Sometimes at the holidays I get a little burnt out on chocolate, and these cookies work really well if you happen to, well, forget the chocolate chips in the microwave (like I did). Make sure to toast the hazelnuts before cooking, however, to get the best results.
Orange Hazelnut Cookies
Recipe: Julie Pedroncelli St. John
½ cup sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup butter
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted and slightly cooled
1 egg
2 tsp orange zest
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
¾ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ cup chopped lightly toasted hazelnuts
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine sugars, butter, melted chocolate chips, egg, orange zest and vanilla. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Beat at low speed until soft dough forms. Stir in hazelnuts.
Drop dough by heaping teaspoons 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool completely before storing. Makes 3 dozen cookies.
