Friday, December 4, 2009

White Chocolate, Dried Cranberry and Macadamia Nut Cookies



These cookies have it all!  Fruit, nuts and chocolate.  They are so delicious and pretty for the holidays with the red berries. Feel free to use dried cherries, raisins or any other dried fruit.  Go nuts and use your favorite nuts instead of macadamia.  Use dark chocolate chips or butterscotch chips instead of white chocolate.  After all, recipes are only a vehicle for our imaginations! 

Rest assured, if you go with the recipe, as written, you will be rewarded with a mouth-watering cookie for your holiday cookie platter. 

~Susan

White Chocolate, Dried Cranberry and Macadamia Nut Cookies

Adapted from a Tyler Florence Recipe
Printable Recipe

3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries (dried cherries would be a great substitute)
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
1 cup roasted and chopped salted macadamia nuts

Preheat oven to 350°F and line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mat.

Spread macadamia nuts on a small cookie sheet and roast in the oven for about 5-7 minutes until golden and fragrant, being careful not to let them burn. Let them cool before using.

Sift flour, baking soda and salt together into a medium bowl . Using and stand mixer, beat butter until fluffy. Add sugars and beat until just blended. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Mix in the vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix just until blended. Using a spatula, gently stir in the dried cranberries or cherries, white chocolate, and nuts.

Drop dough by heaping spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.

Bake until lightly golden, about 15-18 minutes. Cool on sheets.

Can be made ahead and stored in an airtight at room temperature for 2 days or freeze up to 2 weeks.

16 comments:

  1. They all look so good - brings back memories!!

    After I saw your Linzer cookies last year I went and bought a cookie cutter set after Christmas so I could make them this year...can't wait to try it!

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  2. The cookies would be my favorite !!
    Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Susan, looking at all your cookies makes me want to bake! They all look so good. I bought one of those linzer cookie cutters a few years ago but haven't used it...maybe this will be the year.

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  4. That was inspiring! And I need inspiration about now!
    I just whipped up some shortbread dough to try those new cookie cutters..I hope they work!
    Your cookies look delicious...
    And re the cloche, anything, cake ped covered etc..it is all good..Join in next time, and thanks for the photo tips..no lights, huh...

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  5. I am so glad u posted these..I was going to search out your gingerbread! Lovely memories Nana:)

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  6. They all look so pretty! I am going to make the cranberry ones-thanks for the recipe.
    Carolyn

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  7. Your cookies are heavenly! