c brown sugar

3 T butter (melted)

 

BROWNIES

1/2 c salted butter (softened)

1 c white granulated sugar

2 large eggs

3/4 t vanilla

1/3 c Nutella

1/8 c cocoa powder

1/8 c dark chocolate cocoa powder

1 full size Hershey bar (chopped)

2/3 c flour

 

Extra Nutella for frosting

Extra pretzels for garnishing

 

Directions:

To make the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.

Place the pretzels in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until broken up into tiny pieces. Add the sugar and pulse until combined, then pour in the butter. Continue pulsing until combined.

Press the pretzel mixture firmly into the prepared pan. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the edges are golden and the crust feels firm

While the crust is baking, make the brownies:

Cream butter and sugar together.

Add eggs and blend well.

Add vanilla, salt, and Nutella. Mix until combined

Add cocoa and flour. Don’t overbeat.

Stir in chopped chocolate bar.

Pour into pan over pretzel crust and bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes. Or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Allow brownies to cool for at least 45 minutes before frosting with nutella spread and garnishing with pretzels.

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