Is it just me or is there a very strong Nutella bandwagon out there? The people who have joined are fanatics. They put the stuff on everything. Kind of like how I am with peanut butter. I mean, I really like Nutella, but it’s a fondness and not a craze for me.

That said, I understand food loyalty. See the above comment about peanut butter. I put it in everything. So I wanted to make a recipe for you Nutella people out there, and this one’s a real doozy. It’s got two different layers that contain Nutella, plus hazelnuts and chocolate. You will fall out of your chairs, eat the whole pan and then not feel the slightest bit remorseful when that sugar crash hits. How’s that for a guarantee?

These bars are easy, gratifying, and literally bursting with Nutella. And like any magic bar, they are intense in the best way possible. I dare you to resist! You can’t. Ha.

How did I do this? Well, I’m here to share my secrets. It all begins by ignoring the instructions on the Nutella jar. You know where it says “Do not microwave?” Yep. I went there. It feels so good to be so baaaad. But don’t go crazy. Just heat it for 20 seconds or so and then stir it into the melted butter for your graham cracker base. I guarantee that the world will not explode, the bars will taste perfect, and nobody will know the sacrelige you just performed.

Not when the results are so much fun! They look kind of like brownies, I know. But they’re not. They’re gooey and hazelnutty and the top gets to be like caramel. Condensed milk, how I love thee!

If you get up right now and make these, they’ll be in your mouth before you know it. And for you Nutella people out there, let me know if this recipe fits the bill! Feedback, please!

Base:

• 1/3 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup Nutella
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

Topping:

• Nutella (remainder of a 13 oz. jar), gently melted
• 1 and 1/2 cups chopped hazelnuts
• 1 and 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
• 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat-free)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350. Coat a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter for 40 seconds. Then add the 1/2 cup of Nutella and microwave for another 20 seconds. Stir until well combined. Add the graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar, stirring again until the mixture is crumbly. Press the crumbs into the baking pan. Bake for 5-10 minutes until set and then remove from the oven.

In a bowl, melt the remaining Nutella for about 20-25 seconds. Do not overheat! Spread the melted Nutella on the graham cracker crust, extending to the edges. Sprinkle the chopped hazelnuts evenly over the Nutella layer and then do the same with the chocolate chips. Pour the condensed milk over the pan.

Bake for 25 minutes. The top should be golden, but not too brown. Allow to cool and then cut into squares. You can store the bars in an airtight container for up to one week!