A hybrid brownie/cupcake with chopped Diamond hazelnuts throughout is topped with a luscious chocolate hazelnut buttercream.
This post has been sponsored by Diamond Nuts.
I often have food cravings. It’s an occupational hazard when you deal with food all day long. But even though I get cravings, they aren’t usually the “I need this right this very minute or I will go crazy” kind of cravings.
But the other day, I wanted brownies. I really wanted brownies.
But I felt like baking, and well – with brownies, it’s just stir and dump and bake. I wanted something more than that.
Enter brownie cupcakes. Ok, so these aren’t a whole lot more than stir and dump and bake, but at least you get to pipe on some pretty frosting.
These are a hybrid of a cupcake and a brownie, so you get the best of both worlds. They are denser than cupcakes, but not quite as dense as a brownie. It’s the perfect compromise for when you can’t decide between cupcakes and brownies. Fold in some Diamond hazelnuts for a little bit of crunch, and it’s a little bit of chocolate bliss.
One thing is for sure, though. This buttercream – WOW. This recipe makes enough for you to pipe a generous amount on each cupcake, plus enough to squeeze some directly into your mouth. Not that I would know, or anything…
Hazelnut Brownie Cupcakes with Hazelnut Buttercream
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup butter
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup chopped Diamond hazelnuts
For the Buttercream:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- milk as needed
- chopped Diamond hazelnuts for topping
Instructions
To make the cupcakes:
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Line 12 muffin tins with paper liners.
- In a microwave safe bowl (or in a small saucepan over medium heat), melt the chocolate chips and butter together.
- In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and the sugar. Stir in the chocolate mixture and the vanilla. Fold in the flour and then the hazelnuts.
- Divide the mixture evenly between the 12 muffin tins. Bake in the preheated oven until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool completely.
To make the buttercream:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter and hazelnut spread together until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar, vanilla and salt and continue to beat until light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Add milk as needed to thin out the buttercream to reach your desired consistency.
- Pipe the buttercream onto the cupcakes and top with chopped hazelnuts.
Other Brownie Favorites:
Around the Web:
Decadent Frosted Brownies from Dine and Dish
Triple Chocolate Brownies from Completely Delicious
Sinfully Rich Brownies from Sweet Treats and More
I am in a working relationship with Diamond Nuts, and this post has been sponsored. I’m so glad to be able to work with companies and organizations that I truly believe in. Thank you for supporting them, too.
Deepika says
Hi, these look delicious and I would love to try these. Any idea how I could make them gluten free? Could I sub almond flour for the flour suggested in the recipe?
plasterers bristol says
These are so delcious, they turned out perfect when i made them. Thanks so much for sharing.
Simon
deliciouslynell says
Hi there! I didn’t bake the cupcakes, but I did use the buttercream recipe and it was very tasty. Thanks!
Lisa says
Just wondering do you use plain flour for recipe?
From Australia so would I cook on 180*
Also what is powdered sugar? Is that like icing sugar? Is it easy to pipe buttercream this recipe? Thanks 🙂
Deborah says
Hi Lisa, I used all-purpose flour. I believe that your temperature should be somewhere between 160-170. And yes, I believe you call it icing sugar. This buttercream should be very easy to pipe. Hope you get a chance to try them!
leena kothari says
Nice cake,but can this cake made without eggless, we vegtarina, we don’t use egg in our cooking.so please suggest me……
Deborah says
I’m not sure how you would change this to omit the eggs, but I do have an eggless chocolate cupcake recipe that I love: http://www.tasteandtellblog.com/eggless-chocolate-cupcakes/
Rebecca says
These look amazing!!!! so going to make them, just one question, it says 3 eggs, is that medium or large? Thanks! 🙂
Deborah says
I always use large eggs.
Katalin says
Made these and they turned out amazing!!! The only adjustment I made was I halved the amount of icing sugar called for in the icing, the chocolate hazelnut spread (I used Nutella) had enough sugar as it was and I didn’t want it to become too sweet.
This recipe is a keeper!
Deborah says
Awesome – I’m so glad you liked them!!