Easy Nutella Cookies: Soft, Chewy, and Fudgy Chocolate Hazelnut Perfection
Welcome to your new favorite cookie recipe! These homemade Nutella cookies are incredibly quick and easy to make, requiring just a handful of simple ingredients. Imagine a cookie that’s wonderfully soft, delightfully chewy, and intensely fudgy with a texture reminiscent of a rich brownie – that’s exactly what you get here. Packed with the irresistible flavors of chocolate and hazelnut, courtesy of everyone’s beloved Nutella, and studded with extra chocolate chips, these cookies are perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing dessert for a cookie exchange, a comforting treat for a cozy evening, or just a simple baking project, this recipe promises pure joy in every bite.
If there’s one thing in this world that competes with my love for chocolate, it’s undeniably Nutella – and this recipe has absolutely stolen my heart! These fudgy Nutella cookies are every bit as delightful as my popular 3-Ingredient Nutella Brownies, my versatile Nutella Syrup, and especially my creamy No-Bake Nutella Cheesecake. Seriously, you absolutely need to try them all! But let’s focus on these incredible cookies for now. I can honestly tell you that a freshly baked batch never lasts longer than a day in my house. What makes them truly special is that they achieve their rich, fudgy, and chewy texture without any cocoa powder, butter, shortening, or oil. Their unique consistency often surprises people; my son even says he feels like he’s eating brownies, which is the highest compliment a cookie can get!
Why You’ll Adore This Easy Nutella Cookie Recipe
There are countless reasons why these Nutella chocolate chip cookies are about to become a staple in your baking repertoire. Beyond their incredible taste, they offer a simplicity and satisfaction that few recipes can match, making them a must-try for any dessert enthusiast.
- Unmatched Flavor: The star ingredient, Nutella, infuses every bite with a deep, rich hazelnut and chocolate flavor that is both comforting and incredibly indulgent. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and nutty.
- Perfect Texture: Prepare for a truly soft, chewy, and intensely fudgy cookie that practically melts in your mouth. Thanks to specific ingredient choices and techniques (which we’ll detail below), they boast a remarkable brownie-like density that is deeply satisfying and irresistible.
- Effortlessly Simple: With just a few basic pantry staples and straightforward, easy-to-follow steps, even novice bakers can achieve spectacular, bakery-quality results. There’s no need for complex techniques, stand mixers (though helpful!), or fancy equipment.
- Quick to Prepare: From the moment you start mixing to the time they come out of the oven, these easy Nutella cookies come together in a flash. This makes them ideal for satisfying sudden sweet cravings, whipping up a dessert for unexpected guests, or a simple afternoon baking project.
- No Butter, Shortening, or Oil: This recipe stands out by relying solely on Nutella for its fat content. This unique approach results in a distinct flavor and texture profile that is surprisingly light yet incredibly rich, differentiating them from traditional cookies.
- Versatile & Customizable: While perfect as is, these homemade Nutella cookies offer endless possibilities for creative variations. You can easily customize them with different chocolate additions, turn them into stuffed cookies, or even transform them into a giant skillet cookie.
- Guaranteed Crowd-Pleaser: Whether you’re bringing them to a holiday cookie exchange, serving them at a birthday party, or simply enjoying them with your family, these chewy Nutella cookies are always a massive hit. Their universal appeal makes them disappear quickly!
Get ready to impress yourself and everyone else with these sensational and simple Nutella cookies. They’re sure to become a beloved favorite!
Key Ingredients for Irresistible Nutella Chocolate Chip Cookies
Crafting these delightful Nutella cookies requires only a handful of common ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect fudgy, chewy texture and intensely rich chocolate-hazelnut flavor. Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll need and the specific contribution of each:
- Nutella: This is unequivocally the absolute star of our recipe! Nutella serves as both the primary flavoring agent and the main source of fat, completely eliminating the need for butter, shortening, or oil. Its distinctive rich chocolate-hazelnut flavor is what gives these cookies their signature taste, incredible depth, and their unique fudgy texture. For the best flavor and consistency, always use a good quality, fresh jar of Nutella.
- Large Egg: The egg is essential in this recipe as it acts as a crucial binding agent, holding all the ingredients together to form a cohesive dough. It also significantly contributes to the cookie’s overall structure, moisture content, and richness. Using a large egg that is at room temperature is highly recommended, as it emulsifies more smoothly and evenly into the Nutella and sugar, helping to create a more consistent dough and a superior final cookie texture.
