Nutella Cookies

Well I am pleased to say I have made a start! Yesterday I had a go at baking Nutella Cookies. I had tried baking cookies a couple of times before, but always overcooked them so they were more crunchy than I would like. But I am happy that these not only tasted gorgeous (I lurve Nutella!!) but were crisp on the outside and nice and mostly soft in the middle. Too nice! So here is my review:

Taste: Really good, maybe a fraction less Nutella flavour than I would like, but I do wonder if I had put more in whether they would have been too sweet. Could have used a few more hazelnuts.

Texture: Much better than my previous cookie attempts! Although still could have maybe had a minute or so less in the oven to be perfect. I think the 11 minute cooking time was spot on, I did stretch it to 12/13 minutes thinking they needed a little extra but in hindsight they would have been perfect at then stated time.

Changes for next time: Stick to 11 minute cooking time. Measure the half a cup of hazelnuts as crushed rather than whole so there is more, maybe even add a few extra. I used milk choc chips, but think dark choc chips may give it a bit of a richer taste. I also used normal brown sugar instead of light brown sugar as suggested, I would like to try light brown sugar next time, as although I mixed and mixed, the butter and sugar didn't seem to cream properly. So I am hoping this might be due to the sugar and if I use the right type next time they might be a little lighter.

New Skills: I found a couple of good converters online considering I have no idea on farenheit etc! Skinning hazelnuts wasn't as bad as I thought, although does require rubbing them quite a lot.

So onto my photo and 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.

(Recipe from alpineberry)