Is everyone having a tough time not knowing what their life will be like in a month or two, or is it just me? I think the low-level stress is turning me toward the dark side – chocolate. Not that it was a big turn. But right now chocolate is entirely too satisfying.
That’s why I found myself going through the thousand, or more, recipes I’ve collected over the years. (I started organizing them once, and you can see how well that went.) Most are from the LA Times, back when it had a really great food section, (now it’s rather hit or miss, in my humble opinion). There are scribbled recipes, recipes from my kids’ kindergarten class, Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazine recipes, and some from Woman’s Day, or whatever magazine landed in my lap.
This one, from a 2009 LA Times food section, sounded good, even if I have to give all the cookies away out of thigh self-preservation. The recipe said to put a filling of powdered sugar, butter and melted chocolate in the middle, which sounded meh to me. I thought the hazelnuts pretty much demanded that these cookies be filled with Nutella. Out of deference, I tried their filling and I was right, it was meh. The Nutella is tastier, but pretty messy. I felt compelled to eat my oozing Nutella Sandwich over the sink.
Tomorrow I’ll try filling them with chocolate ganache. See the sacrifices I make for you guys? Chocolate ganache is easy: just 1 cup of chocolate chips and 1/2 cup of whipping cream. You heat it until the chips melt then drizzle it over anything that’s not moving.
So, even though it was 100 degrees here today, I fired up the oven and baked. I figured baking would get me through the news of the week without contemplating murder. I was inspired by this poster my friend Carolyn sent me. She clearly knows me well.
The great thing about these cookies is you can bake them, then store them in the freezer, without the icing/filling, Then take them out when you need a cookie, or ten. I’ll bet they’d make a really good ice cream sandwich too. Oh my God, then you could melt chocolate and dip the ice cream sandwich in the chocolate and freeze them!
Clearly, quarantine alone, with an uncertain future, is dangerous for a baker’s pants.
Nutella Cookie Sandwiches
AuthorFran TunnoIn a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and salt. Then blend in 1/2 cup softened butter using a pastry cutter. Then mix in the chopped hazelnuts so they're thoroughly incorporated. Form into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 1 hour.
Heat the oven to 375 degrees. On a floured surface, roll the dough to a thickness of about 1/8 inch and cut the cookies into hearts or rounds. They can get a little crumbly, so just press them back together and roll them gently.
Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet about one inch apart and bake 7 to 10 minutes or until barely browned. Then removed the cookies to a rack to cool completely
Once the cookies are cooled, spread Nutella on top, and place a second cookie on top to create a sandwich. Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar and serve.
Ingredients
Directions
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and salt. Then blend in 1/2 cup softened butter using a pastry cutter. Then mix in the chopped hazelnuts so they're thoroughly incorporated. Form into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 1 hour.
Heat the oven to 375 degrees. On a floured surface, roll the dough to a thickness of about 1/8 inch and cut the cookies into hearts or rounds. They can get a little crumbly, so just press them back together and roll them gently.
Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet about one inch apart and bake 7 to 10 minutes or until barely browned. Then removed the cookies to a rack to cool completely
Once the cookies are cooled, spread Nutella on top, and place a second cookie on top to create a sandwich. Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar and serve.
14 Comments
nycstylecannoli
September 7, 2020 at 1:25 pmI may have to try these. They look amazing. I actually had a co-worker say she didn’t like Nutella, she wasn’t Italian of course. I could eat it off a spoon! I am hoping to start baking some pumpkin biscotti soon, it’s been a while and I do enjoy baking especially in the Fall season.
Fran Tunno
September 8, 2020 at 10:26 amSounds delicious Rosemary. I do a walnut pumpkin pie spice biscotti with cinnamon white chocolate, but might have to try adding a little pumpkin to orange them up. We may have to trade recipes! Here’s my biscotti blog from years ago: https://atfranstable.com/2014/02/07/grandma-will-hate-you/
Thanks for reading and taking the time to write!
Lisa Marie
September 2, 2020 at 11:15 amCan’t wait to try. Setting this as my goal cheat, when I lose another 10 pounds, I am making these. Looks so good, can’t resist.
Fran Tunno
September 5, 2020 at 8:47 pmThey are really good Lisa! Make sure the hazelnuts are fresh though. The last batch I got from Trader Joes was a little iffy. They usually have really good roasted, mostly peeled ones from Oregon, but the batches they had were raw, not roasted, smaller nuts, and not as good. If you get raw ones, you have to roast them and try to get most of their skins off. And, if you do make them with Nutella in the middle, put them in the fridge before you serve them so the Nutella isn’t too squishy. You can also make them with just Nutella spread on top, which is great too! Thanks for reading and taking the time to reply. And good luck on the diet. I know it’s not an easy thing, but I totally believe in you!
lafriday
August 22, 2020 at 9:12 amI feel your stress about the unknown! At least you know your address and have a kitchen to call your own—and a jar of Nutella and cookies (sounds SO wonderfully decadent). I have my first day of quiet since April—save for the meowing of a very chatty cat who wants to be a writer and keeps tapping gibberish on the keyboard as he nuzzles my face. I’ll phone soon! I appreciate your cooking and your unfailing ability to make me laugh. Love you!
Fran Tunno
August 22, 2020 at 5:14 pmOh Linda, I can’t wait to talk and find out everything! Call when you can. And thanks for always reading and commenting. Yes, the cookies are totally decadent, but totally worth it! Let’s connect soon! You will have a place soon, I can feel it in my bones!
Dawn
August 22, 2020 at 8:33 amYou are an inspiration. Ps. love the poster!
Fran Tunno
August 22, 2020 at 5:12 pmI love the poster too and must find it online so I can put it up in a future kitchen. Thank you dahlink for reading and taking the time to comment. Hope you got your package. Stay safe. xoxo
Nicol Z
August 22, 2020 at 5:00 amOh Fran, they sound incredible! I am working really hard to find that balance between work hard/eat hard 🙂 but these would seriously threaten my will-power! Love you!!
Fran Tunno
August 22, 2020 at 5:11 pmUnfortunately Nicol, they really are delicious. I just had two more heaped with Nutella today. Then made the mistake of reading the calorie content of Nutella. It’s not pretty. I hope all is well with you and we can connect. I’ll text to find a good time for that. xoxox
Fran Tunno
August 21, 2020 at 12:46 pmAww Chas, you crack me up. And I totally hear you on the Nutella front. It is one of the more amazing inventions in the culinary world. I am strong with chocolate as my friend. You stay safe too!
Burse
August 21, 2020 at 9:14 amThey look and sound delicious.😋
Fran Tunno
August 21, 2020 at 12:47 pmThey turned out pretty good. I’ll bring some by at some point. We’ll see what you think.
Chas Madonio
August 21, 2020 at 8:59 amI’ve gained 5 lbs. just reading your recipes. Unfortunately – at least for me – is that I am not supposed to eat anything with sugar. So I will suffer in silence while reading your blog. This one with Nutella has struck a nerve. If I ever have to go to the electric chair, I will request a large jar of Nutella as my final meal. Actually, if they gave me two jars of it, they could save the electricity because I would eat myself to death. I would be the first convict to die with a smile on my face. Stay well and keep your spirits up, Frannie. Better days ahead.