- Brown Sugar: While many cookie recipes rely on granulated sugar, brown sugar is specifically chosen here for a very important reason: its molasses content. The molasses in brown sugar is key to achieving that wonderfully soft, incredibly moist, and wonderfully chewy texture that makes these Nutella cookies so irresistible and brownie-like. It helps retain moisture and prevents the cookies from becoming dry. Do not substitute brown sugar with white granulated sugar, as it will significantly alter the final consistency and chewiness.
- All-Purpose Flour: Standard all-purpose flour provides the necessary structure to our cookies, ensuring they hold their shape and have the desired crumb. It helps form the dough and gives the cookies their body. For consistent and perfect results, it’s vital to measure your flour correctly. The best method is by weight, but if using measuring cups, spoon the flour into the cup and level it off with a straight edge to avoid compacting it and adding too much, which can lead to dry cookies.
- Baking Powder: This is our sole leavening agent in this recipe, responsible for giving the cookies a slight lift and contributing to their tender, soft interior. It prevents them from being too dense or flat, ensuring that light, chewy bite. It’s important not to substitute baking powder with baking soda in this recipe, as they react differently with ingredients and will affect the cookie’s rise and overall texture.
- Semisweet Chocolate Chunks (or roughly chopped bar): While Nutella provides plenty of chocolate flavor, adding extra chocolate chunks elevates these cookies to an even higher level of indulgence. I personally love using roughly chopped semisweet chocolate bars because the irregular pieces melt beautifully, creating delightful pockets of gooey, intense chocolate throughout the cookies. You can also use pre-made chocolate chunks.
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips (Optional, for topping): A final flourish that makes these cookies look as good as they taste! Pressing a few extra semisweet chocolate chips on top of the warm cookies right out of the oven makes them look even more appealing and adds another layer of melty chocolate goodness to the surface. This step is optional but highly recommended for that professional, bakery-style finish.
Creative Variations & Customization Ideas for Your Nutella Cookies
While these fudgy Nutella cookies are utterly delicious as is, their simple base also makes them a fantastic canvas for customization. Don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with these variations to tailor them perfectly to your taste preferences or to suit any occasion:
- Experiment with Different Chocolate Options: The original recipe suggests semisweet chocolate chunks, but the possibilities for chocolate don’t stop there!
- Milk Chocolate Chips: For a sweeter, creamier chocolate experience that will melt beautifully into the fudgy cookie.
- Dark Chocolate Chunks: If you prefer a richer, slightly less sweet, and more intense contrast to the hazelnut flavor of the Nutella.
- White Chocolate Chips: A delightful and visually appealing alternative that offers a creamy, sweet counterpoint to the chocolate-hazelnut base.
- Chocolate Melts or Wafers: Roughly chop these for unique melt textures and shapes within your cookies.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: For a more subtle and evenly distributed burst of chocolate throughout the cookie, perfect for smaller bites.
- Transform Them into Indulgent Cookie Sandwiches: Take your Nutella cookies to the next level of decadence by filling them! Once completely cooled, sandwich two cookies together with a generous dollop of your favorite frosting or creamy filling.
- Marshmallow Frosting: For a s’mores-like twist, creating a delightful gooey center. Try my Marshmallow Frosting Recipe.
- Cream Cheese Frosting: A classic pairing that adds a tangy richness to balance the sweetness. My Best Cream Cheese Frosting works wonderfully.
- Caramel Frosting: To enhance the sweetness with a buttery caramel note, adding another layer of complex flavor. Use my Homemade Caramel Frosting.
- Peanut Butter Frosting: For an irresistible chocolate-hazelnut-peanut butter combination that’s truly addictive. Check out my Peanut Butter Frosting Recipe.
- Whipped Cream: A lighter, airier filling that’s still wonderfully indulgent. Consider flavored options like those in my Flavored Whipped Cream Ideas or a stable version like Stabilized Chocolate Whipped Cream.
- Fruit Fillings: For a refreshing touch of fruity brightness, fill with Easy Homemade Strawberry Jam, Blackberry Buttercream Frosting, or Raspberry Pie Filling. Even a simple fruit dip like this Easy Pumpkin Dip (which contains Cool Whip) can be a fun and creamy option!
- Introduce Peanut Butter for a Nutty Twist: For those who adore the classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter, this variation is an absolute must-try. Simply reduce the quantity of Nutella by ½ cup and replace it with creamy peanut butter. This will add another delightful layer of nutty flavor and a slightly different, equally appealing texture to your cookies.
