Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Chocolate Hazelnut Cutout Cookies (Nocciolini)

The holidays were kicked off virtually when I entered The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. Think chain letter, but better! I was sent three matches, and had to send 1 dozen cookies to each. My hard work was returned in the form of 3 dozen cookies sent to me!

I wanted to make something simple, delicious and original. I found this recipe in Sunset Magazine, care of a reader cookie submission contest. These looked delicious and came in second place!




  • YIELD: Makes 54 sandwich cookies
  • TOTAL:2 Hours, 15 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 3/4 to 1 cup chocolate hazelnut spread such as Nutella

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with a stand mixer until well blended, or whirl in a food processor. Add cornstarch and flour and beat on low speed, or whirl, until dough comes together and is very smooth.
2. Divide dough in half. Roll each portion between sheets of parchment paper into a 1/8-in.-thick round. Stack and freeze rounds on a baking sheet until dough is firm enough to cut, about 20 minutes.
3. Lift off parchment, cut dough with a floured 1 1/2- to 2-in.-wide cutter, and transfer to ungreased baking sheets, spacing slightly apart. Gather scraps, refreeze, and reroll as needed.
4. Bake cookies until light golden, 10 to 14 minutes, switching pan positions halfway through baking. Transfer to racks to cool.
5. Spread half of cookies on flat sides with a generous coat of chocolate hazelnut spread, then top each with a second cookie.
Make ahead: Up to 3 days, stored airtight.
Note: Nutritional analaysis is per 1 1/2-in. sandwich cookie.

Nutritional Information

Amount per serving
  • Calories: 83
  • Calories from fat: 52%
  • Protein: 0.7g
  • Fat: 4.9g
  • Saturated fat: 2.4g
  • Carbohydrate: 9g
  • Fiber: 0.4g
  • Sodium: 26mg
  • Cholesterol: 9.1mg
Sunset DECEMBER 2011

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Cookie swap sneak peek

I had so much fun researching recipes for the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap!! Full entry to come.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Weddings!

Exciting times. My own wedding is in less than two months and another special wedding follows mine. I've been asked to create her cake. The inspiration is this lovely ombre cake in shades of hot pink. Trial run starts just after Thanksgiving. Stay tuned.