Lemon Hazelnut Cookie Sandwiches Recipes

ITALIAN LEMON SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350˚. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter, sugar and lemon zest in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg yolks and vanilla and almond extracts and beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually beat in the flour mixture until combined, then slowly add the milk and beat until just combined.
• Transfer the dough to a piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch open star tip. Pipe 1 3/4-inch logs about 2 inches apart on the prepared pans. (You will have leftover dough.)
• Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are golden around the edges, 18 to 24 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the pans, then remove the cookies to racks to cool completely.
• Pipe the remaining dough onto one of the used parchment-lined baking sheets and bake only 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the pan, then remove the cookies to a rack to cool completely.
• Sandwich a thin layer of lemon curd between the cookies (1/2 teaspoon each). Microwave the candy melts and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth. Dip the cookies partway in the candy melts, letting the excess drip off. Return to the racks and top with nonpareils. Let set, about 1 hour.

HAZELNUT AND LEMON COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• 2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt onto a piece of waxed paper.
• 3. In a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk 2 of the eggs until they are foamy. Gradually whisk in the sugar and continue whisking until the mixture is pale yellow and light, about 4 minutes. Whisk in the oil, then add the lemon zest and mix well. Mix in the dry ingredients alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Then quickly and thoroughly mix in the hazelnuts.
• 4. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and divide it in half. Shape each half in an 8-inch-long log and 2 inches thick. Flatten the tops slightly and place the logs about 2 inches apart on one of the prepared baking sheets. Mix the remaining egg with 2 teaspoons water for an egg wash and brush it lightly on the logs.
• 5. Bake the logs in the center of the oven until they are puffed and golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Leave the oven on.
• 6. With a sharp knife, cut each of the logs on the diagonal into about 24 pieces. Place the slices, cut side down, on the parchment-lined sheets and bake until they are golden on one side, about 15 minutes. Turn the slices and bake until golden on the other side, about 10 minutes more. Remove from the oven and let cool on wire racks.

HAZELNUT-ESPRESSO SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, yolk, espresso granules and vanilla.
• Combine flour, salt and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture mixing well. Stir in hazelnuts.
• Divide dough into thirds; flatten each portion into a circle. Wrap each in plastic wrap; refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut with a floured 1 1/2 inch cookie cutter; place 1/2 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Bake at 375* for 6-8 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.
• FOR FILLING: in small saucepan, bring cream to boil. Remove from heat; stir in milk chocolate chips and 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips until melted. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for 1 1/2 hours or until filling reaches spreading consistency, stirring occasionally.
• Spread filling over the bottom of half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies. Melt remaining semisweet chocolate chips; drizzle over cookies.
• Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator.

HAZELNUT MERINGUE SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Make the cookies: Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Spread the hazelnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 9 to 11 minutes; let cool, then finely chop. Reduce the oven temperature to 225 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Whisk the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Increase the mixer speed to medium high and beat in the granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue beating until stiff peaks form, 6 to 8 minutes. Mix in the vanilla. Add the chopped hazelnuts and sift in the confectioners' sugar.
• Fold together with a rubber spatula.
• Transfer the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe 2-inch rounds about 1 inch apart on the prepared pans, keeping the pastry tip close to the pan.
• Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the meringues are dry and release from
• the parchment, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Turn off the oven; leave the meringues inside for 30 minutes. Transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Beat the butter, confectioners' sugar and salt in a bowl with a mixer on medium speed until combined, 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium high and beat in the vanilla; beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Dollop 1 teaspoon filling and 1/2 teaspoon jelly on the flat side of half the meringues. Top with the remaining meringues.

LEMON HAZELNUT COOKIE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Finely grind flour, nuts, salt and cinnamon in processor. Using electric mixer beat butter and 1/2 cup sugar in large bowl until smooth. Beat in lemon peel and vanilla. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and mix just until dough holds together. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 325°F. Butter large baking sheet. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Using 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Gather scraps into ball. Reroll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out additional cookies, forming total of 12. Transfer rounds to prepared sheet. Using 1-inch round cookie cutter, cut out center of 6 cookies and remove. (Can be baked for snacks.)
• Bake cookies until golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to rack and cool 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to rack and cool completely.
• Spread 1 1/2 teaspoons marmalade evenly over each cookie without a hole, leaving 1/8-inch border uncovered. Sift additional powdered sugar over cookies with holes; arrange powdered sugar side up atop jam-covered cookies. (Can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Store cookie sandwiches in single layer in airtight container at room temperature.)