more ass than class cookies

There's a funny urban myth about these cookies (not their original name, by the way, which has been lost in the myths of internet history)... that the recipe was leaked by the disgruntled former employee of the company who concocted it... Anyway, these bikkies are quite scandalous enough on their own. They are not refined or classy or clever in component parts, but they are about as addictive as crack cocaine. The recipe makes heaps, so either freeze half the dough, or start selling them on the side. 

I have the one and only Bunny to thank for this recipe. Make it, and you will want to thank her too.

200g butter, soft
1 cup caster sugar (I like unrefined)
1 cup soft brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 cups plain flour
150g ground hazelnuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon bicarb soda
350g (approx - just see how many are in the packet) dark chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups flaked almonds

Note: if you have ground almonds and whole hazelnuts instead of the above (for some reason I always seem to), just toast and chop the hazelnuts a bit and reverse the nut combo.

Preheat your oven to 170 degrees celcius. Cream the soft butter and the sugars, using an electric mixer. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix til just combined. Gently mix in the flour, salt, baking powder, bicarb soda and ground hazelnuts (or almonds if that's what you're using) til just combined. Add the chocolate chips and almonds (or chopped hazelnuts) and mix til just combined. Line some baking trays with non-stick paper. Roll the soft, sticky dough into balls between your palms, aiming for about a 3cm diameter. Place them about 3cm apart on the lined trays (you may have to do several batches). 
Bake bikkies in oven until turning golden but still soft-ish (not too puffy though) - about 10 - 15 minutes. I have made these in several ovens and they do tend to vary, so keep any eye on them from about 8 minutes. 

This will deliver you about 50 - 60 cookies, so do share the love. Oh, and a cookie-ice-cream sandwich never goes astray. Don't scoff until you try one! Then scoff the lot.