Monday, February 20, 2012

Nutella Chocolate Chip Cookies - Secret Recipe Club


Since returning from an Italian Idyllic vacation a few months ago, my attention has been drawn to all things Italy.  I miss the bustle of Rome, the limoncello of Sorrento, and the steaming volcanic islands near Lipari.  The food though, has me more than simply missing it, I crave it.  I crave a simple tomato sauce made with fresh ingredients and served in normal sized portions.  I crave Greek Salads (amazingly they were on every Italian Menu).  And, I crave Nutella.

Imagine my pleasure when opening my Secret Recipe Club assignment email for the month of February, and I found "My Italian Grandmother".  I'd hit the jackpot.

Michele, a native of New York now residing in New Jersey, is about as far away from me, geographically, as one can get and still be in the same country.  Her cooking style, though, is quite the opposite, and more along the lines of being my neighbor.  With numerous recipes by my beloved Giada in addition to a plethora of Italian (and some not  so Italian) themed posts, Michele's blog offers an abundance of choices to help ease my Italian yearnings.

I've actually made two recipes from Michele's blog this week alone, though only one made it to the photo shoot (the other was eaten before a shutter could be pressed).  The first, Pasta e Fagioli, was a hit with our entire family.  Easy to put together, hearty and full of flavor, we substituted tortellini for the elbow pasta (my son's request) and white kidney beans for the red, and everyone was happy.  Hence... no photos. 

For dessert a plate of Giada's and Michele's Nutella Chip Cookies proved to be the perfect finale.  Though my first batch was slightly overcooked and a bit crunchier than I would have liked, everyone reached for seconds and complimented the rich, chocolaty flavors.  Note to baker:  be sure to follow the directions closely, baking only until "lightly golden around the edges".  The centers will still appear somewhat soft, but those somewhat soft centers are absolutely gush-worthy as they melt in your mouth.

Michele, thanks to you and your Italian Grandmother, Emilia, for the wonderful recipes you have to share on your blog.  With my Italian themed cravings still going strong, I'll be visiting often.


Nutella Chip Cookies

1 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup spelt flour (optional - you may use all all-purpose flour)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup Nutella
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl combine flour, whole wheat or spelt flour (if using) baking powder, baking soda and salt and set aside.

In a medium bowl combine the butter, Nutella, sugar and brown sugar. Using an electric mixer, cream the ingredients together, about 4 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, stir in the flour mixture until just combine. Add chocolate chips and stir until combine.

Spoon out the cookie dough onto a cookie sheet, spacing the dough about 4 inches apart.  Bake only until lightly golden around the edges, about 10-12 minutes.  Allow cookies to cool for a minute or two on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire rack to cool. 

Liv Life Note:  We made two different sizes of cookies.  One sheet was the small < 1Tbs of dough per cookie, but on the 2nd sheet we made larger cookies.  Liv says that the larger cookies taste better.  But somehow I just think she just likes bigger cookies...





37 comments:

  1. These cookies look fabulous. Great pictures.

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  2. These look great Kim! Your photos are great.
    I was assigned your blog for this SRC and i made your cheddar and scallion biscuits. They came out perfectly. Thanks!!!!

    Have a great day!
    Josie

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  3. Your cookies look fantastic, and the soup sounds great! You know it is a good recipe when you can't even get a photo of it to post!

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  4. What perfect timing on who you were paired with! I have only hit one small party of Italy - it is on my bucket list to explore all over. What a great selection - I bet it was hard to eat just one. Glad that we are in the same group for SRC! Have a great Holiday!!!

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  5. Great pick for SRC, Kim...these look heavenly. Next time I buy Nutella, I am making these for sure. I can't keep it on hand 24/7 or I keep sneaking a spoonful...and the jar miraculously empties before I know it!!

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  6. Great choice for SRC, these cookies look so delicious! So glad to be in Group C with you! :)

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  7. Kim,
    Your cookies look amazing. I like big cookies, too:) Chocolate cookies and Nutella go together so well. I'm bookmarking this recipe.

