Moist, chewy, rich, and perfectly balanced between sweet and salty, these Chocolate Chip Cookies stuffed with Nutella are phenomenal! Like many, I’ve had my fair share of chocolate chip cookies, and I can be overly picky, but these are hands down the best. They totally blew me away. Since cookies are a guilty pleasure, when you do indulge, you’ve got to make sure they’re really good. Agree? And if you only eat the best cookies, then you need to make this recipe!
What Makes These Cookies Special
You know your chocolate chip cookies are going to be extraordinary when you stuff them with Nutella. Another secret ingredient? Brown butter, added to the cookie dough, which brings out a caramelized, deep, rich, and intense flavor. Each bite makes your heart skip. As if that weren’t gourmet enough, the final touch comes after the cookies come out of the oven—they’re sprinkled with sea salt. Yep, these cookies have it all. ‘What a great balance of flavors!’ Those are my friend John’s words.
Brown Butter for The Best Cookies
Brown butter, also known as beurre noisette in French, is a magical ingredient with a rich, nutty aroma. It’s made by cooking unsalted butter until it separates into butterfat and milk solids. The milk solids sink to the bottom of the pan and brown, releasing a toasted, nutty flavor. Browning the butter takes a little extra effort, but the result is 100% worth it! I’m in heaven when the aromatic smell wafts through the whole house.
What You’ll Need For This Recipe
Nutella or other chocolate hazelnut spread — I included other brands in the Tips section. Unsalted butter — for making the all-important brown butter. All-purpose flour Baking soda Light brown sugar and white sugar — You need a mix of both to create the best texture. Eggs Sea salt for sprinkling on later Unsweetened plain yogurt or Greek yogurt — It imparts the extra soft chewiness it imparts to the cookies. High quality chocolate chips — I use both semisweet and dark chocolate chips for this winning combo. Vanilla extract — Natural (pure vanilla) extract gives these cookies a depth of character that you will love!
Overview: How to Make Nutella Cookies
Variations and Tips
While these cookies definitely land into the ‘perfect just the way they are’ category, they are also very easy to customize. Here are some tips:
Nutella is the most popular brand of chocolate hazelnut spread, but I know the ingredients might not be the healthiest. We don’t eat it often, so I am ok using it for the cookies. If you want a healthier version and don’t mind paying for more, you can try Justin’s Hazelnut Butter Blend, Rigoni di Asiago Nocciolata, or Whole Foods Organic Hazelnut Cocoa Spread. Walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts make a great addition to these cookies, and any of them complement the delicious Nutella center. Simply add 2 or 3 tablespoons of your favorite chopped nuts to the batter before baking the cookies. Feel free to make the cookie dough in advance and keep it in the freezer until needed. However, you’ll want to add the frozen Nutella centers right before baking (like in this recipe).
Storage
You can store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week and in the freezer (using freezer-proof bags) for up to a month. This past weekend I gave these cookies as a little gift with party favors for my daughter’s 5th birthday party. My own children were crazy over these cookies so I hope other children enjoyed them as well. And I need to make these again soon!
More Delicious Cookie Recipes
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Classic Japanese Butter Cookies Meyer Lemon Cookies Miso Butter Cookies Green Tea Cookies
