This quick & easy one-bowl almond brownies recipe yields not-overly-sweet, yet rich brownies with a delicious texture contrast of fudgy base and crunchy almonds.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this almond brownies recipe:
Brownies are everything! They’re gloriously fudgy and delightfully decadent with an intense chocolate flavor.
One might think it couldn’t get any better until you add dulce de leche to the mix!
- Flavor: While these brownies aren’t overly sweet, you’ll enjoy rich caramel-like sweetness from the dulce de leche.
- Texture: Crunchy almonds add the perfect texture to the fudgy base.
- Ease: Most brownies are easy to make, and these are no different! You only need ONE bowl, some measuring cups, and LOTS of self-control. Dulce de leche is good enough to eat with a spoon!
Key Ingredient Notes:
- Bittersweet chocolate – For that intense chocolate flavor! For best results, use a high-quality bittersweet chocolate bar like Ghirardelli.
- Unsalted butter – The fudgiest brownies have a high fat-to-flour ratio! Butter gives you that ultra-fudgy texture.
- Almond extract – A little bit goes a long way! If you don’t like the flavor of almond extract, you can leave it out. It tastes very similar to amaretto.
- All-purpose flour – You can weigh the flour or use the spoon and level method. Spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it off with the flat edge of a butter knife.
- Almond flour – Be sure to use finely sifted almond flour, NOT an almond meal. Almond flour creates a soft yet fudgy texture and a subtle almond flavor.
- Dulce de leche – Use canned dulce de leche from the store or make your own! Dulce de leche means sweetened milk. It’s a thick caramel-like sauce made from caramelized milk and sugar.
- Slivered almonds – For an extra nutty crunch!
How to make this brownie recipe:
1. Make the brownie batter
- Melt chocolate and butter: In a medium heatproof bowl, melt the butter and chocolate over a pot of simmering water. Or you can also melt it in the microwave in 30-second increments until smooth.
- Add sugar: Remove the melted chocolate from the heat and stir in the sugar. Let the chocolate cool, so the eggs don’t cook when you add them next.
- Add eggs and extracts: Stir in the eggs, almond and vanilla extracts to the chocolate mixture. Mix until just combined.
- Add the dry ingredients: Add the flour, almond flour, and salt. Mix until combined, but don’t overmix or the texture will suffer.
2. Assemble & bake
- Pour the brownie batter into an 8×8-inch baking pan lined with parchment paper. And spread the batter evenly.
- Add dulce de leche and almond slivers. Using two teaspoons, drop small amounts of dulce de leche all over the top of the brownies. And swirl it around with a knife or toothpick. Then sprinkle slivered almonds on top
- Bake the almond brownies for 20 minutes at 350°F, then insert a toothpick to check if they’re done. The toothpick should be slightly moist with a few crumbs, not covered in batter. Add a couple more minutes, if needed.
Let the brownies cool completely in the pan set on top of a wire rack before cutting and serving.
Brownie Tips for Success:
- Don’t overmix the batter! Overmixing the batter incorporates air into it, giving you a dry yet cakey texture.
- It’s better to underbake than overbake brownies. If you slightly underbake them, they just taste fudgier! If you overbake them, they taste dry and crumbly.
- They get fudgier the longer they sit. Hot brownies are tempting, but it’s best to let them cool. Not only are they easier to cut, but the texture is better too!
- Homemade dulce de leche is easy to make with a sweetened condensed milk. The longer you cook it, the darker it gets!
Make-Ahead Tips:
- You can make the brownie batter up to three days ahead of time. Pour into the baking dish and cover with saran wrap until ready to bake!
- Almond brownies freeze well! Make a batch for a party or get together up to two months ahead of time!
Storing Tips:
- Store leftover brownies in an airtight container for 3 days at room temperature, or up to a week in the fridge.
- Brownies are easy to freeze! Carefully place the brownies on a plate or half-sheet pan and freeze until firm. Transfer the frozen brownies to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container.
- For best results, use within 3 months. Thaw on the counter, in the fridge, or in the microwave in 15-second intervals.
FAQs:
What makes brownies fudgy vs cakey?
Fudge brownies have more butter and less flour than cakey brownies. It’s also crucial not to overmix the brownie batter, which incorporates air into the batter. This will give you a cakier texture!
What is the secret to moist brownies?
Moist brownies have plenty of butter and a small amount of flour! On top of that, they’re not overbaked.
It’s better to underbake than overbake a brownie! Overbaked brownies will taste dry, while underbaked ones will stay moist and fudgy.
