Nutcrackle

recipe adapted from Cook’s Illustrated
yield: 36 cookies

INGREDIENTS
3 cups (15 ounces) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1-1/4 cups Nutella spread
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1-1/4 cups (8-3/4 ounces) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup whole milk
1-1/2 cups hazelnuts, toasted and chopped fine
1 cup (4ounces) confectioners’ sugar

DIRECTIONS
1. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl. With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat Nutella, butter, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla, espresso, and eggs and mix until incorporated. Reduce speed to low, add flour mixture and milk, and mix until just combined. Fold in 2/3 cup hazelnuts and refrigerate dough until firm, about 1 hour.

2. Adjust oven racks to middle positions and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line three baking sheets with silpat or parchment paper.

3. Place remaining hazelnuts in bowl. Add confectioners’ sugar to another bowl. One at a time, roll dough into 1-inch balls, roll in hazelnuts, then roll in confectioners’ sugar. Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets (12 cookies/sheet). Refrigerate first sheet of dough for 10 minute while preparing the second sheet. Bake cookies for approximately 8 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking. Cool 5 minutes on sheets, then transfer to wire rack and cool completely. Repeat with remaining cookie dough.