"Small-Batch Baking for Chocolate Lovers" Cookbook Giveaway

by Kirsten on April 22, 2011 · 38 comments

in Cookies, Cupcakes & Muffins, Desserts, Misc. Sweets

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Debby Maugans, bestselling author of Small-Batch Baking to take a look at her new book Small-Batch Baking for Chocolate Lovers.

The “Small-Batch Baking” books are all about baking for two. It is a fantastic idea; you get automatic portion control and no leftovers. You can bake just enough cakes, tarts, scones, muffins, cookies and pies for two servings. It’s great for singles, couples, and even baking with children.

Debby’s new book Small-Batch Baking for Chocolate Lovers makes your mouth water just thumbing through titles like Chocolate-Covered Cherry Almond Tart, Dark Sweet Chocolate Almond or Toffee Biscotti, Chocolate Raspberry Cake Roll or Chocolate Baklava, just to name a few. You will be able to find a dessert for any occasion. I know that the chocolate cake with sour cream chocolate ganache on the cover will be baked at my house for an upcoming birthday.

Since I am a huge Nutella fan, I decided to try Debby’s recipe for Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies first. The cookies consist of two crunchy hazelnut cookies sandwiched together with a chocolate hazelnut cream filling. The outside is rolled in chopped hazelnuts and Debby recommends serving the cookies with a glass of bubbly.

Imagine a much tastier version of a Ferrero Roche. More flavor intense and a lot crunchier because of the bigger ratio of the cookie to the cream. Forget anything you have ever tried before and hurry, yes, HURRY in the kitchen and start baking right now! These cookies are to die for.

Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies:
 
Makes 6 cookies.

Ingredients:

for the cookies:

*   1/2 cup (65 g) hazelnuts, toasted and skins removed, see info here (use towel method!)
*   1/4 cup (30 g) all purpose flour
*   1/4 cup (48 g) sugar
*   1/8 teaspoon baking soda
*   2 tablespoons (27 g) unsalted butter, softened
*   1 egg yolk

for the filling:

*   1 ounce (28 g) fine quality milk chocolate, chopped (I used Lindt)
*   1 tablespoon (13 g) unsalted butter, softened
*   2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
*   2 tablespoons (37 g) Nutella

Directions:

for the cookies:

Preheat your oven to 375 F. Line a baking sheet with a silicon pad or parchment paper.

Toast and skin hazelnuts. Further instructions (use towel method) here. Place the cooled nuts in a food processor fitted with the knife blade. Pulse the processor until the hazelnuts are chopped very finely (about 25 times). Take out 1/4 of a cup of the nuts and set aside for later. Add the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt to the nuts left in the food processor. Pulse until well combined (just a few pulses). Add the butter and egg yolk and pulse the mixture until a dough forms.

Divide the dough in 12 equal pieces (I like to measure mine on the scale). Roll them into balls and set them on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Press the balls flat by using a buttered glass dipped in sugar. Bake cookies on the center of the oven for 10 – 12 minutes. Don’t overbake!

Let cool on a wire rack.

for the filling:

Melt chocolate in the microwave on medium until softened, about 1 minute. Let it come to room temperature and mix in the butter and sugar, followed by the Nutella.

Sandwich two cookies together by spreading on the Nutella filling. Also cover the edges with some of the spread and roll them in the previously set aside chopped hazelnuts.

Debby recommends enjoying the cookies with a cappuccino or Champagne.

Please,  before you rush away, don’t forget to join me in today’s cookbook give away.

Debby Maugans generously offered to give away one copy of her new book Small-Batch Baking for Chocolate Lovers to one of my much appreciated blog readers.

The rules are:

* leave me a comment on your favorite chocolate dessert

AND

* become a follower of “My Kitchen in the Rockies” via Google friend connect
* if you are already a follower, please join “My Kitchen in the Rockies” via facebook, twitter or e-mail
* this giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only (sorry my international readers)
* the giveaway will close on April 30th, 12:00 am MST

The winner will be picked randomly and announced beginning of May. Debby Maugans’ publisher will ship the book directly to you, so please make sure to contact me quickly with your address/shipping information if you are the winner.