- Create Delicious Filled or Stuffed Cookies: A delightful surprise awaits inside! Take a small portion of cookie dough, flatten it slightly into a disc, and create a small indentation in the center. Carefully place a Rolo candy, a small chocolate truffle, a soft caramel, or even a mini peanut butter cup into the indentation. Then, gently roll the dough around the filling, ensuring it’s completely enclosed and sealed. Bake as directed, and prepare to enjoy the wonderfully gooey, melted center.
- Bake a Giant Skillet Cookie: For a more impressive and shareable dessert that’s perfect for a crowd, transform this recipe into a large skillet cookie. Simply press the entire cookie dough mixture evenly into a greased 8-inch cast-iron skillet or oven-safe pan. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are beautifully set and the center is still slightly soft and warm. Serve warm directly from the skillet with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate indulgence.
- Add a Drizzle or Glaze Finish: Once the cookies have cooled slightly, enhance both their appearance and flavor with a decorative drizzle.
- Homemade Caramel Sauce: For a sweet, buttery, and luxurious topping.
- Easy Chocolate Ganache: To double down on the chocolate goodness and add a shiny, rich finish.
- Powdered Sugar Glaze: A simple, sweet glaze that sets nicely and adds a touch of elegance.
- Hot Fudge Sauce: For an extra rich, warm, and gooey chocolate experience that makes these cookies even more decadent.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Easy Nutella Cookies from Scratch
Making these Nutella chocolate chip cookies is wonderfully straightforward and incredibly satisfying. Follow these simple, detailed steps, and you’ll have a batch of warm, soft, and fudgy cookies ready to enjoy in no time. Remember, precision in baking often leads to the best results, so pay attention to ingredient measurements and temperatures!
- Combine Nutella and Egg: Begin by accurately measuring out the specified amount of Nutella and scooping it into a large mixing bowl. Crack the large, room-temperature egg directly into the bowl with the Nutella. Using a sturdy whisk or an electric mixer on low speed, mix these two ingredients together until they are thoroughly combined, smooth, and have a homogenous consistency. There should be no streaks of egg or Nutella visible. (Image 1 & 2 illustrate this initial mixing process).
- Incorporate Brown Sugar: Next, add the brown sugar to the smooth Nutella and egg mixture. Continue to mix these ingredients until the brown sugar is fully incorporated into the wet mixture. The batter should become slightly lighter in color and take on a smooth, creamy, and uniform consistency. Ensure there are no lumps of brown sugar remaining. (Image 3 clearly shows the addition of brown sugar).
- Add Dry Ingredients: In a separate small bowl, sift or whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder to ensure they are well combined and free of lumps. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients in the main bowl. Mix on low speed, or by hand with a spatula, until the dry ingredients are just combined and the mixture begins to resemble a crumbly dough. It’s crucial not to overmix at this stage, as over-developing the gluten in the flour can lead to tough cookies. (Image 4 demonstrates this step, showing the transition to a crumbly texture).
- Gently Fold in Chocolate Chunks: Now it’s time for the chocolate! Gently fold in the roughly chopped semisweet chocolate (or chocolate chunks) into the cookie batter. Use a spatula or your hands to carefully mix until the chocolate is evenly distributed throughout the dough. Avoid aggressive mixing to maintain the tender texture. (Image 5 depicts the process of combining the chocolate pieces).
- Form the Dough Balls: After folding in the chocolate, the mixture might still appear a bit crumbly. Use your clean hands to bring everything together; gently knead the dough within the bowl until it forms a cohesive, smooth ball. This ensures all ingredients are fully incorporated and the dough has the right consistency for rolling. Using a cookie scoop (approximately 1.5-2 tablespoons per scoop) or your hands, portion out small, uniform amounts of the dough. Roll each portion into a smooth, round ball. Evenly space these dough balls about 2 inches apart on a baking tray that has been meticulously lined with parchment paper. This parchment paper is crucial for preventing the cookies from sticking and for easy removal. (Image 6 illustrates forming the dough, and Image 7 shows the rolling process).
- Chill the Dough: This step is absolutely essential and non-negotiable for achieving perfectly shaped cookies that don’t spread excessively! Place the baking tray with the formed cookie dough balls into the refrigerator and chill for a minimum of 15-20 minutes. This chilling period allows the fat in the Nutella to firm up, ensuring the cookies maintain their shape during baking and develop that desirable thicker, chewier texture. (Image 8 highlights the importance of chilling preparation).
