Macadamia Nut and White Chocolate Cookies

Recipe Overview 🍽️

History of the Recipe ✍️

Macadamia nuts are native to Australia and were introduced to California in the early 20th century. Their use in desserts quickly gained popularity, especially in cookies, where their sweet flavor and crunchy texture complement white chocolate, which has become a favored alternative to dark chocolate in sweet recipes.

Ingredients 🛒

listed in the order of use in the procedure:

• 100 g (1/2 cup) of unsalted butter (softened)
• 80 g (1/3 cup) of brown sugar
• 40 g (3 tablespoons) of white sugar
• 1 egg
• 150 g (1 1/4 cups) of all-purpose flour
• 50 g (1/3 cup) of macadamia nuts (coarsely chopped)
• 100 g (3.5 oz) of white chocolate (chopped or in chips)
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt

Steps (How to Make ) 🥣

1. Preheat: Preheat your oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Add the egg and mix well.
3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually incorporate this mixture into the wet ingredients until a homogeneous dough forms.
4. Add Nuts and Chocolate: Gently fold in the macadamia nuts and chopped white chocolate into the dough.
5. Shape Cookies: Using a tablespoon, drop balls of dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between each ball.
6. Bake: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
7. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely..

Chef Tips 👨‍🍳

• For an even more intense flavor, lightly toast the macadamia nuts before incorporating them into the dough.
• Be careful not to overbake the cookies to keep them soft inside.

Possible Variations 🎭

• Add shredded coconut for a tropical touch.
• Substitute macadamia nuts with pecans or hazelnuts for a different texture and flavor.

Bake Time 🔥

Macadamia Nut and White Chocolate Cookies bake for 10 to 12 minutes. This baking time ensures that the cookies achieve a perfect balance of crispiness on the outside and soft, chewy goodness on the inside. Preheating your oven to the recommended temperature and using a timer can help achieve the best results. Additionally, allowing the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack helps maintain their structure and enhances their texture.

How to Store 🥡

Food and Drink Pairings 🥂

These cookies pair perfectly with a glass of milk, a cup of green tea, or a mild coffee

Presentation Suggestion 🍽️

Serve the cookies in a pretty metal tin, or on a wooden plate with some pieces of white chocolate and macadamia nuts for decoration.

Why It’s Healthy 💚

Macadamia nuts are rich in healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidants. Although they contain white chocolate, which is sweeter, these cookies remain a more nutritious option compared to many other desserts.