With Halloween out of the way, it's not too early to start planning for the holidays is it? Yes. The answer is obviously yes. You're probably still enjoying the occasional 75 degree picnic at the park and iced tea. I hear you - just bear with me. This isn't like that time your town lined the main drag with holiday lights and tinsel the day after Halloween. Except, okay, it absolutely is, but we all need some holiday cheer.
A great way to woo your friends is to give them this gluten-free hazelnut dark chocolate brownie mix in a jar. Here are four reasons why it makes the perfect gift:
Argument 1: People have lots of desserts over the holidays, why risk giving them a plateful of brownies on the very same day they just baked a loaf of pumpkin bread only to have them go to waste?
Argument 2: You know that saying "give a (wo)man a fish and you feed (her)him for a day; teach a (wo)man to fish and you feed (her)him for a lifetime"? Well this little jar is a forced lesson in brownie making. Your friend will never go hungry again. Also maybe they'll let you bake the brownies together and you, too, can have your very own baking buddy like Alanna.
Argument 3: They're gluten-free but no one will ever taste the difference. Cross my heart.
Argument 4: Brownies are awesome. Who doesn't love a good crackly-topped, chewy, dark chocolate brownie that's got the perfect balance between cakey and fudgy and is studded with roasted hazelnuts? Think nutella in brownie form.
Recipe
Gluten-Free Hazelnut Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix Gift in a Jar
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons sweet rice flour, different from "white rice flour" or "brown rice flour"
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 6 tablespoons hazelnut flour, or super-fine blanched almond flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 1½ teaspoons espresso powder
- 1½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 ounces chopped dark chocolate
- Approximately 1 cup chopped hazelnuts, roasted
- Need: 1 quart-sized mason jar
- ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, browned
- 3 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
For the Brownie Mix
- Combine the sweet rice flour, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. Use a wide-mouthed funnel to pour the mixture as the first layer in the quart-sized mason jar (1L). Tip: If you don’t have a wide-mouthed funnel, roll & tape a piece of paper into a funnel with an opening just slightly smaller than the jar). If you get any flour on the sides as you’re pouring, use a paper towel to wipe the inside edges before adding another layer.
- Use the funnel to pour the hazelnut meal as the 2nd layer, cocoa powder and espresso powder as the 3rd layer, and the sugar as the 4th layer. Use a drink muddler to pack the flour and sugar down.
- Fill the remaining jar with 2 ounces chopped chocolate and about 1 cup chopped hazelnuts, pressing down to squeeze in as many hazelnut will pack into the jar.
- Seal and attach the following directions to the jar.
Printed Directions for Tag
- Brown ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons unsalted butter. Mix contents of jar with cooled browned butter, 3 large eggs, & 1½ teaspoons vanilla. Bake in a 9x13 pan at 350°F for 30-35 minutes. Sprinkle with flaky salt. Let cool & enjoy!
Tori//Gringalicious -
Oh, yes!!!!! This is one of the best gift ideas I can imagine. Like, who wouldn't love brownie mix!!!! Thanks for sharing!
Joyce @ Sun Diego Eats -
A) Allllll about this brownie mix, specially with the sea salt and hazelnuts !
B) HOW COULD ANYONE SAY NO TO CATPIPES!!! Anyone who is not thoroughly charmed by catpipes is not worth being friends with at all. Period.
Sarah Menanix -
100% agree;)
Alanna -
Omg, I died laughing reading this post. Thank god for cats indeed! (Or as cats would say, Thank cats for cats!) I'm so grateful everyday that I have you as my office spouse, and not just because you feed me these DIVINE brownies. I love their chewy texture and super hazelnutty flavor - brownie perfection. I'm looking forward to giving these as gifts to my whole family this year. Thanks for being my baking buddy! <3
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life -
Yes for dorky friend stories! My bestie and I met on our first day at university. We were both so shy that we just sat next to each other to avoid everyone else. Ten years later and we are like sisters :)
And she's going to love these brownies. Knowing her though I'm going to have to drop off a plate of the baked brownies and a jar of the mix. She's a chocolate lover for sure :)
Have fun at your Anthro night!
Aysegul D Sanford -
I am so glad that you guys met, because thanks to you guys we are all learning gluten-free baking. :) These gifts are no different. What a great gift idea!
I wish I could come see you guys.. Best of luck.
Cheers!
Carla -
YOU GUYS ARE THE CUTEST. I can't wait to see you both tonight! Bring me brownies. K, thanks, bye.
Conni -
It was such a pleasure to meet you tonight! The brownies were a.ma.zing! Thanks for sharing your tips on making a beautiful brownie jar to give as a gift. Everyone is getting jars for Christmas this year.
Sarah Menanix -
It was SO great to meet you!! Thank you so much for being the best audience/fan/friend at the pop-up tonight! (Guess what all my friends are getting for Christmas this year too;). Hope to see you again!! <3
Bethany @ Athletic Avocado -
Food gifts are the best gifts! I always wanted to make my own brownie mix to give as gifts, so this recipe is the answer to my prayers!
Ellie | from scratch, mostly -
Slaps the keyboard obnoxiously***. Hahahaa you're too much, Sarah! Love this post and of course, your humor in it. I love your true colors and I can't wait to hopefully someday get to see them in real life!!! That sounds like such a fun event too. Why don't you girls just move down to LA????
Amisha -
You both are hilarious and super cute! You both are such a great team together and am so happy to see all your work together! and that you both bonded over cats haha! Cat ladies win :) Well done on the demos, and all the baking on kitchenaid too :) These brownies look ultra decadent and I sooo want to dig into them! Beautiful post and pics!
Anita Sabados -
I made this with 1 cup of sugar and 1/2cup butter and it was definitely sweet enough and moist enough. Tasty!