Eva's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Cookies

This is a really nice recipe if you want a butter cookie with a twist. The cookie itself is more of a soft thick cookie rather than a flat crisp one. Also this cookie is sweet but not too sweet. The Hazelnut and Chocolate are a perfect combination. These cookies are great to add to a holiday cookie tray or just to have in the evening as a special treat with a nice hot cup of coffee or tea.

• Ready In: 1 hr 40 mins
• Yields: 12-18 Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2  tablespoons  baking cocoa
• 2 -3  tablespoons  crushed hazelnuts
• 3⁄4 cup unsalted butter
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  large egg
• 1  teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Sift together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa.
2. Add crushed hazelnuts; set aside.
3. In a separate bowl; cream together butter and sugar.
4. Add egg and vanilla to butter-sugar mixture.
5. Beat with mixer for 30 seconds until light and fluffy (or by hand for about 2 minutes).
6. Combine Flour Mixture to the Butter/Sugar Mixture BY HAND.
7. Mixing only until all ingredients are incorporated.
8. Chill for at least 1 Hour (Optionally, dough can be chilled overnight).
9. Roll teaspoon-sized balls of dough and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
10. Flatten balls slightly with a fork.
11. Bake in a preheated oven at 400° for 10-12 minutes until set.
12. DO NOT OVERBAKE.
13. Let Cool for 2 minutes and remove from baking sheet.