Chocolate chip cookies paired with a glass of milk are probably the most comforting dessert, I could imagine. Just sitting on my couch and nibbling on to chewy chocolate chip cookies and reading through my most cherished cookbooks for hours is one thing which I can do without worrying about the world outside. It’s not just me who is bitten by this cookie bug alone. But my friends, family and workmates cherish these sweet nibbles as equally as I do. Everyone deserves such comforting food. Don’t ya !
One of my colleagues, who is really fond of cookies, is leaving the organization in a couple of days. Whenever we crossed our ways at work, I remembered him enjoying these munchies. And he was so generous and supportive that when last time we had a bake sale for charity at office, he was standing at my shack to help me sell them off. Such are the small nice gestures people make towards each other, which become the part of those forever cherished memories.
I really wanted to bake him some cookies. So today early morning, when rest of the world was still asleep and it was raining super cats and dogs, I kicked my butt hard and I was whipping the batter in my kitchen. Untimely rains during this departing winter season…geez, I hate such untoward gimmicks which weather Gods play at me sometimes. Because it was dreary and you know, not at all perfect for the photography. But it wasn’t that bad either; my pantry was well stocked up. And I was all set to rock the kitchen.
And I did not forget that it is World Nutella Day today. So I wrapped up some Nutella within the cookies dough balls, just to commemorate this sweet day and to make it bit more sweeter and chocolate-y.
Recipe minimally adapted from Anise Eats {yields 2 dozen cookies}
Ingredients
1/2 cup Nutella
150 gm salted butter
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1¼ tsp baking soda
1 cup Demerara sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp yogurt
1 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Fill the nutella spread into a piping bag fitted with round tip nozzle and pipe small dollops of spread onto parchment paper, about 1 – 1 1/2 tsp each.
- Place the tray in fridge to let nutella drops be firm for about 1 hour.
- Place the butter into a saucepan and heat it on a low heat and keep whisking until the butter starts to brown. Remove from heat and let cool.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda and keep aside.
- Now whisk the sugar into butter until smooth. Beat in eggs to incorporate well.
- Add vanilla and yogurt into the butter and sugar mixture and mix well.
- Now add flour and chocolate chips to the above mixture and mix well to make a smooth dough.
- Cover the bowl with cling film and let rest in fridge for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven at 180 Celsius. Line baking tray with parchment paper or silicon mat. Use a medium dough scoop (about 2 tablespoons) to scoop a portion of cookie dough. You can do it with hands if you don’t have the scoop.
- Press an indentation into the center of the dough ball to create a bowl shape. Place a dollop of the frozen Nutella in the indentation and pinch together the edges of the cookie dough over the top to completely seal it in the center.
- Place the shaped cookies on the prepared baking sheets, 2-3 inches apart. Bake until the cookies are golden brown and set, rotating the pans halfway through, about 14 minutes total.
- Let sit a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool. Be sure to replace the remaining Nutella dollops in the freezer while waiting for cookies to bake. It softens fairly quickly otherwise.
Now grab some cookies and glass full of milk and enjoy them with your friends and family !!!