Description

Experience the ultimate indulgence with these thick, chewy cookies featuring a rich browned butter base and a molten hazelnut cocoa center. Hand-chopped chocolate and a delicate sprinkle of sea salt create a sophisticated balance of flavors in this modern heritage bake.

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup Nutella (hazelnut spread)
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
2 large farm fresh eggs, room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
4 oz semisweet chocolate bar, finely chopped
Flaky sea salt, for topping

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Instructions

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper, drop the Nutella by two teaspoon-sized dollops onto the sheet, and place in the freezer until solid.
Brown the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until it smells nutty and toasted, then transfer to a bowl and let cool for 25 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 375F (190C) and stir the brown and white sugars into the cooled browned butter until well combined.
Incorporate the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, stirring until the mixture is smooth.
Whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl before gradually stirring into the butter mixture.
Fold in the chopped chocolate bar and chill the dough in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to make it easier to handle.
Wrap heaping tablespoons of dough around the frozen Nutella dollops, roll into balls, freeze for 15 minutes, then bake for 12-13 minutes and top with sea salt immediately.

Notes

To achieve the perfect golden texture, ensure the browned butter is completely cooled to room temperature before mixing in the sugars; adding sugar to warm butter can cause the cookies to spread too thin. For the best molten center, keep the stuffed dough balls in the freezer until the very moment they go into the oven.

Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 13 mins
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American