What to eat with your coffee

Our beloved hazelnut balls.

Apparently, rolling the balls is the perfect job for a four year old.

And placing the nut in the center is the perfect job for a two year old.

This is what our progress looked like when I whisked Hugo away to go down for his afternoon nap,

and I kid you not, all of these cookies were complete when I came out of his bedroom ten minutes later (albeit a bit less organized on the cookie pan). Could I use this as proof that three kids can actually be much easier than one? They make cookies.

Hazelnut balls are a bit of a family tradition around here (I should say have been a family tradition for Ben's family long before I entered the scene!). It really doesn't feel like Christmas without them. Well, this year I bought and ground all my hazelnuts, and then just sort of got busy, started going crazy making handbags, and all around dropped the ball... hazelnut ball, that is. Well, I'm happy to report that today we took that hazelnut flour and made these oh-so-delicious cookies which are my absolute favorite accompaniment to a cup of coffee (of which I usually enjoy at least two of in the morning!). These are gluten free, and quite filling because they're made entirely of nut flour. So if you have a bit of extra cooking energy leftover, give these a try!

Hazelnut balls

Yield: 80 balls

• 80 whole nuts
• 550 grams hazelnuts, ground (about 4 1/2 cups ground)
• 1/2 t salt
• 500 grams powdered sugar (about 4 cups)
• 2 t vanilla extract
• 4 egg whites, slightly beaten

Mix in order given, except for whole nuts. Use hands to mix. If too sticky use more nut flour. Divide dough into 8 pieces. Make each piece into a roll, and cut into 10 pieces. Form each piece into a ball. (this year I just let the girls make their own balls, and the results were just as good!) Press the whole nut into the center of the cookie, one per cookie.

Prepare cookie sheets with bees wax candles (rubbing them), paraffin, or baking parchment.

Bake at 325 for 20-23 minutes.

Enjoy!