Nutella-Pretzel Browned Butter Brownies

Hubby was watching an episode of The Office while we were on our walk on this beautiful day and Dwight was having brownies...next thing I know, "babe, can you make me some brownies?"


Normally I would say no, BUT, since I am not taking him as my guest to the rodeo concert, I promised him brownies and dinner.  Welcome to married life my friends!

I immediately thought of the pretzel nutella milkshake from Hopdoddy's in Austin.  It's an amazing milkshake full of nutella goodness and crunchy bits of salty pretzels! I'd make a trip to Austin for this milkshake.  Actually, I'd just make a trip to Austin in general.  I have so much love for that city...

So this milkshake was the inspiration behind these brownies

and...

OH MY GOODNESS...

Best. Brownies. In. Life.

All I heard were sounds of happiness coming from Shazad after he took his first bite :)

Sweet chocolate-y goodness from the nutella, saltiness and crunch from the pretzels, and the nuttiness from the browned butter make these amazing-ly amazing!  Make them right now.  Like right this second.

Nutella-Pretzel Browned Butter Brownies:

1 1/2 sticks butter, 12 tbs.
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tbs vanilla
2/3 cup cocoa
3 large eggs
1 cup flour
1 tsp sea salt
6 tsp nutella
crushed pretzels

Preaheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper.  Set aside.

Melt butter over medium-high heat until the butter begins to brown (about 5 or so min, and you'll see flecks of brown and smell a nutty aroma).  Keep an eye on the butter, it can go from brown to burned in seconds!

Add the sugar and vanilla, stir well. Turn off heat and whisk in the cocoa powder and stir well.

In a separate bowl, lightly beat the eggs.  Add the cocoa mixture and stir well.  Sprinkle in the flour and salt and lightly fold the flour into the cocoa/egg mixture.  Do not beat or over mix.  Use a light hand!

Pour brownie batter into the baking pan and even out with a spatula.  Add the nutella by teaspoons into the batter and swirl into the batter.

At this point, you can sprinkle the crushed pretzels on top of the batter, do half of the batter, or none at all! It's up to you!

Bake the brownies for about 35 min., check with a toothpick.  If it comes out wet, well obviously you must bake them for a few more min.!  Keep checking every 5 min, and insert a toothpick.  If there are just little bits sticking to the toothpick or seems fudge-y, they are ready!

Let cool a bit because WARM brownies are the only way to eat brownies :)

Enjoy, enjoy!

A little over a month until THIS happens: