Nutella Redux Redux

I believe that I am finally happy with my Nutella cookie recipe. You may recall that the first attempt resulted in cookies with good flavor but poor shape and that the second attempt resulted in cookies with good shape and flavor but that had a texture that was a bit too crumbly. This third attempt was exactly what I was hoping for when I originally went looking for a Nutella cookie recipe. This is very similar to the recipe from the second attempt, only with significantly more Nutella.

12.5 oz (2.5 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
0.5 teaspoon baking powder
0.5 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening (one of those prepacked sticks)
7 oz (1 cup packed) dark brown sugar
7 oz (1 cup) granulated sugar
18.5 oz Nutella
1 cup chopped hazelnuts
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Beat the shortening in with the paddle attachment of the mixer until it's broken up, then cream it with the two sugars until all is integrated and fluffy. Mix in the Nutella, followed by the chopped hazelnuts. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add this dry mixture to the mixing bowl in three increments, integrating each one before adding the next. The resulting dough should be fairly dry and should barely stick to the mixer paddle. Chill dough while oven preheats to 350 degrees F. Scoop out dough with ice cream scooper around 1.5 inches in diameter onto a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper -- they should be around 2.5 inches between cookies, and I can get 3 rows of three on a standard-sized cookie sheet. Press down each cookie with a fork dipped in flour, then sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake for 10 minutes, rotating cookie sheet 180 degrees after 5 minutes. Recipe makes around 48 cookies.

I like them. Big E likes them. Mamacita's neighbor Lisa likes them. Mamacita said that she liked the second attempt better, but I suspect that she was smoking crack at the time. They're not perfect, but they're good enough for government work.

Incidentally, Big E had a wonderful idea about what to do with these. He suggested using them to make ice cream sandwiches -- maybe some ice cream between two cookies. That would indeed be very tasty, I think. Maybe with Nutella ice cream? Hmmmm. If I could only find a good recipe for that...