Nutella Amaretto Brown Butter Blondies
Rich, chewy blondies featuring nutty brown butter, sweet amaretto liqueur, and swirls of chocolate hazelnut spread throughout. The brown butter adds a sophisticated toasted flavor that pairs beautifully with the almond notes from amaretto. Perfect for dinner parties or special occasions when you want an impressive dessert that's easier than brownies but more elegant than basic bar cookies. The marbled Nutella creates pockets of fudgy richness in every bite.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat until foaming and nutty-smelling, swirling pan gently to prevent burning
- 2
Pour butter through fine mesh strainer into bowl, cover and freeze for 20-30 minutes to cool
- 3
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line 9x9 inch baking dish with parchment paper
- 4
Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in mixing bowl and set aside
- 5
Beat brown sugar and cooled brown butter with electric mixer until well combined
- 6
Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract and amaretto
- 7
Add flour mixture, mixing just until combined
- 8
Spread 2/3 of batter evenly in prepared pan
- 9
Drop Nutella by spoonfuls over batter
- 10
Spread remaining batter on top and swirl with skewer or offset spatula
- 11
Bake 30-35 minutes until top begins to brown
Tips
Watch brown butter carefully as it can go from perfect to burnt very quickly - look for foaming and nutty aroma
Don't overbake these blondies - a toothpick will come out with Nutella on it, which is normal and desired
Let cool completely before cutting for clean squares that won't fall apart
Good to Know
Cover tightly and store at room temperature for up to 5 days
Can be made 1 day ahead and stored covered at room temperature
Serve at room temperature, cut into squares
Common Mistakes
Don't skip straining the brown butter to avoid burnt bits in your blondies
Avoid overbaking or blondies will become dry and cakey instead of chewy
Substitutions
Gluten-Free Swaps
Nut-Free Alternatives
General Alternatives
use 1/2 tsp rum extract
FAQ
Can I make these without amaretto?
Yes, substitute with 1/2 teaspoon almond extract or rum extract for similar flavor depth, or simply omit for plain brown butter blondies.
What if I don't have a 9x9 pan?
Use an 8x8 pan for thicker blondies (add 5-10 minutes baking time) or 9x13 for thinner bars (reduce time by 5-10 minutes).
How long do these keep?
Store covered at room temperature for up to 5 days, or wrap individually and freeze for up to 3 months for longer storage.