Dark Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cookies
Looking for a fun twist on a classic chocolate cookie?
Try these Dark Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cookies!
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What’s up with the hazelnut? I feel like it’s the least respected of all nuts. It’s the nut that always got picked on as a kid. It’s the nut that got picked last for playground kickball. Well, I’m on a personal mission to fix that. The hazelnut has grown up and is showing all of the other nuts who’s the boss. These Dark Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cookies are delicious, and a batch of these cookies needs to be in your kitchen in the near future!
My first trip to Italy is when I remember discovering Baci chocolates. These little bites are totally delicious, and I think I ate my weight in them while I was there. (Baci is Italian for “kiss,” by the way.) These little treats are a mix of chocolate and chopped hazelnuts with a whole hazelnut on top. As it turns out, Baci are fairly common in the United States, and I’ll often pick up one or two as a special treat. In fact, when I was first dating my future wife, I gave her a box of Baci for our first Valentine’s Day together. It was difficult to part with an entire box…but I justified it since I kinda liked her. (Ok, I really liked her.) Anyways, back to the point of this story…hazelnuts. My appreciation for these nuts goes way, way back, so it should come as no surprise that hazelnuts made their way into these delicious Dark Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cookies.
Dark Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cookies
Dark Chocolate Chip Hazelnut CookiesOne of the keys to hazelnuts is toasting them first. I’m not gonna lie, I used to really dislike toasting hazelnuts. The skins were a total pain to remove. But then I discovered the kitchen towel trick. What is this trick you ask? Well, after toasting the hazelnuts for about 8-10 minutes, transfer them to a kitchen towel. Cinch the towel around the hazelnuts and then rub them back and forth vigorously. Lay the towel out on the counter and just pick out the hazelnuts. Most of the skins will be left on the towel. Some of the nuts may still have skins on them, but that’s ok. Then just chop the nuts and proceed with the cookie baking. (I also talked about roasting hazelnuts back when I made this Hazelnut Biscotti. Check it out…biscotti is crazy easy to make!)
Disclaimer: A few hazelnuts were harmed in the production of these cookies. (By harmed, I mean eaten.) It’s a small price to pay to help move hazelnuts to the front of the kickball line.
Before we get to the recipe, can we talk about food holidays? Not like grilling recipes around July 4th and Labor Day, or cookie recipes around Christmas. Nope, actual food holidays. Like the fact that March 5 is National Cheese Doodle Day (true story) or that December 25 is National Pumpkin Pie Day (isn’t that supposed to be on Thanksgiving?).
Well, if you haven’t checked your handy food calendar yet today, then you’re in for a real treat. Today is National Grab Some Nuts Day. Really? Yes, really! Could there be a better named food holiday? I think not. In honor of National Grab Some Nuts Day, I joined up with some other awesome foodies to post nut-inspired recipes. Check out their posts below and get inspired. Then go ahead and grab some nuts and start the celebrations!
- Be sure to visit all the other Nutty Participants for Grab Some Nuts Day:
- How to Toast your Nuts by Cravings of a Lunatic
- Flourless Peanut Butter Walnut Brownie Cookies by It’s Yummi
- Nutty Chocolate Chip Brownies by Roxana’s Home Baking
- Salted Caramel Peanut Pie by Hungry Couple
- Pistachio Cream Cheese French Toast by Baking in a Tornado
- Peanut Butter Martini Mousse by Cooking in Stilettos
- Classic Peanut Butter Cookies by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Cashew and Pistachio Truffles by Culinary Ginger
- Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie by Kelli’s Kitchen
- Bourbon Pecan Pie for One by The Spiffy Cookie
- Herb Roasted Cashews by Noshing with the Nolands
Dark Chocolate Chip + Hazelnut Cookies
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup vegetable shortening
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 5 Tbsp approximately ½ of a 3.4 ounce package chocolate instant pudding mix
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- ½ Tbsp baking soda
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1⅓ cups dark chocolate chips
- ¾ cup hazelnuts toasted and coarsely chopped (see note)
Instructions
- Using a countertop mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and shortening on medium speed for 2 minutes.
- Add sugar and mix on medium speed for 1 minute, or until well combined.
- Add egg and pudding mix, and mix on low speed until fully absorbed.
- In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt. Add half of this dry mixture to the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until well combined. Add the remaining dry mixture and mix until combined.
- Add the chocolate chips and hazelnuts and mix on low speed until combined.
- Shape the dough into 2” balls and place on a parchment-lined baking pan. Gently press each cookie with your hand until it flattens out slightly.
- Bake at 375° for 12-13 minutes or until the edges of the cookies turn light brown in color.
I adore hazelnuts! My theory on why they’re the ugly stepchild of nuts is because of the name. The name “Hazel” is old fashioned and sort of stuffy. Reminds me of a crotchety school teacher or librarian. Nobody likes those people… oh wait…. we LOVE teachers and librarians. OK, I’m clueless. Let’s grab our nuts and have some cookies!
Haha…I love that you mentioned Hazel as an old-school name. My wife wanted to name her dog after a “little old lady” and she was going to go with Hazel or Ethel. Ethel won in the end. 🙂
The kitchen towel trick is key. You really know how to handle your nuts, David. #nutdayjokes
I’m bummed that I didn’t have time to create a recipe in time for the National Grab Some Nuts Day, but I’m glad I can get my nut-fill through these cookies. They look awesome dude! Definitely #wolfpackeats
Thank you, Sir Chris! I hope you have found a nice place for your nuts in your new house! Can’t wait to hear more about it…although you forgot to go house hunting in Upstate NY. Shame on you! 🙂
What’s up with Chris talking about nuts all the time. He’s fixating a bit too much imo.
