Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. To toast hazelnuts: spread on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned and the skins begin to flake.
  3. Remove from oven and place nuts in a dish- towel.
  4. Roll up and let nuts 'steam' for 5 minutes and briskly rub the towel (with nuts inside) to remove the skins from the nuts.
  5. Cool and then chop coarsely.
  6. Set aside while you prepare dough.
  7. Reduce oven temperature to 300°F.
  8. Line a large baking sheet (12 x 17) with parchment paper.
  9. In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine the coarsely chopped chocolate and brown sugar and process until the chocolate is very fine; set aside.
  10. Sift or whisk together the flour, cocoa, espresso powder, baking soda and salt into a bowl; set aside.
  11. In bowl of electric mixer combine the eggs and vanilla and beat to blend, about 30 seconds.
  12. On Low speed mix in the chocolate/sugar and flour mixtures until a stiff dough forms, adding the hazelnuts and white chocolate (if using) when about half mixed.
  13. On a floured surface divide the dough in half.
  14. Form each half into a log, 12 inches long.
  15. Do this by rolling the dough back forth into a cylinder shape with floured hands.
  16. Transfer the logs to the baking sheet, spacing then well apart (with-wise on the pan) Pat to even the shapes.
  17. Bake until firm to the touch about 40 minutes (logs will spread during baking).
  18. Remove from oven, place on wire rack, let cool for 10 minutes.
  19. Using a long spatula transfer the logs to a cutting board.
  20. With a serrated knife cut the dough into 3/4 inch thick slices on the diagonal.
  21. Arrange the slices on the baking sheet.
  22. Bake 20 minutes at 300°F, turn the slices over and bake until crisp and dry, about 20 minutes longer.
  23. Let cool on wire rack.