Friday, March 5, 2010

Hazelnut Chocolate Brownie Cookies

I love chocolate and hazelnuts together, it's one of my all time favorite combos. But for some reason up until just the other day I had never thought to actually go out and buy a bag of hazelnuts. Can you believe that?

I'm not sure why, but I had hazelnuts stored in the part of my brain labeled "want/cannot have/weak". Until one day I had an epiphany. Now, I remember this clearly because all of the things I was doing were so out of character.

I was sitting in front of the computer (this is where you gasp). Eating a hazelnut/chocolate bar (now you should clutch your pearls and emit a more startled gasp). And reading food blogs (you may now place the back of your hand on your forehead and faint from shock). When someone mentioned a bag of hazelnuts they had in their pantry.

And I said, "You can buy bags of hazelnuts!? $@#%!".

I'm not sure why I was surprised, but there it is. Heh. So I went out and got some. Then I needed something to make.

I remembered reading this post over at Yes, We Cook! and thought some hazelnut chocolate cookies were in order. Then I remembered some brownie cookies my mom made once when I was a kid. They were wicked good, a perfect combination of chewy/gooey/awesome. They were spectacular. I loved them. I wanted to make them, with hazelnuts. The only problem is that after that first time my mom made them she lost the recipe and we never found it again. It's like some kind of Greek tragedy. Sort of. But fortunately the internet was there for me. I punched "brownie cookie" in and got a metric web-load of recipes.

The one I finally decided on was from Brown Eyed Baker and the only change I made was to add the chopped hazelnuts (I know you can't see them, but I assure you they're in there). The dough was quite thin when I first finished mixing it, but letting it rest for fifteen minutes or so made it thicker and easier to work with. I did make a batch with it right away (I only have one functional sheet pan right now) and it came out fine. But I liked it better after it had rested a bit. The cookies came out a bit taller too.
The bottom line, though, is this: the recipe is awesome, it's now my default chocolate cookie. It's also the closest to recreating those cookies my mom made that I've gotten so far. And frankly, I have a feeling those cookies have been flavored by nostalgia at this point and nothing will ever live up to them. Heh.

44 comments:

3 hungry tummies said...

They look really good, I love the combination! Might have to double the quantity!

Dajana said...

You definitely got my attention by saying Chocolate-Hazelnut. I can't believe you never thought you could actually buy a bag of hazelnuts :)))
Now I really want to give these a try, and hope they won't come flat like potato chips (yeah, that's what happens to me all the time).

vanillasugarblog said...

sometimes I think you live in a cave my friend.
do you like hazelnut coffee too?

Jeannie said...

Those cookies are just begging to be eaten! I know I won't be able to resist them!

Dewi said...

The most gorgeous cookies I've ever seen.

Joie de vivre said...

Sort of like Nutella cookies!

My pearls were firmly grasped as I gasped aloud reading this post. :) You are hilarious.

Bob said...

3 Hungry Tummies: Thanks! Heh, I actually halved it, to have less on purpose. ;)

Dajana: Thought you might like that! Hey, in my defense they aren't as common in the US as they are in Europe. :D If you try these, let the batter rest and they will come out higher. Also make sure your baking powder is reasonably fresh.

dawn: I know, right? Heh. I'm not a big fan of flavored coffee in general.

Jeannie: I certainly can't. ;)

Elra: Thanks!

Joie: Sort of, only crunchy. Thanks! :D

Christo Gonzales said...

now thats a pretty cookie - I need to figure out what is my cookie obstacle and just get over it.

Karen said...

Mmm, love hazelnut and these cookies really do look like the texture of a brownie. I bet they are delicious!

Anonymous said...

These sound amazing with hazelnut flavor and a brownie-like texture! Excellent!

Kristen said...

Those cookies look like a little handful of brownie heaven; chewy, chocolatey, yum!! I love the addition of the hazelnuts so much more than the common walnut. So glad you created them!

Goldie said...

Oooh! Gimme! I want one!!!

Wow, dude, that just threw me into a major chocolate fit.

Hungry Dog said...

These are gorgeous. I love chocolate and hazelnuts together too, and I REALLY love brownie cookies like this. I am totally going to make these. Great photos too!