What kind of nuts are good in brownies?
Brownies taste delicious with all kinds of nuts! Try walnuts, pecans, almonds, peanuts, slivered almonds, or macadamia nuts.
Decadent Brownie Recipes
Almond Brownies
This quick & easy one-bowl almond brownies recipe yields not-overly-sweet, yet rich brownies with a delicious texture contrast of fudgy base and crunchy almonds.
Ingredients
- 4 oz (115g) bittersweet chocolate Note 1
- 1/3 cup (75g) unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1/3 cup (40g) all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup (35g) almond flour Note 2
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (75g) dulce de leche Note 3
- 3 tablespoons (25g) slivered almonds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 8×8-inch baking dish with aluminum foil, or parchment paper.
- In a medium heatproof bowl, melt the chocolate and butter over simmering water until smooth. (Make sure the bottom of the bowl with chocolate isn’t touching the simmering water.)
- Remove the melted chocolate from heat and stir in the sugar. Cool the mixture, so it doesn’t cook the eggs in the next step.
- Add the eggs, almond and vanilla extracts and mix until well combined.
- Stir in almond and all-purpose flours along with salt. Be careful not to over mix the batter, or the brownies will get dry and dense. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
- Using two teaspoons, drop small amounts of dulce de leche all over the brownie batter. Then using a toothpick (or a knife), swirl dulce de leche into the batter. Sprinkle slivered almonds.
- Bake for 20 minutes and check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in to the batter somewhere between the center and the edges of the brownies. If it comes out covered with batter, bake for another 2 minutes and check again. If the toothpick comes out slightly moist with a few crumbs, then it’s ready. It should take no longer than 25 minutes.
- Cool completely on wire rack before removing from the pan. Cut into 16 squares, before serving. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Tips & Notes
Note 1: For the best results, use a high-quality chocolate bar like Ghirardelli.
Note 2: Use finely sifted almond flour, NOT an almond meal, which is coarser.
Note 3: Homemade dulce de leche works great too! Simply cook sweetened condensed milk in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water until caramelized. The longer you cook it, the darker it gets.
Storing Tips:
– Store leftover brownies in an airtight container for 3 days at room temperature, or up to a week in the fridge.
– Brownies are easy to freeze! Carefully place the brownies on a plate or half-sheet pan and freeze until firm. Transfer the frozen brownies to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container.
– For best results, use within 3 months. Thaw on the counter, in the fridge, or in the microwave in 15-second intervals.
– Store leftover brownies in an airtight container for 3 days at room temperature, or up to a week in the fridge.
– Brownies are easy to freeze! Carefully place the brownies on a plate or half-sheet pan and freeze until firm. Transfer the frozen brownies to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container.
– For best results, use within 3 months. Thaw on the counter, in the fridge, or in the microwave in 15-second intervals.
Nutrition
Calories: 113kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 31mg, Sodium: 10mg, Potassium: 46mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 148IU, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 1mg
Did you make this?Share a comment or a review below!
This recipe was originally published on April 5th, 2016.
Oh my goodness, the DULCE DE LECHE! Ugh, I need this in my life.
I can never get enough of dulce de leche!! You’ll be hooked, Morgan.
These brownies look & sound amazing! Thanks for sharing at the #InspirationSpotlight party Pinned & shared.
Thanks, Theresa, for stopping by!
Pinned this as soon as I saw it! Wow, this brownie recipe is genius! Thanks, and I can’t wait to try it!
–G
Thanks, Ginger!!
These look AMAZING! Pinned and sharing!
Thanks, Tara!
Oh my. I want to eat a whole pan of these! 🙂
Haha I’m with you, Courtney! It was hard not to eat the whole thing in one sitting! But I was nice and shared with the fam. 😉
Ooh, these look delicious. Think I’ll have to make these asap 🙂
Thanks, Emma. Let me know how you like it, if you make it.
I don’t think I’ve ever made dulce de leche at home…but clearly I am missing out. I’m thinking if I start now, then I can have a batch of these amazing brownies just in time for dessert later. Delicious!!
You have to try making dulce de leche, David. It’s so good! Thanks for stopping by!
OMG! Dulce De Leche is perfect on just about everything, I bet these are incredible!
Holly, can’t agree more! I love dulce de leche! Thanks for stopping by!
These look absolutely heavenly and so inviting!! I cannot wait to try ’em! Yum! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Felesha!
Those slivered almonds on top are just gorgeous! Totally love these brownies- dulce de leche is always a good idea. Pinning 🙂
Thanks, Medha!