Killer Hazelnut Brownie Bites

Sharon123's Note:

These are pretty little bites. The frosting has grenadine in it, so is a pretty pink! This comes from Aaron McCarty, winner of the Next Food Network Star. Yummy!

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 25 mini br ...

• ½ cup butter , softened, plus extra for greasing
• 1 cup turbinado sugar
• ½ vanilla bean , split and seeds scraped
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour , plus extra for dusting
• ¼ cup cake flour (or white flour that has been sifted)
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1⁄3; cup chopped hazelnuts (you may use other nuts if desired)

Grenadine Frosting

• ½ cup butter , softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 -3 tablespoons grenadine

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
2. Line an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly grease and flour.
3. In a standing mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together, butter, sugar, vanilla seeds and vanilla extract. Add eggs and mix until well incorporated.
4. Mix together the dry ingredients and slowly add it to the egg mixture. Mix well.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly, and then add hazelnuts to the top.
6. Bake for 22-25 minutes, until brownies are set and begin to pull away from the side.
7. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack. Once cooled, remove the brownies from pan and cut into 1 1/2" squares for individual bites.
8. For the frosting:.
9. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream butter and slowly add the powdered sugar. Add grenadine and mix until a frosting consistency is reached. You may have a little extra frosting!
10. Place frosting in a piping bag and pipe onto individual brownie bites. Or just spread on with knife if desired.

Reviews

[NorthwestGal]

These were really great brownies. I thought the cocoa overpowered the other tastes though, because we couldn't detect any of the vanilla bean. I also halved the frosting and still had plenty to frost all of the brownie bites. So next time I make these, I'll reduce the cocoa a bit and again make only half of the frosting. I had a little extra chopped hazelnuts, so I sprinkled them on top of the frosting, and it was the perfect touch (as everyone in this household loves hazelnuts). Made with love for Sharon123 Cook-A-Thon.