Brown Butter Nutella S'mores Bars

You may have noticed that I go wild over a few things when it comes to baking. Things like, Nutella, marshmallows, and browned butter--basically, all the ingredients that comprise this recipe. Truth be told, the Littles are complete s'more junkies, and I think that living with them for the last few years has started to rub off on me. I've turned into an adult s'more junkie, as embarrassing as that may be to admit.

So when I found a recipe (thanks Pinterest, as always) that encapsulated the essence of a s'more, without the possibility of burning my hands over a hot flame, I was all about it. Even more so when Nutella came into the picture. I've come to realize that this is just not a blog for those with nut allergies. I'm so sorry nut allergy friends. I'm the worst.

But back to the Nutella (it's the best). It's perfect, it goes well with everything, sometimes I eat it from a spoon--and it's made even more delicious when combined with brown butter. We've talked about brown butter here before too. I'm kind of hooked on it (like everything else, apparently). It's butter (which is great), but it's nutty and rich, it adds depth to anything you add it to. It's amazing. So in went some brown butter to the recipe. If you're not feeling browning butter, you don't have to do so, the original recipe uses a stick of softened butter. Feel free to omit the step. But don't. Because everything is better with brown butter.

Brown Buttern Nutella S'mores Bars

adapted from Culinary Couture
Makes one 8x8 pan (16 squares)

Ingredients
   1 stick unsalted butter, softened
   1 and 1/4 cups flour
   1 cup graham cracker crumbs
   1/2 teaspoon baking powder
   1/8 teaspoon salt
   3/4 cup packed brown sugar
   1 large egg
   1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
   1/2 cup Nutella
   7 ounces marshmallow creme (or about 1 cup mini marshmallows)
   1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips


Directions

1. Place butter in a light-colored sauce pan. Melt butter and leave over heat until nutty and browned. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature before continuing. 
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8x8 glass baking dish with cooking spray, then line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on opposite sides. 
3. In a bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
4. In another bowl, cream together brown butter and brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla and beat until creamy and well-blended. Add dry ingredients and beat until just combined. 
5. Press half of the dough evenly onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spoon marshmallow creme over the dough, then use the back of a greased spoon or a greased angled spatula to spread it out. Spread Nutella over marshmallow creme. Sprinkle chocolate chips over Nutella. Break apart chunks of the remaining graham cracker dough and scatter on top of the chocolate chips.
6. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely in pan, then lift out using overhanging edges of parchment paper and cut into bars.