Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I have the perfect dessert to make for the Nutella lovers in your life. Better yet, the perfect dessert to make for your Nutella loving self!

As usual, I'm psyched for Valentine's Day. I appreciate a day devoted to love (of all kinds) in a world increasing filled with hostility. I'm terrible when it comes to waiting until the actual holiday to give someone their present, so Macky already received his Valentines's Day gift...unwrapped, the moment it got delivered last week. Sigh.

Now let's talk about these cookies. Hazelnut butter cookies stuffed with Nutella...can a cookie be more enticing? The butter cookie base is my favorite go-to recipe with my secret flavor packed ingredient. I've mentioned it many times before, but french vanilla coffee creamer in baked goods is life changing. Lastly, we add chopped roasted hazelnuts to the dough and place it in the fridge for at least 3 hours. This will make it easier to roll out, help keep the heart shape when it bakes and allows the flavors in the dough to really come through.

Nutella Filled Hazelnut Cookie Sandwiches

Heart shaped hazenut cookies filled with Nutella

Makes: 32 mini sandwich cookies (1" x 1.5" heart cutter)

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups (208.3 grams) all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons french vanilla powdered coffee creamer
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup whole hazelnuts, roasted with skins removed
1/2 cup Nutella

Instructions:

In a medium bowl, combine the flour and salt. Set aside
Finely chop the hazelnuts and set aside
In a large bowl attached to a stand mixer, add the butter, coffee creamer and sugar
Mix on low speed until it starts to combine then increase the speed to medium high and beat until creamed - approximately 4 minutes
Scrape the bowl. Lower the speed to medium low, add the egg and vanilla extract and mix for about a minute or two until combined
With the mixer on low, gradually add the flour until incorporated - be careful not to over mix
Add the hazelnuts to the dough and stir to combine
Scrape the dough into the center of a large piece of plastic wrap and shape into a disc
Place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours
After 3 hours, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and take the dough out of the fridge. If the dough is too cold to roll out, let it sit for a few minutes to soften
Roll the dough out so it is approximately 1/4 inch thick
Cut out small hearts (or shape of your choice) and place on a baking sheet lined with a silicon mat (preferred) or parchment paper
Bake for approximately 7 minutes, the bottom should just be starting to turn light brown
Leave the cookies on the cookie sheet to cool for a couple minutes then remove and place on a cooling rack
When the hearts are completely cool, spread a layer of nutella on the flat side of half the cookies. Top each with a plain heart, flat side touching the nutella, to make a sandwich