Kendra's Treats

Last Tuesday was World Nutella Day and since I hadn’t made any recipes with Nutella in a while I decided it was way past time! I spotted a recipe with Nutella chunks (over at Recipe Boy) instead of chocolate chunks or chips and immediately I wondered why I hadn’t thought of that =). This wasn’t my first time baking Nutella cookies, but the Nutella chunks take them to a whole new level! The chunks are very easy to make: spread Nutella on a cookie sheet, pop in the freezer, and cut into chunks. The only problem is that it takes several hours for the Nutella chunks to freeze, so you have to kind of plan ahead. I think it would be a good idea to keep some Nutella chunks in the freezer at all times – or maybe a really bad idea, depending on how you look at it ;). Nutella in the cookie dough and gooey chunks of Nutella throughout = AMAZING! =) Enjoy!

Double Nutella Chunk Cookies
1 stick butter, room temperature
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
1-1/4 cup nutella, divided
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp hazelnut extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

1. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spread 1 cup of nutella onto parchment paper as evenly as you can until it’s about 1/4 inch thick. Place in freezer for 2-3 hours. Remove from freezer and cut into chunks. Return to freezer for at least 2 more hours or overnight.
2. Place butter in bowl of stand mixer and beat with paddle attachment for about a minute. Add sugars and 1/4 cup nutella to butter and continue to beat for another minute.
3. Add egg, vanilla, and hazelnut extract and beat until combined.
4. In separate bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda. Add to butter mixture and beat just until combined. Place dough in refrigerator for an hour.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
6. Stir frozen nutella chunks into chilled dough. Working quickly using a 1-1/2 tbsp scoop, place on prepared sheets. Bake for 10-11 minutes or just until edges are lightly browned. Keep dough in the fridge between batches. Makes 24-26 cookies.