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{ 38 comments }

Kredyt konsolidacyjny Rzeszów - kredyt na June 17, 2013 at 11:51 am

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Issac June 4, 2013 at 11:19 am

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Anonymous October 7, 2011 at 2:11 am

I just made these cookies and WOW, they are amazing! My only stipulation is I don't understand how you were able to melt your chocolate in the microwave. Mine burned after one minute and filled the whole thing with smoke. I ended up just using nutella and they were absolutely perfect. Next time I will try melting the chocolate the proper way.

Anonymous April 29, 2011 at 6:18 pm

Wow! That's hard to pick just one! Probably a rich dark chocolate brownie!
Linda in Colorado Springs

Colores April 28, 2011 at 6:24 pm

I am eating with my eyes!!! yummilicious!!!!!!!!

Nancy April 26, 2011 at 12:00 am

I'm pretty much in love with anything chocolate, but a flourless chocolate cake with whipped cream and chocolate shavings is pretty darn good.

ola90210 April 25, 2011 at 8:42 pm

I'm a follower via GFC
I love fudgey, chocolatey brownies (esp with a cold glass of milk!)

MoBurn April 25, 2011 at 4:54 pm

Small batch baking – perfect idea. I like chocolate walnut wafers I found in a 1949 Christmas Cookie Book, and I can't resist high-quality dark chocolate mousse.

sassygirl711 April 25, 2011 at 1:16 pm

bought Debby's first book, small batch baking, and it's amazing! after losing 44 lbs., yes, i always want to fit in my skinny little black dress and eat chocolate, too. my favorite chocolate dessert is chocolate espresso cupcakes. d'lish!

Kate April 25, 2011 at 2:53 am

Fave chocolate dessert: molten chocolate lava cake. And now I want Jane's^ recipe from above…sounds divine!!

Amanda Thompson April 25, 2011 at 12:38 am

I subscribe via email.

adb6{at}humboldt{dot}edu

Amanda Thompson April 25, 2011 at 12:35 am

My favorite chocolate dessert would have to be chocolate brownies with caramel swirls!!

adb6{at}humboldt{dot}edu

Jane April 24, 2011 at 8:37 pm

Hi Kirsten,
My favorite chocolate dessert is a spectacular chocolate mousse cake that I've made a couple of times for birthdays. The dark chocolate layers are filled with a fluffy whipped cream mousse, and the cake is iced in a really nice, premium dark chocolate ganache. Then (yes, there's more!), the whole cake is covered with grated chocolate. It's absolute heaven. And, you'd better have a lot of people around to eat it! Which makes the appeal of Debby Maugans's book all the more relevant. Sometimes all one really needs is just a couple of servings–not a couple dozen!

Ashlie and Alfred April 24, 2011 at 6:09 pm

My favorite chocolate dessert is this chocolate mousse tart:

http://delshadduo.blogspot.com/2011/04/magic-chocolate-mousse-tart.html

It is out of this world I promise! Thanks for a great givewaway!

Mark April 24, 2011 at 12:12 pm

Chocolate decadence would be my current favorite. Happy Easter!

Connie April 23, 2011 at 8:37 pm

As a family of 2, small batch cooking is something I'm embracing. I'd LOVE this cookbook and the first thing I'd make is the chocolate caramel thumbprints. YUM!

connie
at
misc
finds
4u
.
com

A SPICY PERSPECTIVE April 23, 2011 at 2:06 pm

Hey Friend,

I haven't made this one, but I'm getting ready to post about Debby's Raspberry Pots de Creme… amazing. These cookies look completely irresistible!

a farmer in the dell April 23, 2011 at 1:19 pm

I found you through Frieda Loves Bread. Love the blog and can't wait to try these cookies. I love nutella as well and these look divine!

