Nothing says “I love you” quite like this homemade Heart Brownie Recipe. Using Nutella as the base gives these brownies a deep, chocolate-hazelnut flavor with minimal ingredients. Plus, the heart-shaped cutouts make them extra special—perfect for Valentine’s day, anniversaries, or just because!
Pair this with Dalgona Lavender Iced Coffee or this Easy Banana Pudding Ice Cream Recipe to make Valentine's more special!
Jump to:
What is the Heart Brownie Recipe?
This Heart Brownie recipe is incredibly simple yet incredibly delicious. Using Nutella as the base gives these fudgy brownies a deep, chocolate-hazelnut flavor with minimal ingredients. Plus, the heart-shaped cutouts make them extra special.
It is made with Nutella, egg, banana (optional), and all-purpose flour. The batter is mixed, baked in an 8x8-inch pan, and then cut into heart shapes using a cookie cutter. These brownies are rich, fudgy, and perfect for special occasions like Valentine's Day or anniversaries. They can be decorated with powdered sugar or cookie icing for an extra festive touch.
Substitutions
- If you don’t have a banana, use applesauce, Greek yogurt, or mashed avocado instead.
- Swap egg with a flax egg (1 tbsp flaxseed meal + 3 tbsp water), a chia egg, or ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce.
- Replace Nutella with any chocolate hazelnut spread, peanut butter, almond butter, or melted chocolate mixed with butter.
- Use almond flour, oat flour, or a gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour.
- Instead of powdered sugar, try cocoa powder, blended granulated sugar, or coconut flour for a light dusting.
- Substitute cookie icing with melted chocolate, cream cheese frosting, or honey.
Variations
- Nutty Chocolate Flavor: Stir in chopped dark chocolate and walnuts to add richness and texture.
- Pinterest-Worthy White Chocolate Swirl: Microwave white chocolate with a tablespoon of vegetable oil, drizzle it over the brownie hearts and create swirls with a toothpick.
- Crispy Edge Lovers: Line the pan with parchment paper and bake slightly longer for a crispy bite on the edges.
- Soft and Moist Brownies: Reduce baking time slightly and check for moist crumbs on a toothpick when testing for doneness.
- Double Chocolate Ganache Brownies: Melt butter with heavy cream over medium heat in a saucepan, then mix with dark chocolate and pour over baked brownies.
Storage
- Keep brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week.
- Place cut-out brownies in a single layer in a freezer-safe container. Store for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Ingredients
- banana (optional)
- egg
- nutella
- all-purpose flour
- powdered sugar (optional)
- cookie icing (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F and oil 8x8 pan.
In a large bowl, add banana and mash. Add the egg and whisk with the banana until it is well combined. Add Nutella and continue mixing. Then add flour and mix until well combined.
Pour the brownie batter into a prepared pan or baking dish then bake for 20-25 minutes and allow brownies to cool for one hour.
To make heart shapes, take the heart-shaped cookie cutter and cut it into brownies, sprinkle powdered sugar, or decorate with cookie icing.
Top Tips
- For fudgier heart-shaped brownies, underbake slightly and let them cool completely before cutting.
- For a more cake-like texture, beat the egg a bit longer before adding Nutella.
- For easy cutting, freeze brownies for 15 minutes before using the cookie cutter.
FAQ
Heart Brownie Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ banana* optional
- 1 egg
- 1 ¼ cup Nutella
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- powdered sugar or cookie icing optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F and oil 8x8 pan.
- In a large bowl, add banana and mash. Add egg and mix with banana until it is well combined. Add Nutella and continue mixing. Then add flour and mix until well combined.
- Pour into baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes and allow brownies to cool for one hour.
- To make heart shapes, take cookie cutter and cut into brownies, sprinkle powdered sugar or decorate with cookie icing.
Notes
Happy Valentine's Day!!!
Some of my favorite Valentine's memories were from when I was in elementary school. I would receive notes from my classmates and read what the notes said. I would read in between the lines and conclude this boy likes me. I would spend the next several minutes daydreaming about how he would approach and say "I like you, will you be my valentine?"
Haha, that never happened, but I was always hopeful.
If your Valentine doesn't give you anything, whip up these brownie bites and eat yourself full. Just kidding, one or two will suffice! 😀
I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day and will you be my Valentine?
Julius says
I'll try making this for my wife soon, 🙂
Ching says
These brownie heart bites look so cute and chocolatey. Thank you for sharing such a fun and easy recipe! 🙂
Simply Bakings Kitchen Team says
Thank you so much! 💕🍫 I’m so glad you love how cute and chocolatey they are. They’re definitely a fun little treat to make and share—happy baking! 😊✨