Rosalyn said...

Holy crap. These look fantastic! These will be going into my fairly long dessert queue. Thank you SO much for sharing!

Kate at Serendipity said...

Bob, you're too funny. I can not only buy hazelnuts, but I can go down the farm lanes and PICK them. Not now, of course, but in the autumn.

...another reason you want to move to Belgium!

Now let's talk about those cookies (which would of course be better with hand-picked hazelnuts). They sound like just the perfect cookie for a weekend. Or for a weekday. Or for any time. THANKS for posting this!

Jenn said...

chocolate hazelnut *drool* I can't wait until I can eat chocolate again!!!!

Cristine said...

You can't go wrong with chocolate and hazelnuts. Looks great!!!

Pam said...

They look scrumptious!

Unknown said...

Oh bob...they are chocolate

my weakness....

Great photos too by the way!

Unknown said...

oh wow! those look incredible. it's like nutella in cookie form

Kathleen said...

Yay! Another chocolate cookie to try!

Joanne said...

I knew about bags of hazelnuts. But I still haven't bought any. You know why? Because of cookie recipes like this. Addictive? For sure. Delicious? Absolutely.

Shane T. Wingerd said...

OMG! OK, I have sufficiently recovered from the concussion I received after falling off my bar stool while reading about this. Then I swooned again with the thought of how delicious those cookies must be... I HAVE GOT to make these... chewy, Hazelnutty, Chocolaty Heaven... Awesome!!!!

Pam said...

Yum, looks so good. Love hazelnuts, love chocolate. Cookies are ment for me!
Pam

NKP said...

They look perfect!
You are now a pro hazelnut buying cookie baker and should be treated to a second baking sheet. :)

Angie's Recipes said...

Bob, these brownie cookies look unbelievably sexy! Yes, they are!

Reeni said...

Your so funny - I love hazelnuts - can't keep them in the house cause I'll eat them all at once. But I could buy some if I came right home and made these delectable cookies. The fact that they are like brownies is irresistible.

Pretty Zesty said...

Yum! I love hazelnut.... mmm Nutella!

Joie de vivre said...

Bob,
Thank you, as always, for visiting and for your compliment on my presentation. I am working on it. :)

Mary Bergfeld said...

Hazelnuts add wonderful flavor to baked goods. I know I'd love these cookies and can't wait to give them a try.

Fresh Local and Best said...

Those cookies look quite delectable! I love the combination of chocolate and hazelnut too!

Shelby said...

These cookies look absolutely awesome! I'm sure they tasted just as good!

tamilyn said...

Oh man! A couple of these warm with a huge glass of cold milk? Heaven!

Fallon said...

Hazelnuts and chocolate is one of my favorite combos ever!

Roasted hazelnuts on their own are delicious. Always grab as a quick snack!

Sherry G said...

The texture of it looks wonderful. Of course the taste is probably what puts it over the top! Nice work=)

Noob Cook said...

I love chocolate and hazelnuts too! your cookies look amazing :)

The Duo Dishes said...

Any sort of cookie that is chocolate and crackly on top is going to be good. The brownie variety is one that most people cannot deny. You've found your go-to cookie recipe!

Kate at Serendipity said...

Oh, drat. I KNOW I commented on this, because it looks so good. I told you all about the hazelnut trees that grow around us. I told you that I NEED these cookies ASAP. When they didn't arrive, I knew that my comment must have gone astray.

Great job, Bob.

grace said...

how'd you know i was wearing pearls? :)
awesome cookies, bob. truly, the whole brownie-like texture of them would be decadent enough but you've really done something outstanding by adding hazelnuts (which, incidentally, i've never purchased either). great post!

Sook said...

Oh wow... these cookies are just too beautiful! I want one!!

pigpigscorner said...

I made these too, oh yum...so good!

Michelle {Brown Eyed Baker} said...

I'm so glad you enjoyed these and love that they are quite close to your mom's recipe. The additional of hazelnuts is awesome!

Lucy said...

Those look amazing - love their crackly tops! Can just imagine the gorgeous brownie middles....mmmm!

Elle said...

One word: WANT.
Ok, two: FABULOUS!

Hope to see you back soon!

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