Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies Sugar Free Recipes

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT COOKIES (SUGAR-FREE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 160°C/320F and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
• Make the flax egg: add the ground flax seeds and water to a small bowl and stir. Let it rest for at least 5 minutes to thicken (see note 2).
• Take 1 cup of hazelnuts and grind them into a coarse powder in a food processor. Don't worry if you get some bigger chunks. They will add extra texture to the cookies. Set aside the ground hazelnuts in a mixing bowl.
• In the same food processor, blend the Medjool dates into a paste by adding 1 tablespoon of water and the flax egg.
• Chop the remaining 1/3 cup (50 g) of hazelnuts into chunkier pieces and spread them onto a tray or a plate.
• Combine the ground hazelnuts, date paste, salt, and cacao powder in a large mixing bowl. Mix it all well to bind all the ingredients together and produce a thick, sticky dough.
• Divide the dough into 10 equally sized pieces. Roll each portion of dough between the palms of your hands to form a ball. Squash the ball a bit to give it a cookie shape, then lightly press each one into the chopped hazelnuts to coat.
• Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking tray. Bake for about 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool down before moving them to a plate or airtight container. Be careful as they are pretty soft when they are hot. Resist the urge to try one warm, as they are much better when they cool down.

SUGAR FREE CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In a stand mixer, beat together the softened butter with the sugar alternative until creamy. Then add the extract and flour and mix until combined, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Use a spatula to fold in the chopped hazelnuts. Wrap the cookie dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator, preheat the oven to 325 and prep two baking sheets for nonstick (I use parchment paper). Then use a scoop or spoon to scoop out tablespoon sized cookie dough and place them onto the prepped sheets, about one and a half to two inches apart from one another. You can use a fork to poke holes in top of the cookies.
• Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden. Then transfer to a cooling rack to full cool before adding the chocolate topping. (see post for how to make the chocolate topping).

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT SPREAD - SUGAR FREE

Steps:

• Place the first 4 ingredients into a food processor and blend.
• Slowly pour a small amount of oil into the mix, a little at a time, until it becomes a paste (a similar consistancy to peanut butter or nutella).
• Place paste into a jar and refrigerate.
• Keeps for 1 month.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size nonstick muffin cups. In small bowl, stir together flour and salt; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat 1/4 cup softened butter with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla and the almond extract; beat until light and fluffy. Add hazelnut spread; beat until well blended, scraping bowl occasionally. Add eggs; beat until smooth. Add half of the flour mixture; beat on low speed just until blended. Add milk; beat until blended. Gently stir in remaining flour until batter is smooth. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups, filling each half full.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, 3 tablespoons butter and the corn syrup on High 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. Top cooled cupcakes with ganache topping. Sprinkle with hazelnuts.