Nutella-Cherry Oatmeal Squares for World Nutella Day February 5, 2009
Posted by elly in blogging events, sweets/desserts.trackback
Ok, I’ll confess right off the bat. It’s World Nutella Day, and I didn’t technically use Nutella. See, the Nutella that is prevalent in most stores in the States is the kind in a plastic jar, with partially hydrogenated this, that, and the other. You can’t really pronounce the ingredients unless you have a doctorate in linguistics. The European version, which has more normal ingredients, is not as easy to find. So, I decided to use Choco Dream which is a natural Belgian cocoa spread with hazelnuts. Same delicious taste, ingredients I can pronounce.
World Nutella Day was brilliantly created by Michelle at Bleeding Espresso and Sara at Ms. Adventures in Italy. When I missed National Chocolate Cake Day last week, I knew I had to participate in Nutella Day (which, in my opinion, is way better than chocolate cake anyway, because it’s got chocolate *and* hazelnuts).
I love Nutella. I was one of those weird Europeans kids who always had it around the house. :) Now, I can’t keep it at the house because, well, I’ll just sit and eat it like a person would sit and eat a pint of ice cream.
I really wanted to make nutella rice pudding for this, but let’s just say I procrastinated too much and I didn’t really have the time to make the pudding and, more importantly, the time to eat it. I decided to make some incredibly easy to whip up nutella-cherry squares.
This recipe was inspired by these raspberry oatmeal squares that I have made a few times. They’re so easy to throw together and taste delicious. I definitely changed the recipe quite a bit. My only problem was the nutella was kind of a bitch to spread. So, next time, I’ll probably microwave it for a few seconds to get it more of a pouring consistency. The combo of the buttery oat crust, nutella & cherries is delicious. How could it not be?!
Nutella-Cherry Oatmeal Squares
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1.25 cups AP flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (such as Nutella or Choco Dream)
2/3 cup cherry preserves/jam/jelly
1.5 cups oats, divided
1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts
Preheat the oven to 350 and grease a 9″ square baking dish.
Beat together the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until just incorporated. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture to combine. Stir in 1.25 cups oats. Press 2/3 of the mixture into the baking dish.
Spread the nutella over the crust (again, you may want to microwave for a few seconds), and then spread the cherry jam over the nutella. Add the remaining 1/4 cup of oats and the chopped hazelnuts to the remaining flour/crust mixture. Crumble the mixture over the nutella and jam.
Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until golden brown. Cool on a rack before cutting into squares.
These look great and I’ll have to scout out that ChocoDream!
These look delicious! I love Nutella, and I don’t think I eat enough of it!
You’re so on top of these food holidays. I’m nowhere near as good!
Oohh! These look heavenly Elly…I can only imagine the taste!
Yes, where did you find the choco dream? I don’t like using nutella in baked goods or even on warm dishes because of the oil separation and the greasy flavor.
I got the choco dream at Whole Foods. I’ve never had it but I’m *pretty* certain Trader Joe’s also has their own brand of hazelnut-chocolate spread.
Well, this is the healthiest Nutella recipe I have seen this far!!! Looks delicious!
I updated the reader… finally! Sorry Elly I meant to do it before, but as many other things… I forgot!
Your no-nutella dessert looks soooooo delicious :D. It’s the same in my house… I cannot have a nocilla (that’s the name of the sinful thing here) in the cupboard… it lasts for such a short time ;D
I used a different version myself called Nutkau. It is from Italy too and I still get all of the hazelnut/chocolate goodness:D
Good call on not buying the jar with ingredients you can’t even pronounce. That’s the main reason that stops me from buying a lot of package goodies this days. I need to make my own nutella at home :) Great recipe and I like your new house! I think I won’t have problems leaving comments now :D
I’m drooling looking at the pictures! This looks great – I love anything with an oatmeal crumb.
Wow, sounds delicious. I made baked pear stuffed with nutella for this event. Glad I can participate.
Cheers,
Elra
Good for you on not buying the industrial Nutella…why don’t they sell the natural one everywhere?
This square would make for a yum afternoon snack at work, with coffee…you know…the 3pm stretch.
These bars sound good. I like the sound of combining jam and nutella.
Well isn’t that just heaven on a plate!
these look wonderful! i’ve been looking for a new bar recipe to try out. i think i will give this one a shot sometime soon!
[...] makes are oatmeal squares, and Elly of Elly Says Opa! has found a way to incorporate Nutella in her Nutella-Cherry Oatmeal Squares. These wouldn’t last long in my house, Elly. Not at [...]
I tried these this weekend and they were a hit. I especially loved the flavor of the oatmeal cookie, a little sweeter than most. Thanks for a great new recipe!
[...] I saw this recipe from Elly Says Opa earlier in the year, I knew I had to try it. I love nutella and can eat it by the spoonful, but [...]