Toasted Hazelnut Slice N Bake Cookies With Milk Chocolate Food

HAZELNUT COOKIES WITH MILK CHOCOLATE RECIPE

Steps:

• Make the Dough: Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 350°F (180°C). In the bowl of a food processor, grind hazelnuts to form a smooth and creamy paste. Combine hazelnut paste, butter, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low to moisten, then increase to medium and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With mixer running, add egg and continue beating only until smooth. Reduce speed to low, add flour all at once, and mix to form a stiff dough. If not tempering the chocolate, fold chopped pieces into the dough now.
• Portion the Dough: Divide in 2-tablespoon portions and round each one into a smooth ball. (Portioned dough can be refrigerated in a heavy-duty zipper-lock bag up to 1 week, or frozen 6 months. Stand at room temperature until quite soft, about 70°F or 21°C, and proceed as directed.)
• To Bake: Arrange portions on a parchment-lined half sheet pan, leaving 2 inches between cookies to account for spread. Bake until puffed and pale gold around the edges but steamy in the middle, about 12 minutes. Cool directly on baking sheet until crumb is set, about 5 minutes.
• To Finish the Cookies: When the cookies have cooled to room temperature, drizzle with tempered milk chocolate. Once the chocolate has set, transfer to an airtight container with a sheet of wax or parchment paper between each layer and store up to a week at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT SNOWBALL COOKIES

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350˚ F. Spread the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake on the lower rack until lightly toasted, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Pulse the hazelnuts in a food processor until finely ground. Add the flour, cocoa powder and salt and pulse to combine.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar and the vanilla; beat on low speed until combined, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until well combined. Reduce the speed to low again, add the flour mixture and beat until combined. Beat in the chopped chocolate. Cover the dough and refrigerate until slightly firm, about 30 minutes.
• Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of dough and roll into balls. Arrange about 2 inches apart on 2 unlined baking sheets. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies spread slightly, have a matte finish and look slightly darker around the edges, 18 to 24 minutes. Let the cookies cool 5 minutes on the pans, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Put the remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl. Gently roll the cookies in the sugar to coat completely, rerolling as needed. Dust the tops of the cookies with cocoa powder.