Today I made a simple and elegant dessert, Hazelnut Cookies from the West on page 405.
When most Americans think of hazelnuts, what comes to mind are things like hazelnut flavored coffee and hazelnut chocolate spreads, like Nutella. Hazelnuts are a very common dessert ingredient in Europe, but much less so here. I suspect that part of this has to do with them being harder to find than more common nuts like walnuts and pecans. Also, if you buy them whole, they’re a bit more difficult to work with since you need to remove the skins. I would highly recommend to people who enjoy hazelnut “flavored” foods and beverages that you try the real thing. They have a unique taste that’s a little bit bitter, but also rich and balanced with a subtle sweetness. Hazelnuts are also very healthy, loaded with vitamins and good fats that actually help lower bad cholesterol. We’re such a fat-phobic nation that we have a hard time eating anything with a high fat content. But certain nuts, and fruits like avocados, are rich with heart-healthy fats that are nothing like the fat content of a donut (not that donuts aren’t incredibly delicious, they’re just not very good for you!)
Martha’s hazelnut cookies are very easy to make, requiring only 5 ingredients! They bake up with a crunchy shell covering a buttery, soft cookie. These cookies would be perfect to serve at a luncheon or a brunch with some strong coffee as a nice alternative to a richer, more elaborate dessert. Your company will find them delicious and sophisticated and you’ll love how much extra time you have to spend with your guests by making such a simple dessert!
