Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding Cookies

Well hello there! After taking an extended break after baby #4 I am SO stoked to be back and blogging today. I plan on posting a “What we’ve been up to post” to fill you guys in on the last few months as I’ve been away…and what to look forward to here at MBC. But for now…let’s talk chocolate…let’s talk cookies…let’s talk chocolate cookies!

Sometimes when I’m in a need of a little baking I stroll through the baking aisle at my grocery store and let items just kinda fall into my cart (some get baked up right away and some we might just label as “research” straight to the tummy). Other times my kids are picking up items and jumping up and down with their items, all hoping to get picked, like they’re on the price is right. This occasion was the latter. Except it turned into a bit of deal or no deal when my 8 year old wanted almonds and I spied hazelnut. It went a little something like this…”But mom I love almonds”…”You know hazelnut is what’s in Nutella right?” “You’re right mom let’s try hazelnuts.”

I knew I’d get her with the Nutella gig, ha! Sucker.

So off we were to bake cookies. A little of this and a little of that and we came up with these puffy, chewy, chocolatey, and nutty cookies. Are you wondering why I call them pudding cookies? That’s because I use instant pudding in the mix to give these gives an awesome chocolate flavor and fluffy texture. I LOVE how the chocolate comes through with pudding vs. cocoa it is so much lighter and more like a milk chocolate then the heavy chocolate flavor cocoa normally provides.

Here’s what you are going to need:

1 Stick Softened Unsalted Butter
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
2 Eggs
1 3.4oz Chocolate Pudding (Instant)
2 1/4 Cups Flour
1 TSP Baking Powder
1TSP Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Milk Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Hazelnuts Chunks

Makes approx. 24 3in. cookies.

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour and baking powder in a bowl, set aside.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, beat together butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and instant pudding mix. Add in eggs then vanilla extract.

Step 3: Slowly mix in flour combination until a completely combined.

Step 4: Once your dough is ready, knead in chocolate chips and nuts.

Step 5: Portion using cookie dough scoop and roll into smooth balls.

Step 6: Bake on a parchment lined cookie sheet (several inches apart!) for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.

Now pat yourself on the back and enjoy your yummy cookies, but hurry they will go fast!