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  8. Of course, you would make a nutella cookie! LOL Looks delicious and thanks for the tip!

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  9. Hi Susi, hab ich grade gestern gebacken und sind schon alle aufgegessen. Sag mal, bist Du wieder "back in the game for real"? Was war denn los seit letzten Mai?

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  10. hahaha you really were lucky to have an italian blog to chose a recipe from, these cookies look extra crunchy and quite delicious

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  11. They look great, Kim! My husband would LOVE these... Great choice!

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  12. Glad you liked them! You can't go wrong with Giada. Thanks for the great comments and also thanks for trying the pasta fazool too!

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  13. Whoa, those look SO good. I love cookies with big cracks in the middle! I can just imagine their moist, chewy texture. Thanks for the recipe!

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  14. Nutella makes everything wonderful and your cookies look fabu!

    If you haven't already, I'd love for you to check out my Group 'A' SRC entry: Crunchy Fudgy Heart Bites

    Lisa~~
    Cook Lisa Cook

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  15. Oh yeah! I love nutella in anything! :)

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  16. A cookie that's packed with nutella!! Can't beat that!!

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  17. Oooooh, delicious! I love Nutella, and then chocolate chips on top? How delightful and utterly indulgent :)

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  18. I can tell just by looking at them that these cookies are amazing! My college roommate grew up in Italy and was obsessed with nutella, her grandmom would send it over all the time. It was delicious with cookies, I can just imagine of mixing the two into 1. Yum!!

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  19. Oh, this is delicious! Thanks for sharing...it's brilliant!

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  20. I've been trying to be good this year, but my resolve is week after seeing these cookies. OMG, I really need a cookie now. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
    -Gina-

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  21. Gosh, those cookies look and sound so good! I'll have to try them.

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  22. We went to Italy on our honeymoon and I definitely have had a greater appreciation for all things Italian ever since. These cookies look fabulous, what a great way to bring a little bit of Italy to your home:-)

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  23. Thank you for the sweet inspiration - we love Nutella :)

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  24. LOVE nutella! You always do such wonderful things with it, and this is no exception!

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  25. I just love Nutella, these cookies look AMAZING!

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  26. These cookies look incredible!!! I'd gladly eat the entire batch for you. Anything with Nutella and chocolate chips has my name on it. YUM! :)

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  27. I am REALLY glad you are both in Group C! Fabulous cookies...I'll add them to my list to try~

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  28. Kim, I am the same way after returning from a trip to Italy. Hard to get out of your system--not that I'd ever want to! :)

    Gosh, these Nutella cookies look absolutely perfect and I'm very disappointed that I don't have one (or a dozen) to enjoy right now. Having brussels sprouts for dinner--hmm, I feel so deprived...

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  29. I am so envious of your Italian vacation! It is on my bucket list for sure. I'm pretty sure I don't do enough with Nutella...because these look amazing and like nothing I've made before!

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  30. Definitely the perfect overhaul to the regular choc chip cookie - looks sinful :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru
    Latest: Ultimate Reese’s Stuffed Peanut M&M Peanut Butter Cookies + Peanut Butter Banana Softserve

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  31. I love anything with Nutella, so these sound amazing!

    I'm on the hunt for the best chocolate chip cookies and
    I hope you'll consider adding this post to the Chocolate Chip Cookie Challenge link-up. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/NOm7mT

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  32. Hey girl...I had to write you and comment - made these yesterday and ate 2 for breakfast! YUM - best cookie ever...

    http://www.thehinzadventures.com/2012/07/27/the-most-amazing-cookie-ever/

    xoxo from Trinidad

    corey

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  33. Adore Nutella!

    I will take 3 dozen of them...kthanks!

    Have a great weekend!

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  34. Just made these tonight, they were sooo delicious! made them a little big probably will try and make them smaller next time and may have over cooked them a tad because its hard to tell when they are "golden brown" since of the darker color from the nutella. Either way though still tasted amazing and will definitely make them again!

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  35. I'm so glad you liked them!!! Yes, I tend to overbake my cookies on occasion as well!! But personally, I like them that way (so does my dad!)

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