- Bake to Perfection: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once the dough has been adequately chilled, transfer the baking tray directly from the refrigerator to the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes. The cookies are perfectly done when the edges are lightly set and very slightly golden, but the centers still look visibly soft and a bit jiggly. It is critical not to overbake, as they will continue to set and firm up on the hot baking sheet as they cool. Overbaking will lead to hard, crumbly cookies.
- Garnish and Cool: As soon as you remove the cookies from the oven, and while they are still warm and pliable, gently press a few extra semisweet chocolate chips onto the top of each cookie. This adds a beautiful aesthetic appeal and provides additional pockets of melty chocolate on the surface. Let the cookies cool on the baking tray for about 5-10 minutes to allow them to set further before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy them warm for the ultimate fudgy and gooey experience! (Image 8 also captures the appearance of the cookies after baking and garnishing).
Expert Tips & Tricks for Perfect Nutella Cookies Every Time
Achieving the perfect Nutella cookie is all about understanding a few key principles and following some expert advice. These tips and techniques will help ensure your cookies come out beautifully soft, delightfully chewy, and intensely fudgy, just like they should be:
- Always Chill the Dough – It’s Essential! This is arguably the most crucial step in this recipe, so do not skip it! Chilling the cookie dough balls for at least 15-20 minutes (or even up to 30 minutes) in the refrigerator before baking is vital. This process allows the fat in the Nutella to firm up, significantly preventing the cookies from spreading too much and becoming thin and crispy. Chilled dough leads to thicker, chewier, more evenly baked, and beautifully shaped cookies.
- Measure Ingredients Accurately: Baking is often referred to as a science, and for good reason! Especially when it comes to ingredients like flour and sugar. Use proper measuring techniques: spoon your flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge, rather than scooping directly from the bag (which can compact it and lead to too much flour). Accurate measurements are key to preventing common issues like overly crumbly or excessively spreading cookies.
- No Butter, Shortening, or Oil – This Is Intentional! This recipe is uniquely formulated to use Nutella as the sole fat source. This is not a typo or an oversight! Adding extra fats like butter, shortening, or oil will drastically alter the texture, making the cookies overly greasy, causing them to flatten excessively, and leading to a less desirable end product. Trust the recipe as written for the best, most unique results.
- Stick to Brown Sugar for Best Texture: The use of brown sugar is non-negotiable for these particular Nutella cookies. Its molasses content provides essential moisture and contributes significantly to the desirable soft, moist, and wonderfully chewy, fudgy texture. Substituting with granulated white sugar will result in a drier, crispier cookie, which fundamentally changes the intended delightful fudgy quality of this recipe.
- Do Not Substitute Baking Powder for Baking Soda: These two leavening agents are not interchangeable, as they react differently with other ingredients. Baking powder provides the necessary lift and tender crumb for these cookies. Using baking soda instead will lead to a different chemical reaction and will likely result in flat, dense, and less appealing cookies.
- Resist Overmixing the Dough: Once you add the flour, mix only until the dry ingredients are just combined and no visible streaks of flour remain. Overmixing the dough develops the gluten in the flour excessively, which can lead to tough, dense, and less tender cookies. Mix until just combined, then use your hands to gently bring it all together.
- Use Room Temperature Egg: A large egg at room temperature emulsifies far better and more smoothly with the Nutella and sugar. This creates a more consistent and uniform dough, which in turn helps in developing a beautiful, even texture throughout your baked cookies.
- Do Not Overbake! For that signature soft and fudgy center, it’s absolutely vital to pull the cookies from the oven when the edges are just set and very lightly golden, but the centers still look slightly soft and a bit jiggly. They will continue to cook and set on the hot baking sheet as they cool down. Overbaking is the quickest way to end up with hard, dry, and crumbly cookies.
- Customize with Extra Chocolate Chips: While the recipe includes chocolate chunks within the dough, don’t forget the trick of pressing a few extra chocolate chips onto the warm cookies immediately after taking them out of the oven. This creates that gorgeous, melted, bakery-style appearance that is visually appealing and adds another layer of melty chocolate.
- Always Line Your Baking Sheet: To prevent your precious cookies from sticking to the pan and to ensure easy cleanup, always use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to line your baking sheets. This also promotes more even baking.
- Enjoy Them Warm for the Ultimate Experience: While these Nutella cookies are delicious at any temperature, they are truly at their peak when warm and fresh from the oven, when they are gloriously ooey-gooey, extra fudgy, and the chocolate is perfectly melty.