Sourkraut April 23, 2011 at 1:27 am

My favorite is chocolate cake. I love the idea behind this cookbook and would love to win it!

karen April 22, 2011 at 9:14 pm

Chocolate mousse for me! This looks like a wonderful book!

karenreichmann@hotmail.com

Mika April 22, 2011 at 9:05 pm

I "liked" you on FB!
Mika
tytanbay3 at cox dot net

Mika April 22, 2011 at 9:04 pm

ANYTHING Rocky Road!!!!!
I'm already following you on GFC.
Mika
tytanbay3 at cox dot net

Comfy Cook April 22, 2011 at 8:02 pm

I am a new follower and I am happy I found your blog.

Comfy Cook April 22, 2011 at 8:02 pm

I will go with chocolate mousse but there is so much more.

Maxine R. April 22, 2011 at 6:48 pm

My husband just bought us an ice cream maker, so right now I'm enjoying chocolate ice cream pretty often. These cookies look wonderful. I just love Nutella. I always enjoy reading your posts.

Meghan April 22, 2011 at 5:31 pm

I am a huge chocolate cake fan. I found your blog through The Bakery Box and am so excited to look around. I have a dessert blog, small but lots of fun. Check it out… cupcakeswithsprinkles.blogspot.com

Barbara | VinoLuciStyle April 22, 2011 at 4:50 pm

This looks fabulous on so many levels. I need this book for small batches so I don't have to bake and give away everything I make! I just bought a container of hazelnuts at Sunflower Market and I now have a use for them. AND it's not overdone with the Nutella!

Can I say it? Yum.

Robyn Myers April 22, 2011 at 3:36 pm

Yummm! The chocolate baklava recipe sounds intriguing since I will be making traditional Russian recipe for Easter! All time fav would be tiramisu followed by Molten Lava Cakes!

Lisa April 22, 2011 at 3:34 pm

Wow, what a great idea — small-batch baking, that is. I very rarely bake because recipes are always too much for two. I'm so excited I've already ordered both small-batch cook books. thanks for featuring this!

Frieda Loves Bread April 22, 2011 at 2:43 pm

I'm a new follower and love a chocolate cookie…

die Hülkies April 22, 2011 at 1:58 pm

Jam, jam. Das ist ja der Hammer. Sooooo lecker. Da bei uns auch zu Ostern fleißig gebacken wird, werdeich dieses Rezept mal näher in Betracht ziehen.

Danke für den Sabberschmaus.

Schöne Ostertage wünsche ich dir.

Ganz liebe Grüße

Sabine

highplainsdrifters April 22, 2011 at 12:18 pm

Already follow you via Google Reader, already facebook friended you, but sorry, I'm trying so hard to stay off the twitter.

We already do our own version of small batch baking. Make 48 cookies, give two to M, and I eat the rest.

Happy Easter!

Lea Ann April 22, 2011 at 11:47 am

I do believe you've made a Nutella fan out of me. Beautiful cookies Kirsten.

Mercedes April 22, 2011 at 11:05 am

Love the idea of small batch baking!

And my favorite chocolate dessert… Either chocolate chip cookies still warm from the oven, or fudgey brownies!

kitchen flavours April 22, 2011 at 7:21 am

Wow, these cookies looks divine! This cookbook sounds great! Good luck to everyone!

Chele April 22, 2011 at 5:56 am

Great concept for a cook book!!! My fave chocolate dessert is chocolate ice cream …. no wait, chocolate brownies … nope, maybe a chocolate souffle … but then a good old chocolate mousse is pretty fine too!! Oh I just can't decide lol, just as well I don't live int he states hehehehe

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes April 22, 2011 at 3:46 am

Ditto on the Nutella! These cookies look divine! My favorite chocolate dessert would probably be molten chocolate cake . . . looks like a nice cookbook, lucky you to be contacted by the author! That must have been exciting! Oh, I'm a Follower!

JelliDonut April 22, 2011 at 2:17 am

ANY chocolate is my favorite dessert! I think I already follow you on facebook, but I'll double check. Nice giveaway. Many thanks!

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