He handles them, grabs them, throws them…seriously I don’t get it…
I know! Dude is crazy. But in his defense, he is moving right now…so we should give him the benefit of the doubt on this one. 🙂
Hi David I like the sound of the chocolate chip cookies but I cant use the pudding mix as my husband has to have glutin free any idea what I could use instead, the biscuts he has that are glutin free are tastless.thank you Joyce
Hey Joyce! I’m sorry about the no-pudding rule…that’s a bummer. I’ve never made these cookies without the pudding, but I bet they would work pretty well. But the flour would also present a problem with the gluten-free thing, so I’m not sure how the recipe would turn out if you start substituting multiple gluten-free ingredients. Maybe just make a batch for yourself? 🙂
Mmm I have only baked cookies with hazelnuts in them once. Evidently I need to change that.
You totally do, Erin! Hazelnuts are SO underrated!!
I am so intrigued by your recipe! I am going to head out to find hazelnuts because I have dark chocolate chips and who can resist a good nutty chocolate chip recipe?!?!?
Oh man, you totally need to try the dark chocolate + hazelnut combo. I love hazelnuts!! 🙂
I have to admit that I’d never had Hazelnuts in cookies but I love dark chocolate so this is the place to start!
Hazelnuts are so underrated, Karen…you totally need to give them a shot! The require that extra step to remove the skins, but they’re a fun twist in recipes! Totally worth the extra effort. 🙂
I’d have no trouble making a stack of these beauties disappear! What an irresistible cookie!!!
Thank you, Liz! We must both be magicians then because this stack disappeared quite quickly! (Of course, I had my wife’s co-workers to thank there…haha!)
I’m sorry you had to harm your nuts to make these cookies, but they do look worth it.
Well, it’s ok to lose a nut or two as long as the finished product is good, Janette! 🙂
I love hazelnuts in a cookie and make one from Giada all the time, I will have to try yours next time I have a hankering for hazelnuts!!
For sure, Tara! These are definitely a go-to recipe around our house whenever we need a batch of yummy cookies. The hazelnut never gets enough love!!
“National Grab Some Nuts Day” dude – when did this become an NC17 rated blog!!!! 🙂
Awww….that’s just so sweet you were able to bring yourself to part with some of those Baci cookies for your future wife- bet that’s how you got her to say yes eh? 🙂
Ok I will stop with the teasing – these cookies look amazing – I am too chicken to mess with skinning hazelnuts, but I am not too chicken to tackle a whole dozen of these! Woo!
I’m so sorry, Shashi…It’s all MY fault. I’m the dirty minded, nut grabbing chef that invited David to participate. Encouragement to misbehave is a character defect of mine. 😉
Yes, I blame Becca! She’s always trying to get me in trouble!
Hahaha – Hi Becca – oh this is just too funny! Nice to have met you on here 🙂
Tell me about it, Shashi! But I can’t make these food holidays up. Seriously…go Google it. August 3 is National Grab Some Nuts Day. 🙂
And as far as those Baci…that’s totally how I got her to say yes. I’m not even pretending anymore…chocolate is the way to a woman’s heart! And hazelnuts help a little bit, too. BTW, don’t be afraid of skinning the hazelnuts…it’s really not a hard process at all! Plus, the hazelnuts need a little love!
Hazelnut and chocolate is one of my favourite combinations. These sound really good. Great recipe!
Thank you so much, Dannii! I agree that chocolate and hazelnuts are an awesome combo! 🙂
I think you’ve done a good job promoting hazelnuts here. Let’s hope we see they’re numbers rise in the rankings. GREG
You got that right, Greg! Let’s get those hazelnuts the r-e-s-p-e-c-t that they deserve!! Thanks for commenting! 🙂
I love hazelnuts. I buy them for recipes then end up eating them all. They are my weakness.
Side note, my gramma’s name was Hazel. I know right.
Thanks so much for joining us for this event. It was so much fun getting ready for this. I laughed way too hard at everyone’s comments in the FB group.
No problem at all, Kim! I had a blast with this one. It’s always fun to mix in some wacky stuff like this from time to time…especially when nuts are involved!
Dude, I have to disagree with you. Hazelnuts are not the least respected nuts. For instance, what is Nutella made of? Yeah…hazelnuts…
BTW those cookies look rad, make sure to bring some on our hunting trip #WolfPackHunting #WolfPackEats
Hmmm…you make a valid point. I had never considered the Nutella angle. But whole hazelnuts do still get the shaft, do they not? Can’t wait to go hunting! (psst…what are we hunting?) #WolfPackHunting
These cookies sound amazing! Chocolate & hazelnut is a match made in flavour heaven! 🙂
Thank you so much, Jess! Mike just pointed out that Nutella uses hazelnuts…and I’m jealous of how popular Nutella is over in your area of the world! Now I want to make some Nutella cookies. 🙂
Yes!! I love love hazelnut and really don’t appreciate it when people disregard it in things I make. Thank you for this important fight! Hazelnuts need to be respected more lol! But can I respect them after I gobble down these cookies? Ok thanks!
You absolutely can respect them after you gobble the cookies. In fact, gobbling the cookies IS the best way to respect the hazelnut! They would be even more offended than they are already are if you just looked at them and then walked away. 🙂
P.S. I was almost in your area of the state yesterday. We went over to the Saranac Brewery…amazing tour!
Besides the awesome combination of chocolate and hazelnuts, these look like the perfect cookies!
Thank you so much, Emily! I gotta admit that these guys didn’t last long in our kitchen. 🙂
ooh i am so craving one of these cookies right now.. definitely could devour quite a few, they look delicious!
Haha…I’ll send you a batch, Thalia!!
Can I use walnuts instead of hazelnuts?
Hey Renee! You absolutely could use walnuts instead of hazelnuts. That would be a delicious cookie!!