Cookie Recipes - Chocolate and Hazelnut Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup/200 g granulated sugar

• 3/4 cup/90g hazelnut

• 2 cups/300 g all­purpose/plain flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1/8 tsp salt

• 1 cup/250 g butter, softened

• 1/2 cup/100 g firmly packed light brown sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla  extract/essence

• 1-2 tbsp fresh orange juice

• 7 oz/200 g semisweet/dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

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Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F/170°C/gas 3. Set out three cookie sheets.

2. Spread the hazelnuts on a baking sheet. Toast for 7 minutes, or until lightly golden. Let cool completely.

3. Transfer to a food processor, add 1/2 cup (100 g) of the granulated sugar and process until the nuts are coarsely chopped.

4. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl.  Beat the butter and remaining granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until creamy.

5. Add the eggs, beating until just blended. Add the vanilla. Mix in the dry ingredients and enough orange juice to make a smooth dough.

6. Stir in the chocolate and hazelnuts. Drop teaspoons of the dough 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart onto the cookie sheets.

7. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool the cookies for 3 minutes on each cookie sheet. Transfer to racks to finish cooling.