Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies

2 c hazelnuts
1 1/2 c sugar
12 oz almond paste
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
pinch salt
4 large egg whites at room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake until skins are blackened and nuts are lightly browned, about 15 min. Transfer warm nuts to a kitchen towel and rub briskly to remove skins. Coarsely chop 1/2 cup of nuts and set aside.

Combine remaining hazelnuts with sugar in a food processor and grind to a fine powder. Add almond paste and process until well mixed. Add cocoa and salt and process until mixed, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

With the processor running, pour egg whites and chopped hazelnuts into the batter. Process until just mixed.

Spoon heaping tablespoonfuls of batter 1 1/2" apart onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake 18-20 min or until cookies are firm on the outside but still chewy inside. Let cool 5 min on baking sheet and then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

NOTES
From "Chocolate Astrology" by Joy Nagy.
Untried.