- Consider a Small Batch: If you find yourself with only a small craving, you can halve this recipe. However, since halving a single egg can be tricky, I would suggest using an egg replacer equivalent to half an egg, or simply make the full batch – trust me, you won’t regret having extras (or sharing them!).
Frequently Asked Questions About Nutella Cookies
Here are answers to some common questions you might have when baking these delicious and easy Nutella cookies, along with troubleshooting tips:
Cookie spreading is a common issue with a few potential culprits. The most frequent reason for excessive spreading in this specific Nutella cookie recipe is either skipping or insufficient chilling of the dough. Chilling allows the fats present in the Nutella to solidify, which is critical for helping the cookies hold their shape and preventing them from flattening too much during baking. Other factors include incorrect ingredient measurements (especially too little flour, which can lead to a very loose dough) or an oven that isn’t at the correct temperature (too low can cause excessive spreading). Also, remember that this recipe specifically excludes butter or oil; adding these extra fats will definitely cause them to spread more than intended.
This is almost always a clear sign of overbaking. For a soft, moist, and gloriously fudgy texture, it’s absolutely crucial to remove the cookies from the oven when their edges are just lightly set and slightly golden, but the centers still appear notably soft and a bit jiggly. They will continue to cook and firm up as they cool on the hot baking sheet. Another significant factor could be incorrect ingredient measurements, particularly too much flour, which can dry out the dough. Ensure your oven temperature is accurate (an oven thermometer is a great investment!) and keep a very close eye on the baking time, as ovens can vary.
In this specific recipe, the egg is a crucial binding agent and contributes significantly to the cookie’s structure, moisture, and overall soft and chewy texture. While various egg substitutes exist for other recipes, I have extensively tested numerous versions (including flourless and oatmeal batches) and found that completely omitting or attempting to replace the egg in this particular formulation led to an unusual, often flat, and undesirable texture. For the absolute best and most consistent results, I strongly recommend sticking to the recipe as written and using a large, room-temperature egg.
No, for these Nutella cookies, brown sugar is absolutely essential. As highlighted in our tips section, the molasses content in brown sugar is the key ingredient responsible for achieving the signature soft, delightfully chewy, and moist texture that makes these cookies so special. Substituting it with granulated white sugar will result in a much crisper, drier cookie with a different flavor profile, thereby significantly changing the delightful fudgy quality we’re aiming for.
This recipe is intentionally designed to be unique and to specifically highlight the distinct properties and rich flavor of Nutella. Nutella itself provides both the intense chocolate-hazelnut flavor and sufficient fat content, making additional cocoa powder, butter, or shortening entirely unnecessary. This simpler ingredient list is what contributes to the uniquely fudgy, brownie-like texture that truly sets these homemade Nutella cookies apart from traditional chocolate chip cookies.
Absolutely! While the recipe calls for chocolate chunks, feel free to get creative. You could add a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking for a salty-sweet contrast, or incorporate chopped nuts (like hazelnuts, pecans, or walnuts) for extra crunch and flavor. Mini marshmallows, toffee bits, or even a dash of espresso powder (to enhance the chocolate flavor) could also be delicious additions.
Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions for Nutella Cookies
Proper storage is key to ensuring your delicious Nutella cookies stay fresh and maintain their wonderful soft and chewy texture. These cookies are also fantastic for making ahead, either as baked cookies or as ready-to-bake dough balls, offering great convenience for future cravings or events.
- Room Temperature Storage (Baked Cookies): Once your Nutella cookies have completely cooled down to room temperature, store them in an airtight container. They will remain wonderfully fresh and soft for up to 3 days. To revive their signature soft, gooey, and warm texture, simply pop them in the microwave for 5-10 seconds before serving.
- Refrigerate Storage (Baked Cookies): For a slightly extended shelf life and to maintain optimal freshness, store the cooled baked cookies in a sealed, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just like with room temperature storage, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave will bring back that irresistible warm, soft, and fudgy goodness, making them taste freshly baked.
- Freezing Baked Cookies: These Nutella cookies freeze beautifully, making them perfect for meal prep or unexpected guests! Once they are completely cooled, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for about an hour, or until they are solid. Then, transfer the frozen cookies to a freezer-safe, airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag, ensuring as much air as possible is removed. They can be safely stored in the freezer for up to 1 month. To enjoy, simply thaw them in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for a few hours. For an extra special treat, warm them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds after thawing to restore their ooey-gooey texture.
