nuts for nutella

I've posted some ho-hum stuff lately (hey--they can't all be culinary masterpieces like this or this), but I'm really, really excited to share these brownies.

Cream cheese brownies always have the potential to be really pretty--those white swirls against the dark brown of the bars is quite lovely. Plus, they're tasty, as the tangy notes of the cream cheese are a great companion to the rich chocolate. Nutella takes all of these wonderful qualities and escalates them.

It's a scratch on my lens, I promise!

They're still stunning to behold, but now, they're laced with a special nutty sweetness that only Nutella can provide. Sure, you can use peanut butter or jam or just about anything in its place, but ultimately, there is no worthy substitute for Nutella.

Yeah, I'm a fan.

Nutella Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
Ingredients:
Brownies:

• 6 ounces butter
• 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 4 eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup walnuts or hazelnuts, chopped

Filling:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 ounce butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup Nutella

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13x9-inch pan with non-stick spray or grease lightly.
Melt the butter and chocolate in the microwave or over low heat, stirring until smooth.
Beat in the sugars, then beat in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the flour, salt, and nuts.
Spread evenly in the prepared pan.
In a separate bowl or food processor, beat together the cream cheese, egg, sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, and Nutellauntil smooth.
Distribute the cream cheese mixture in eight dollops across the top of the brownie mixture, then take a dull knife or spatula and swirl the cream cheese mixture with the chocolate batter. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the batter in the center of the pan feels just set.
Let cool completely before cutting. And hey--cut 'em small. These suckers are rrrrrich.

Ah, symmetry.