Holiday treats-a-palooza: Nutella Sugar Sandwich Cookies

Photo (C) Christina Saull - All Rights Reserved

These were awesome, even if I did make the cookies a little too big (note: must know the different between teaspoon and tablespoon!).

Oh yeah, & yes, I know 14 tablespoons of butter is a lot. But it's the holidays!

Recipe adapted from America's Test Kitchen via the Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups sugar, divided
14 tbsp (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 small jar of Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut spread)

Directions
In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

In a large bowl, beat 14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar with an electric mixer set on medium speed until the mixture is creamy and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in 2 eggs, one at a time, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Turn the mixer to low speed and gradually beat in the flour mixture until it is just combined. Using a rubber spatula, stir the mixture a few times to make sure all of the flour mixture is incorporated.

Place 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a small bowl. With slightly dampened hands, roll 1 teaspoon of the cookie dough between your palms to form a ball. Roll the ball in the sugar to coat it and place it on a prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the balls about 2 inches apart from each other on the baking sheets.

Lightly coat the bottom of a glass or metal measuring cup with butter and dip into the sugar. Use this to gently flatten the cookies to 3/4-inch thickness.

Bake the cookies, one sheet a time, rotating from front to back halfway through baking. They are done when the edges are set and beginning to brown, 9 to 10 minutes. The centers of the cookies should still be soft and puffy. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Using a spatula, remove the cookies from the baking sheet and let cool on a rack.

Spread the bottom of one cookie with 1 teaspoon Nutella and sandwich with a second cookie.

Serve or store in an airtight container.