Nutella Cookies

Monica my dear housemate was going to leave for her 3 week rural placement to Minlaton and I wanted to make her a ‘care package’ with all her favourite conglomeration of snacks.

After being away for 3 weeks, I just HAD to bake something. I didn’t care what as long as I could use my oven I was happy. Monica and Jo got me a new ‘TOY’ for my birthday. A cookie press and icing set!!!! You should have seen the look on my face when I got it..classic !Thanx guys.. MUAKS

I was in the mood to make peanut cookies but surfed across some nutella cookies instead on Alpeneberry. I couldn’t resist making them!Unfortunately, the cookies didn't require a cookie cutter. Not to worry, I'm sure i'll find a recipe real soon that requires a cookie cutter :P

I took out my whisk with a whiff, a swirl and a whirl OFF i went!! Here’s the recipe :

Nutella Cookies
(makes 30 cookies)

1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
7 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temp.
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2/3 cup Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup toasted & skinned hazelnuts, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350F.

Sift together flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside dry ingredients.

Cream together butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in Nutella and vanilla extract. Mix in egg.

Add flour mixture and mix until just incorporated. Add chocolate chips and hazelnuts.

Drop tablespoons of dough 2 inches apart onto parchment lined baking sheets. Bake for about 11 minutes until the edges look set. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then carefully remove to cooling racks.

I was totally distracted in the kitchen with friends chatting away in the kitchen while making these and forgot to add the required egg to the recipe. But guess what, it turned out well without it. However, I decided to try a batch with the egg. It made my cookies really chewy. So for chewy cookie fans, don’t forget the egg.

bon appétit!