Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cookies -- Last Day to Enter My Swerve Giveaway

This evening I baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies and I wanted to experiment a bit. I had some roasted hazelnuts left from the weekend, so I decided to use those in my cookies. I also used cream cheese in them rather than ricotta which I use in another chocolate chip cookie recipe (I know ricotta makes some people turn up their noses even though you can't taste it at all). I made Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cookies...and they turned out fantastic. The roasted hazelnuts add a wonderful rich, crunchy, nutty flavor...and the cream cheese makes these cookies rich and decadent.  These just might be my favorite chocolate chip cookies so far!  I used 3/4 cup Swerve confectioners in them to sweeten them. If you like your cookies sweeter, I would use a few drops of stevia to boost the sweetness so it doesn't alter the consistency of the dough; of course you can decrease the sweetener, too, if you prefer. I honestly can't tell the difference between these cookies and "regular" chocolate chip cookies...except these won't send your blood sugar off the chart, thanks to Swerve, and are completely wheat free, grain free and gluten free.  I snapped a few photos below as well as the easy recipe. To celebrate the last day of my Swerve Giveaway (a chance to win a free Weber Grill and 3 packages of Swerve, courtesy of Swerve)...we grilled some hot dogs (Applegate's organic nitrite free, grass-fed beef dogs). We enjoyed it with a side of Bubbie's sauerkraut and roasted baby brussels sprouts. It was a simple and delicious healthy "fast food" dinner...served with a sweet side of delicious homemade Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cookies.  Life is sweet without wheat...and thanks to Swerve...it's even sweeter!  Enjoy!

Now this is what a healthy "Happy Meal" looks like!

Chocolate Chip-Hazelnut Cookies 

Ingredients:

2 cups blanched almond flour

1 teaspoon baking powder (aluminum free)

1/4 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
1/2 to 3/4 cup Swerve sweetener, or to desired sweetness (I used 3/4 cup in mine)

1/4 cup butter, softened (1/2 stick)

4 ounces (brick style) cream cheese, softened
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup roasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup 70% or 85% cacao chocolate bar (3.5 ounces), chopped (use 70% for sweeter chips) -- I used Green & Black's 70%

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  In a medium mixing bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt and Swerve sweetener (or other granular sweetener).  Make a well in the center of the bowl and add softened butter, cream cheese, egg and vanilla extract. Using a wooden spoon, cream and mix dry and wet ingredients together until the dough is mixed and blended well.  Using a rubber spatula, fold in hazelnuts and chocolate chips/chunks and mix just until blended.  Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls (or lightly roll into balls for neater cookies) onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet;  very lightly tamp down (do not flatten) -- the cookies do not spread much while they bake.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Cookies are very soft when hot and will firm up as they cool.  Let sit 10-15 minutes and then, using a spatula, transfer to a rack to completely cool. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

...THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED...

LAST DAY to Enter the Swerve Giveaway!

Contest ends Friday, September 6, 2013 at Midnight EDT (details below)

The kind folks at Swerve recently contacted me and have allowed me to offer Gourmet Girl Cooks' followers a chance to win an exciting "Celebration to Summer's End Giveaway"!  One lucky follower will win a:  Weber 22.5” Silver One-Touch, Kettle Grill AND a Three-Pack of Swerve (see below). As most of you that follow me already know, I have been using Swerve for almost a year now and it is my favorite "zero calorie" natural sweetener to bake with. It tastes great and measures cup-for-cup just like sugar, which makes it super easy to substitute in recipes...no calculations involved! It contains no artificial ingredients and comes in both granular and confectioners (powdered) versions. With the upcoming Labor Day weekend ahead, I will be posting some delicious "end of summer" recipes using Swerve...so stay tuned!  Ready, set....GO!  Begin entering now!

P.S.-- if you are already a Swerve lover like I am, and your supply is getting low...Swerve is currently running a special through Tuesday, September 3rd, for $9.99 each (for a 16-oz bag) or you can grab 6 packs of Swerve for $49.98 ($8.33/each + free shipping). You can click here to grab this special ---> Swerve

HOW TO ENTER:
The winning contestant will be chosen at random (must be a U.S. resident).  To enter a chance to win, all you need to do is: Leave a comment here on my blog and include the words "Swerve BBQ Contest" (1 entry per person per day). Please make sure you leave a name so you can be identified if you are selected -- I will need that to announce you!!! Contest ends Friday, September 6, 2013 at Midnight EDT.  The winner will have 24 hours after being announced to contact Gourmet Girl Cooks (by email at GourmetGirlCooksBlog @ gmail.com) with their shipping address. If no response is received in 24 hours, a new winner will be selected.

*The product provided in this giveaway is contributed by and will be sent directly to the winner by Swerve.