Double Chocolate Nutella Thumbprint Cookies

I love Nutella. I actually prefer Nutella over peanut butter. My husband thinks this is so wrong. These cookies have a nice filling in the middle so they are crunchy and soft. My youngest daughter kept bring them into school. I'm pretty sure they do not meet the healthy snack criteria but I saw her do it for a couple of days. I think she shared a couple with her teacher since it is the end of the year and she is trying for all the bonus points she can get. I guess the cookies may meet the healthy snack criteria if you share them with the teacher? I also brought some to my friend at work. They are a nice cookie to share or not share.

Double Chocolate Nutella Thumbprint Cookies
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups chocolate chips, divided
1 tsp milk
1 cup sugar
1 cup Nutella, divided
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. Melt 1 cup chocolate chips with the 1 tsp milk in the microwave for 45 seconds. Stir and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream the sugar, 1/3 cup Nutella, butter, and the vanilla extract until incorporated.
4. Beat in the melted chocolate.
5. Add the eggs one at a time. 
6. Slowly, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. 
7. Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips.
8. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
9. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
10. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
11. Shape the cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. 
12. Place the cookie dough balls onto the cookie sheet, spaced 2 inches apart.
13. Gently make a thumb indent into the center of each ball to make a 1/2 inch depression.
14. Fill each depression with about 1/2 tsp of Nutella.
15. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until the sides are set and the center is slightly soft.
16. Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. 

Recipe adapted from Tollhouse Nestle Cookies Cookbook.

One year ago...............................I made Dulce de leche cheesecake.
Two years ago.............................I made Skillet Lasagna.

Did you already know.................
-Teachers typically spend about 50 hours a week on teaching related tasks.
-Gene Simmons of Kiss was a teacher for 6 months.
-President Lyndon Johnson was a teacher in Texas.