You may remember that a few weeks back I made some Dark & Chewy Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cookies. They were pretty delicious. But now they have been adapted and I think they are even better……….
When I made the peanut butter version, I got to thinking they would be pretty amazing adapted to use a whole array of different nut-butters. Hazelnut, almond, cashew……. maybe even pistachio, pecan and brazil nut. This is going to be a very tasty project!
But if you like Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut spread), then these ones are for you. Chocolate & Hazelnut Butter Cookies, made with home-made hazelnut butter. They are soft, chewy, not too sweet and very very moreish. Rich with chocolate and wonderfully nutty……….. they are shot through with sumptuous, melty chocolate chunks, which liquify on the tongue as you munch.
The hazelnut butter is surprisingly easy to make if you have a grinder. Simply roast your hazelnuts, peel off the skins and grind until they have transformed into a thick paste. I didn’t add any salt, but you could choose to add a sprinkle if you are using as a spread to replace peanut butter on toast or bread.
Completely flourless, they are naturally gluten free and once you have made your hazelnut butter, the cookies will be ready in no time at all…….. It’s pretty much a case of throw all the ingredients in a bowl, mix them together, roll into balls, and bake. But I challenge you to wait until they are cool before eating them…………. The smell from the oven is enough to make any Nutella-lover drool and the sight of warm cookies with chocolate chunks oozing out of the side is too much to walk away from.
Grab (or hide) them quick, because they will be gone in a flash!
Hazelnut Butter
Method
- Place the hazelnuts on a baking tray or roasting tin and roast for 10 to 15 minutes at 170 C/325 F/Gas 3. Allow to cool completely.
- Rub the hazelnuts a few at a time to remove the skins.
- Place the hazelnuts in the grinder (in batches if your grinder is not large enough), and grind until the hazelnuts have become a thick paste. You can leave it slightly textured and crunchy or continue to grind until smooth.
- Spoon into jars until you are ready to use.
Chocolate & Hazelnut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Pre-heat the oven to 180 C/350 F/Gas 4.
- Line 3 baking sheets with baking paper.
- In a large bowl, weigh and mix together the sugar, cocoa, salt and bicarbonate of soda, making sure any lumps are completely broken down.
- Add the hazelnut butter, vanilla, egg and chocolate chunks and stir through until you have a well combined and even, sticky thick paste.
- Using either a teaspoon or a cake-pop scoop, spoon out scoops of dough and roll into soft balls.
- Place each ball on the baking sheets, allowing plenty of space between each for spreading.
- Do not flatten, but take a hazelnut and place in the centre of each dough ball, gently pushing slightly into the surface.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, swapping trays round half way through to ensure an even bake. (slightly longer will give a crisper biscuit, less time will result in a chewy cookie)
- Remove from the oven and leave on the baking sheets to cool, before removing to wire racks (if you can wait that long before diving in!)
Oh my these look gorgeous…..its everything I love in cookie form…. your a genius kate.
Thanks CC! Glad you like them!
I love Nutella and these look amazing!! I will have to try making my own hazelnut butter now and other nut butters too!
Thanks! Definitely try making some nut butters. They are so easy!!
Love the idea of hazelnut butter – these look amazing!
Thanks CC. The hazelnut butter was so easy to make and had the most amazing roasted flavour!
Oh my these look amazing!!! I could do with one of these right now. Feeling a bit under the weather and these look so tempting. Love the homemade hazelnut butter too.
Thanks Katie. I wish I could pop some in the post for you. Sorry you are feeling under the weather!
I think Mmmmmmmmm says it all =)
Definitely Mmmmmmmmm!!!