Taming of the Chew

Nutella Chews with White Chocolate and Pecans

On occasion, I like to bring little treats to my acting students. I find that the promise of a sweet treat during a scene critiquing session can help the feedback go down a little easier. On the scene menu for tomorrow? Scenes from (my least favorite of Shakespeare's works) The Taming of the Shrew. Maybe I'm the one that will be in need of a cookie. These cookies were put together with interesting ingredients I found in my pantry. The bold characteristic taste of Nutella with little hints of sweet, creamy white chocolate and salty pecans makes for one tasty treat! I think you'll be a fan.

Ingredients

- 1/2 c. butter, room temperature 

-  2/3 c. granulated sugar

- 1/3 c. brown sugar, packed

- 2 large eggs

- 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

- 1/2 c. Nutella

- 1/2 tsp. baking powder

- 1/2 tsp. baking soda

- 1/2 tsp salt

- 2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour

- 1 c. white chocolate chips

- 1 c. chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl cream together butter, sugars, vanilla, and Nutella with an electric mixer. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add eggs and blend until light and fluffy. 

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients slowly with the mixer running. When everything is completely blended, add the chocolate chops and pecans and mix thoroughly.

Drop tablespoon sized dollops of the dough onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, about 3" apart. Bake in oven about 10 minutes until cookies are cooked through but still chewy. Let cool on rack completely. Bake remaining cookies in batches. Yum!

Kris Krinkles!

Nutella and Cherry Crinkle Cookies
I was on my holiday baking marathon- Cranberry and Pistachio Biscotti with White Chocolate, New Orleans Pralines, Fudge, Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies, and Peanut and Pretzel Caramel Blondies! Yum! While I have tons of delicious treats for sharing, an unopened jar of Nutella sitting in the cupboard taunted me. I wanted to create a simple, holiday-themed cookie treat with this beloved chocolate-hazelnut spread. Tah dah! These cookies come together in a snap into a chewy and delicious addition to your holiday baking list!

Ingredients
- 1 c. sugar
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla
- 1 c. Nutella
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 2 1/4 c. flour
- 2 c. dried cherries

Preheat oven to 325˚ F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking pad. In a large mixing bowl cream together sugar, butter, and vanilla until smooth and creamy with an electric mixer. Blend in eggs and Nutella and mix until the batter is light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients into the Nutella mixture in two additions, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Mix dried cherries into the batter until evenly distributed.

Drop tablespoonful dollops of cookie dough onto prepared baking sheet. Evenly space dough apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes until cookies have spread and are slightly puffy. Let cool on baking sheet for about 2-3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies will crinkle as they cool. So yummy, so easy . . . what can't Nutella do?

Hella Nutella!

Chewy Nutty Nutella Brownies
It was a Sunday of laundry, errands, grading. I had a pretty fabulous dinner planned, but no clear-cut dessert idea and then the jar of Nutella sitting in Jordan's cupboard called out to me. I don't know anyone who turns down a chewy brownie . . . and Nutella? The combination seems obvious. I had some extra farmer's market fresh hazelnuts left over from the dinner menu. They added just the right amount of crunch to this surprisingly light, yet chewy brownie. These are a snap to whip up and definitely Jordan approved!

Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- 1 1/4 c. sugar
- 1 c. Nutella
- 3 eggs
- 1 c. flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 c. chopped hazelnuts

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line a 13x9" baking dish with foil and then lightly butter the foil to prevent brownies from sticking. In a medium saucepan, melt 1 stick of butter over medium. Add sugar and stir over heat until ingredients are thoroughly blended and the sugar becomes shiny and smoother. Add Nutella and briefly stir over heat. Remove from stove, whisk in eggs and stir until smooth. Whisk in flour, salt, baking powder, and hazelnuts. Stir until ingredients are thoroughly blended. Spread batter into prepared baking dish and bake in oven for 22-24 minutes until brownies are cooked through. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before cutting.

Nutella? Yes Please!

Jordan's Dream Cake or Nutella and Banana Butterscotch Chip Snack Cake
One of the reasons Jordan is such a good roommate for me is his unwavering support of any food experiment that pops into my head. He is extremely encouraging of my mad-scientist-like approach to developing new recipes as I play with flavor combinations and Frankenstein together beloved classic recipes into something new. We talk about food around the office. A lot. Frequently either Jordan or I might muse, "What do you think of (fill in unusual ingredient) in a (choose a beloved recipe)?" The idea for this tasty snack cake came from a recent trip to Costco, the purchase of two enormous jars of Nutella, some leftover sour cream, and a couple of overripe bananas sitting on the counter. This rag-tag team of ingredients came together to make a sticky, super moist dessert to satisfy the sweetest of sweet-tooths. Or even Jordan.

Ingredients
- 2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
- 1 c. sugar
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 c. Nutella (that addictive European chocolate-hazelnut spread)
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 large, ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2 c. sour cream
- 1/2 c. vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 c. butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Butter and flour a 13x9" baking dish and set aside. In a large bowl combine mashed bananas, eggs, oil, sour cream, sugar, vanilla, and Nutella. Beat together with an electric mixer until ingredients are well combined and smooth. In a separate medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to Nutella mixture a half cup at a time, blending thoroughly with electric mixer after each addition. Stir in butterscotch chips.

Pour batter into prepared baking dish and bake in oven for 45-55 minutes until cake is cooked through and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before serving.