Chocolate Hazelnut Shortbread

Ever since we made the Chocolate & Cherry Shortbread cookies, Kait has been wanting to try another shortbread recipe.  Since Marianne doesn't like fruit in things, she agreed to take another stab at it as well.  This time we went with a chocolate hazelnut shortbread, which was such a delicious decision!












Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick butter at room temperature, cut into pieces
• 1 teaspoon hazelnut extract

For icing:

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon hazelnut extract
• 1/2 tablespoon milk

Directions:

1. Using your food processor fitted with the dough blade, pulse flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt until fully combined
2. Add butter and hazelnut extract and pulse until mixture comes together (it will still seem slightly dry)
3. Dump the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap and form into a log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter
4. Place the dough in the freezer for 30 minutes
5. Preheat oen to 300 degrees
6. Remove the dough from the freezer and cut into discs, about 1/4 inch thick
7. Place them on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes, or until the cookies are firm
8. Let cool
9. In a small bowl, mix ingredients for icing together until combined
10. Use a fork to drizzle over cooled cookies

Recipe and image from: Mad in Crafts

What are you baking today?  Mari & Kait

Cinnamon Hazelnut Biscotti

If you are looking for a great cookie to dunk in your coffee or hot chocolate, look no further!  Our favorite coffee flavor is hazelnut so these pair perfectly!  The original recipe looked delicious but we decided to kick it up a notch.  We added some white chocolate chips into the biscotti's and then also melted some white chocolate to dip and drizzle!  This is optional, but we highly recommend it.  A great gift idea would be to give a tin of these with a box of your favorite coffee or hot chocolate!








Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup hazelnuts
• White chocolate chips (optional)
• White chocolate, melted (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Grease a baking sheet, or line it with parchment paper, set aside
3. Sift together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt, set aside
4. Add butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer and cream until light and fluffy
5. Beat in eggs and vanilla
6. Gradually incorporate flour mixture into butter mixture
7. Stir in hazelnuts and white chocolate chips
8. Shape dough into two equal logs (they will be approximate 12 inches long each), and place on baking sheet
9. Flatten them out to about 1/2 inch thickness
10. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until edges are golden and the center is firm
11. Let cool on the pans until cool enough to handle
12. Use a serrated knife to slice the loaves diagonally into 1/2 inch thick slices.  Return slices to baking sheet
13. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, turning over half way through
14. Cool completely
15. Melt remaining white chocolate and either dip sides, ends, or drizzle the chocolate over them

To Store: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature 

Recipe adapted from: All Recipes

What are you baking today?  Mari & Kait