Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie Bites

I hope you like chocolate as much as I do… else I may be laying it on a bit thick with chocolate recipes at the moment 🙈. But I did text my friend and asked: “Is there so much as too much chocolate?” and she replied firmly with a clear “No.” So here we are with Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie Bites 🥰😍🥰.

This recipe only came together in its final version about two weeks ago and it was so good that I could not not share it with you immediately!! I was looking at a trial recipe that I had never finished for “Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies”. Truth be told, the first time I did those cookies they honestly were so burnt and nasty that I threw them out 😂. But – I looked at the title and thought: “I still had some left-over chocolate hazelnut sauce in the fridge from my chocolate banana pancakes.” I added a bit of flour to that and *boom*. Instant yumminess when they came out of the oven. I was so blown away that I made the second trial pretty much instantly (to also fully test the ingredient list). And yes, we did eat two entire trays of cookies that day 🤪.

Because these little bites are so fudgy, my husband did tell me to be sure to bring the right expectations to the table so we deemed them “brownie bites”. That way, you know you have a fudgy middle and a soft gooey center – pure heaven 🤗.

Why are these Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie Bites good for?

Hazelnuts

I may be on the verge of repeating myself, but I simply love Hazelnuts in baked goods. They taste delicious, but also provide a slightly distinct flavor that – in the right amounts – makes my taste buds sing 🥰. Hazelnuts contain fiber, which helps with keeping our digestive tract clean and healthy (as it is literally moving the actual waste products along in the gut). Hazelnuts also contain a healthy amount of Vitamin E. This is a powerful antioxidant, which protects our cells against damage from free radicals in our bodies. Hazelnuts may also lower our “bad” cholesterol levels. In conducted studies where people ate hazelnuts every day as part of a balanced diet, those cholesterol levels decreased. Lowered “bad” cholesterol levels ultimately help with protecting our heart health.

Coconut Oil

Ahhh – coconut oil. This one has been deemed a “superfood” in recent years and it kind of feels like this trend is here to stay. Coconut oil is mainly made up of saturated fat. This unique chain of fatty acids is called medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). In comparison to long-chain triglycerides, these MCTs may help the body to burn more calories throughout the day. MCTs can also provide quick fuel to the brain. Coconut oil raises your level of “good” cholesterol levels. Again, the more “good” and “less” bad cholesterol in the body, the better for our heart. Totally unrelated to the kitchen – but I find coconut oil to also be a great natural, inexpensive makeup remover 😂.

Coconut Flour

Coconut flour is coconut flesh that has been dried and is then ground into a flour. It is naturally gluten-free and also highly absorbent. A little goes a long way with this one as its properties tend to be quite unique. Interestingly, coconut flour usually only works in combination with eggs when baking gluten-free goods. I do not know why this one worked out – but trust me – I am not complaining 😉. What makes this flour great is that it also contains quite a bit of fiber and MCTs. This means it keeps you full for longer, whilst benefiting both your body and digestive tract. Last but not least, coconut flour contains something called “lauric acid”, which is a type of fat that may be beneficial in helping to kill harmful bacteria in the body.

How can I adjust this Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie Bites recipe to my dietary requirements?

These Brownie Bites are gluten-free, vegan, and paleo-friendly if you do eat a bit of sweetness as part of your diet. They are unfortunately not nut-free, due to the hazelnuts used.

I am not sure what else to say about this delicious heavenliness other than: “Go into the kitchen to make them 😉!” They come together in no time and you likely have everything at home. If you are in need of more cookie goodness, why not try my Crunchy Ginger Cookies or my Chewy Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Cookies. Do let me know how you get on either in the comments or over on Instagram @lifeandlemonsfoodblog and with the #lifeandlemonsfoodblog. I very much look forward to hearing from you on this one!!

Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie Bites

5 from 1 vote

Recipe by Ann Robejsek Course: CookiesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

12

cookies

Prep time

10

minutes

Baking Time

14

minutes

These Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie Bites are goey, chocolately and oh-so-delicious with a fudgy middle. Bake them up in no time for a lovely treat!

Ingredients

• ¾ cup (105 gr.) hazelnuts

• ¼ cup (55 gr.) coconut oil

• ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup

• ¼ cup (30 gr.) cocoa powder

• ¼ cup (60 ml) non-dairy milk

• 2 tbsp 2 coconut sugar

• 3 tbsp 3 coconut flour

• 1 tsp 1 baking powder

• Pinch of salt

How to

• Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees (350 Fahrenheit) on top and bottom heat. Line baking tray with parchment paper and set aside
• In a small blender, blend the hazelnuts into a flour. Add the coconut oil, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and non-dairy milk and blend on high speed until combined. Put into a bowl and add the coconut sugar, coconut flour, baking powder, salt
• Lay the brownie bites on the baking tray with a small ice cream scoop or spoon. Put into the oven and bake for 14 minutes. The brownie bites should have set and look a bit crisp from the outside but are totally gooey in the middle. Let cool completely then tug in and ENJOY! Recipe yields ca. 12 bites.