Hazelnut Date Cookies

These delicious hazelnut date cookies remind me of something my grandmother used to make.

There's just something about this recipe that's homey and comfortable - like sitting down for a chat with a friend you haven't seen in a very long time.

It's a heavenly combination of sweet and chewy dates, mild hazelnuts and the surprise taste of orange which comes from the orange juice and grated orange peel.

The original recipe calls for hazelnuts with the option of toasting or not, but we definitely prefer them toasted because cookies with toasted nuts just taste better!

Hazelnut Date Cookies

Hazelnut Date Cookies Recipe

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Dash of salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon finely shredded orange (or lemon) peel
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup orange juice
1 1/2 cups (about 6 ounces) ground hazelnuts (filberts)
1 1/4 cups pitted dates, chopped
Blanched whole hazelnuts, toasted (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease the sheets and set aside.
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter until softened. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add the egg, orange peel and vanilla and mix until thoroughly combined. Stir in the orange juice.
Gradually add the dry flour mixture and continue beating until combined. Stir in the ground hazelnuts and chopped dates.
Drop the dough by rounded teaspoonfs onto the baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Top each cookie with a whole hazelnut.
Bake about 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned. You may want to turn the cookie sheet around halfway through the cooking time to ensure that they bake evenly.
Remove cookies from oven and transfer to wire racks and cool completely.

This recipe makes about 48 Hazelnut Date Cookies.

Nutrition information per cookie:
87 calories, 1g protein, 12g carbs, 4g fat (1g saturated), 10mg cholesterol, 30mg sodium, 56mg potassium.