Day 13: Nutella Cookies

When Noah was in third grade Adam took him to his first college football game. Noah was instantly smitten with the University of Michigan and the Big House. He took a camera to the game and took pictures of everything. The crazy college kids, the big blue M sign, the football players, and a lot of pictures of the cheerleaders :)

That night Noah was so excited about the day he just had. Then something unexpectedly turned. He looked at Adam and I and said: " Why did you wait so long to introduce me to college football??!!"

He thought he had been missing out on something. He has since turned into a University of Michigan super fan and has his sights on becoming one of those "crazy college kids" in the near future. 

I felt a lot like Noah did after his first college football game, the first time I tried Nutella.
Nutella in my opinion, is one of the best culinary discoveries of our time.  One of our favorite ways to enjoy this chocolate hazelnut spread is on toast with sliced bananas....yummm!

When I started sharing this blog on facebook, my cousin suggested to bake a Nutella Cookie. Yes!!! A Nutella cookie would be perfect!!!

I found this Chocolate-Hazelnut Smooches recipe by Giada De Laurentiis on food networks web site. I some minor changes...like adding crushed graham crackers and orange zest sugar...and omitted the "smooch" (the candy kiss).

Nutella Cookies

(adapted from Chocolate-Hazelnut Smooches by Giada De Laurentiis)

1 cup of flour

3/4 cup crushed graham cracker pieces

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup Nutella

1/2 cup butter, softened (1 stick)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup sugar mixed with the zest of one orange

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In another medium bowl, place the chocolate hazelnut spread, butter, and both sugars.
Cream the ingredients together, about 3 minutes.

Add the egg and vanilla and blend until incorporated.

Stir in the dry ingredients.
Shape the cookie dough into walnut-sized balls.
Roll the balls in the orange zest sugar pressing to adhere.

Place the cookies on a heavy cookie sheet about 4 inches apart.

Bake 10-12 minutes

 Cool the cookies on a wire rack.

Dane: "MMMM!!!!"

Ian: "Nutella = an awesome cookie!!"

Noah: "Wow!  Can I take some of these to school tomorrow??"