- Making Ahead (Dough Balls): This is a fantastic option for having fresh-baked cookies on demand without all the immediate prep! After rolling the dough into individual balls, instead of baking, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill them in the refrigerator until they are firm (this usually takes about 30 minutes). Once firm, transfer the cold dough balls to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. They can be frozen for up to 1 month. When you’re ready to bake, you have two options: either let them thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours before baking as directed in the recipe, or you can bake them directly from frozen, adding an extra 2-4 minutes to the baking time (just watch them closely for doneness!).
More Delicious Cookie Recipes to Try
If you’ve loved making these easy and fudgy Nutella cookies, you’ll surely enjoy exploring other fantastic cookie recipes from my collection. There’s always a new sweet adventure waiting in the kitchen! Here are a few more to inspire your next baking project:
- Chocolate Cherry Cookies: A delightful combination of rich chocolate and sweet, tart cherries for a sophisticated treat.
- Best Chocolate Chip Cookies (Soft and Chewy): The timeless classic, perfected for ultimate softness and chewiness that everyone adores.
- Chocolate Sugar Cookies: A rich, deep chocolatey twist on the traditional sugar cookie, perfect for decorating.
- Easy Galaxy Cookies (Buttercream Icing): Fun, vibrant, and visually stunning cookies perfect for kids’ parties or just adding a splash of color to your dessert table.
- Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies (Cake Mix): These offer a delightful kick of spice alongside rich chocolate, made incredibly easy with a cake mix base.
Recipe Card: Easy Nutella Cookies with Chocolate Chips
Easy Nutella Cookies (With Chocolate Chips)
Abeer Rizvi
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Ingredients
- 1 cup Nutella Good quality, fresh jar
- 1 Large Egg Room temperature is best
- 2 tablespoons Brown sugar Essential for chewy texture
- ¾ cup All-purpose flour Measure accurately
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder Do not substitute with baking soda
- ⅓ cup Semisweet chocolate Roughly chopped bar or chocolate chunks, for inside the dough
- ¼ cup Semisweet chocolate chips Optional, for pressing on top after baking
Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the Nutella and the large, room-temperature egg. Mix thoroughly with a whisk or electric mixer until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.
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Add the brown sugar to the Nutella-egg mixture and mix again until it is fully incorporated and the batter is uniform.
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Sift in the all-purpose flour and baking powder. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are just combined and the mixture forms a crumbly texture. Be careful not to overmix.
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Gently fold in the roughly chopped semisweet chocolate chunks (or chocolate bar pieces) using a spatula until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
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Once the chocolate is folded in, use your clean hands to further combine all the ingredients and form the mixture into a smooth, cohesive dough ball. Scoop out small portions of the dough (about 1.5-2 tablespoons each) and roll them into neat little balls. Place these dough balls about 2 inches apart on a cookie tray that has been lined with parchment paper.
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Refrigerate the tray with the cookie dough balls for a minimum of 15 minutes (or up to 30 minutes) to prevent spreading during baking. This step is essential for perfectly shaped, chewy cookies.
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once the dough is chilled, bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. Look for edges that are set and very lightly golden, while the centers still appear slightly soft and jiggly. Remember, they will continue to firm up as they cool. Do not overbake!
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Remove the cookies from the oven. Immediately, while they are still warm and pliable, gently press a few more semisweet chocolate chips onto the top of each cookie for an enhanced appearance and extra melty chocolate. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy these fudgy delights warm for the best experience!
Video Tutorial
Notes
- Brown Sugar is Key: Do not replace brown sugar with granulated sugar. I’ve tested this, and it significantly alters the texture, leading to less chewy and moist cookies. Stick with brown sugar for that signature fudgy consistency.
- Parchment Paper is a Must: Always line your baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This prevents the cookies from sticking to the pan and ensures they bake evenly and release easily.
- Chilling Dough Prevents Spreading: It is crucial to chill the cookie dough balls before baking. This step is vital to prevent the cookies from spreading excessively in the oven, ensuring they maintain a thicker, chewier form.
- Storage Best Practices: Leftover baked cookies can be stored in a sealed airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For that “fresh out of the oven” experience, simply reheat them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until they are warm, soft, and ooey-gooey again.
- Additional Insights: For more detailed information on variations, ingredient substitutes (or lack thereof), and advanced tips, please refer to the comprehensive sections above in the article.
Nutrition Information
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.