Chewy Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies

These cookies are amazing, if I do say so myself. ;) They kind of taste like Nutella, but they are chewy and have lots of texture. Yum! I kind of started out with a plan to make chocolate hazelnut cookies and was pleasantly surprised and pleased when they turned out so well the first time. Must. Make. More. LOL

Chewy Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 & 1/4 cup whole grain spelt flour
• 1/4 cup organic sugar
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1.5 tbsp Chocolate Chia Goodness (or cacao nibs) (optional, but they add crunch!)
• ¼ cup non-dairy dark chocolate chips, chopped
• ¼ cup toasted hazelnuts. chopped
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 3.5 tbsp unsweetened apple sauce (or oil)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with oil. In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients (spelt flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar). Whisk together. In a medium sized bowl mix all wet ingredients (maple syrup, oil. vanilla). Mix well. Now add wet to dry and stir. Mix with hands if necessary until fully incorporated. Stir in Chocolate Chia Goodness, chocolate chips, and toasted hazelnuts. Wet hands and shape small cookies about 1.5 inches in diameter and place on baking sheet. Bake for 12-13 minutes. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack after a couple minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Makes 14 medium sized cookies.