These Easy Nutella Bars are a decadent dessert that combines a chewy, buttery blondie base with rich ribbons of chocolate hazelnut spread. They come together quickly in one bowl without a mixer, making them the perfect solution for a last-minute sweet craving.
With a golden, crisp edge and a gooey, fudge-like center packed with chocolate chips, every bite is pure indulgence.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A rich butterscotch flavor from the brown sugar pairs perfectly with the sweet, nutty taste of Nutella and semi-sweet chocolate.
- Texture: These bars are dense and chewy like a brownie, with soft pockets of melted hazelnut spread and crunchy chocolate chips.
- Time: 10 minutes prep, 26 minutes bake time.
- Difficulty: Easy. No electric mixer is required, just a bowl and a spoon.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a 9-inch square baking pan and cooking spray. The batter comes together in a single large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon and a rubber spatula. The ingredients are standard pantry baking staples like flour, sugar, and butter, plus a jar of Nutella and chocolate chips.
Ingredient Notes
- Unsalted Butter – You will need 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled slightly. Melting the butter ensures a chewy, dense texture rather than a cakey one.
- Sugars – A mix of packed light brown sugar and granulated sugar provides the perfect balance of moisture and crisp edges.
- Nutella – The star ingredient. You will divide it, using some to create ribbons inside the batter and the rest to swirl on top.
- Chocolate Chips – Semi-sweet chocolate chips add texture and extra chocolate flavor that balances the sweetness of the spread.
- Eggs – Two large eggs help bind the bars together and provide structure.
- Flour – Standard all-purpose flour works best here. Be careful not to over-measure.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Nuts – For extra crunch, you can add 1/2 cup of chopped hazelnuts or walnuts to the batter along with the chocolate chips.
- Chocolate Variation – You can swap the semi-sweet chips for milk chocolate, white chocolate, or even peanut butter chips.
- Spread Swap – While Nutella is recommended, you can use other spreads like cookie butter (Biscoff) or peanut butter using the same method.
How to Make Easy Nutella Bars
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray and set it aside.
- Mix Butter and Sugars: Combine the melted (and slightly cooled) butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture is smooth.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Mix in the salt, then add the flour. Stir until the flour is just incorporated do not overmix. Fold in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed.
- Create Ribbons: Pour 1/4 cup of the Nutella over the top of the batter. Stir with a rubber spatula ONE TIME. You are not trying to mix it in fully; the goal is to create thick ribbons of Nutella throughout the dough.
- Swirl: Scrape the dough into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top. Dollop the remaining Nutella over the surface of the dough. Use a knife to swirl the Nutella and dough together for a marbled effect.
- Bake: Bake for 22 to 26 minutes, until the bars are golden around the edges but not quite set in the middle. The middle should still jiggle a little bit if you tap the pan.
- Cool: Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack. Slice into bars and serve.
Pro Tip: The instruction to stir the first batch of Nutella “ONE TIME” is crucial. If you stir too much, the Nutella will just blend into the batter, turning it chocolate-flavored. You want distinct streaks of hazelnut spread for the best texture and flavor.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Overbake: These bars are meant to be gooey. If you wait until the center is completely firm, they will be dry and hard once cooled. Pull them out when the center still jiggles.
- Cool Completely: It is very difficult to cut these cleanly while they are hot. Letting them cool completely allows the structure to set so you can get nice square slices.
- Spoon and Level: When measuring flour, spoon it into the cup and level it off. Scooping directly can pack the flour down, leading to dry bars.
FAQs
- Can I double this recipe? Yes, you can double the ingredients and bake it in a 9×13-inch pan. You will likely need to increase the baking time by a few minutes.
- How do I store these? Store the cut bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
- Can I freeze them? Yes, these bars freeze well. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
- Ice Cream: Serve a warm bar with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
- Coffee: The hazelnut notes make this an excellent pairing with hot coffee or an espresso.
- Sea Salt: A tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top right after baking highlights the chocolate flavor.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Bake Ahead: These bars are actually better the day after baking as the flavors have time to meld and the texture becomes fudgier.
- Storage: You can bake the entire pan, cover it tightly, and leave it on the counter overnight before slicing the next day.
Easy Nutella Bars
- Total Time: 36 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Easy Nutella Bars are a decadent dessert that combines a chewy, buttery blondie base with rich ribbons of chocolate hazelnut spread. Coming together in just one bowl without a mixer, they are the perfect solution for a last-minute sweet craving. With golden, crisp edges and a gooey, fudge-like center packed with chocolate chips, every bite is pure indulgence.
Ingredients
- 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup Nutella, divided
Instructions
Prep
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray (or line with parchment paper) and set it aside.
Mix Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted (and slightly cooled) butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture is glossy and smooth.
Add Wet Ingredients
Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract until fully combined.
Add Dry Ingredients
Stir in the salt, then add the flour. Stir gently until the flour is just incorporated—be careful not to overmix, as this can make the bars tough. Fold in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed.
Create Ribbons
Pour 1/4 cup of the Nutella over the top of the batter in the bowl. Stir with a rubber spatula ONE TIME. You are not trying to mix it in fully; the goal is to create thick ribbons of Nutella throughout the dough.
Swirl
Scrape the dough into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top. Dollop the remaining 1/4 cup of Nutella over the surface of the dough. Use a butter knife to swirl the Nutella and dough together for a marbled effect.
Bake
Bake for 22 to 26 minutes. The bars are done when the edges are golden brown but the center still jiggles slightly when you tap the pan.
Cool
Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack. This allows the center to set. Slice into squares and serve.
Notes
The “One Stir” Rule: When adding the first batch of Nutella to the batter, strictly stir only once. If you stir too much, the Nutella will blend completely into the batter, turning it into a chocolate blondie rather than a marbled bar with distinct pockets of hazelnut spread.
Don’t Overbake: These bars are designed to be gooey and fudgy. If you bake them until the center is completely firm, they will become dry and hard once cooled. Pull them out while the center is still soft.
Salty Finish: For a gourmet touch, sprinkle a little flaky sea salt over the bars right when they come out of the oven. The salt enhances the chocolate and hazelnut flavors perfectly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 26 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: nutella bars, easy blondie recipe, chocolate hazelnut dessert, one bowl baking, nutella brownies, chewy cookie bars, dessert for crowds
