3 cups + 2 Tablespoons (390g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)

1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

4 ounces (112g) block cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 cup (200g) granulated sugar

1 large egg, at room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 cups (240g) confectioners' sugar

1/3 cup (100g) Nutella

1/4 cup (60ml) heavy cream or milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

pinch salt

optional: 1/2 cup (60g) chopped hazelnuts for garnish

Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together until combined. Set aside. In a large bowl using a hand-held or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese together on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and beat on medium high speed until fluffy and light in color. Add the egg, vanilla and almond extracts and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to combine. On low speed, slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined. The cookie dough will be very soft and creamy. Make sure you flour your hands, work surface, and rolling pin. Divide the dough into 2 equal parts. Roll each portion out onto a piece of parchment paper or a lightly floured silicone baking mat (I prefer the nonstick silicone mat) to about 1/4-inch thickness. The rolled-out dough can be any shape, as long as it is evenly 1/4-inch thick. Stack the pieces, with parchment paper between the two, onto a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days. If chilling for more than a couple hours, cover the top dough piece with a single piece of parchment paper. Once chilled, preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Remove one of the dough pieces from the refrigerator and using heart cookie cutter, cut into shapes. I used heart cookie cutters. Re-roll the remaining dough and continue cutting until all is used. Repeat with 2nd dough piece. Arrange cookies on baking sheets 3 inches apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes until VERY lightly browned around the edges. Make sure you rotate the baking sheet halfway through bake time. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating. I like to decorate cookies directly on baking sheets so I can stick the entire baking sheet in the refrigerator to help set the Nutella glaze. So place the cooled cookies back on baking sheets. Make the glaze: In a medium bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat all of the ingredients together on medium-high speed until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Taste. Add another pinch of salt if frosting is too sweet. Spread on each cooled cookie then decorate with hazelnuts, if desired. Nutella glaze will set at room temperature after 3-4 hours and even quicker in the refrigerator, about 1 hour. Cookies stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Make ahead tip: Plain cookies freeze well up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. I do not recommend freezing with glaze on top. You can chill the rolled-out cookie dough in the refrigerator for up to 2 days (step 5). You can also freeze the cookie dough (before rolling out in step 4) for up to 3 months. Then allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before rolling out. Chill for only 30 minutes in step 5 as opposed to 2 hours.