(Paleo) Chocolate-Hazelnut Cookies

March 5, 2014

(Paleo) Chocolate-Hazelnut Cookies


I don’t even know how to break the news to you – but these Chocolate-Hazelnut Cookies are my new obsession...soon to be yours too.
Not only they are decadent in flavor and they taste kind of naughty - with all that rich dark chocolate; but they are paleo-friendly and kind of healthy.
Now, I could easily go on, and on, and on for the whole post citing the reasons why you should eat these cookies. Because they’re gluten-free, refined-sugar free, because of this, because of that, etc.
For once let’s focus on the delicious instead...as these cookies are pure perfection.

(Paleo) Chocolate-Hazelnut Cookies


In my opinion, you can never go wrong with hazelnut and chocolate, it’s a marriage made in heaven.
Think about hazelnut clusters or Nutella. Unless, of course, you don’t like Nutella….…is that even possible? Is there a person in this world who can resist that velvety chocolate butter?
And, just for the record, I’m not saying that I eat Nutella (as it’s loaded with oil and sugar) but I can’t deny it tastes pretty darn good. End of the story.

(Paleo) Chocolate-Hazelnut Cookies


But now, now I have these chocolate-hazelnut cookies and they are like legit, on all accounts.
Texture's crunchier than a regular cookie but still a tad chewy. They taste like roasted hazelnuts with a hint of vanilla and honey and covered in chocolate.
Truly addictive; once you had one, you will be back for more.
No seriously, this stuff is good. So good. Why are you still reading? Go bake some. I'll wait.

(Paleo) Chocolate-Hazelnut Cookies
Welcome back. Wasn't that del-freaking-licious?

(Paleo) Chocolate-Hazelnut Cookies                                                                    Print this recipe! 
Adapted from CaveGirlCulture

Ingredients

Makes 20 cookies

2 cups / 9.8 oz / 275 gr hazelnuts (I used Raw Oregon Hazelnuts)
4 tablespoons arrowroot powder
¼ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
1 free-range organic egg (or 1 flax egg)
4 tablespoons maple syrup (or raw organic honey)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon melted coconut oil (or butter)
2 oz / 57 gr + 70% dark chocolate (I used Green & Black’s Organic)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread hazelnuts on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 10 minutes, stirring once.
Remove from the oven and let cool for a couple of minutes.
If you’re using unblanched hazelnuts, pour them in a clean kitchen towel. Close into a bundle and give an energetic massage, this will (partially) skin the hazelnuts.
Transfer hazelnuts to a food processor and pulse until grind into a thick flour consistency (you don’t want them completely pulverized).
In a large bowl combine hazelnut flour, arrowroot powder and salt.
Add egg, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla extract and mix until a sticky dough forms.
Place in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
In the meantime, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and fill a bowl with water (you’ll need to wet your fingers before handling the dough).
Remove dough from the fridge, scoop one tablespoon and with wet fingers press it down on the parchment paper to form a ¼-inch thick circle.
Using a small glass, a mug or cookie cutter cut out a perfect circle (mines were 2.5-inch wide).
Peel off the excess dough and add back to the bowl.
Repeat to form all cookies (you’ll need to clean the glass a couple of times).
Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 11 to 12 minutes (be extra careful not to burn the cookies), and let cool completely on a rack.
When cookies are completely cool, gently melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler (or in the microwave) and dip each cookie into the melted chocolate to cover half.
Let the excess chocolate drip off, place on the parchment paper and let set completely.

Nutrition facts

One cookie yields 97 calories, 8 grams of fat, 6 grams of carbs and 2 grams of protein.

32 comments:

  1. I can't resist the chocolate hazelnut combination - pure perfection!

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  2. Yay, I couldn't wait for you to post these since I saw them on Instagram hehe. These look terrific, and if they taste anything like Nutella, I'll take them. Man, I love the stuff, but I'm not so fond of the sugar/nasty oil part, so these are like the most perfect substitution ever. Cannot wait to try these - everytime I try one of your recipes for cookies, they're such a hit at home hehe.
    xxxx

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  3. Ok - so I am one of those weird people that don't like Nutella - if its any consolation, I do love Justin's chocolate hazelnut spread :)
    These cookies look SCRUMPTIOUS Mike - I just wanted to volunteer to take any extras of these cookies off your hands - so you can concentrate better on training ;)

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    1. Next time I'll bake a batch you can come over and help me out, so we can save time. Then we can go for a long run together. How's that?

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  4. Holy Moly, get in my belly! LOVE this combo. It is seriously "pure perfection". Can't want to give them a try and love that they are paleo! You always inspire me with how you cook! Pinned!

    Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats

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  5. These look SO good...the only thing that would make them better is a FULL coating of chocolate :)

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    1. I second that Kim, next time I'll go for the full coating!

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  6. Yay for gluten-free and dairy-free cookies! These look so yummy!

    http://lifeandcity.tumblr.com

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  7. Pffft. I'm starting to think that you are doing it on purpose because you are one big meanie and you like to torture me.

    That, or you want to keep me away from this place. Fine! I'm leaving. But know that I am licking my screen on the way out. EVERY SINGLE ONE of these cookies gets a lick. There. That'll teach you!

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    1. Of course I'm doing it on purpose Sonia, where's the fun otherwise? For the next 30 days expect only non-Whole30 complain recipes on TIY. Yes, I'm evil! ;)

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  8. These look great! Love your pictures!
    www.bedstuyfoodie.com

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  9. chocolate hazelnut is so yummy. these look great!

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  10. Ohh, these look so amazing! I LOVE hazelnut + chocolate, so Im sure I'd love these, I'll have to give them a try.

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    1. They're amazing indeed, and totally guilt-free...you should totally give 'em a try!

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  11. How much hazelnut meal do 2 cups of hazelnuts yeild? I'd like to use up my hazelnut meal if possible, before making more :) Thank you!!

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    1. It should be about 3 cups (maybe a tad less, like 2 3/4 cups). Let me know if it works!

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  12. These look amazing. Just pinned. Will be making these this week end. Happy Thursday to you!

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  13. I'm all over anything with the words "healthy" and "cookie" in the same sentence, haha. These look awesome... love chocolate-hazelnut combo!

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    1. Yes C, healthy cookies are the thing. Binging on something good for you. I mean, are you kidding? ;)

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  14. I love these " Je ne regrette rien" cookies. So much sweet flavor, so little to worry about diet and health issues. Best of two worlds.
    Great post Mike, thanks for sharing.

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  15. Can I substitute the arrowroot powder for anything? Like regular flour, oat or quinoa flour?

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  16. These look amazing! Glad you enjoyed them!

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  17. Oh my god, I'm actually crying over this recipe! I have am fruit intolerant, which means I also can't eat coconut. I get horribly sick from it, so I am so freaking happy to finally find a sweet treat recipe that is paleo, but isn't based on coconut oil, and the little bit in the recipe can be substituted. Thank you so much for this recipe, and for the idea to use butter as a replacement. Wish I'd thought of that!

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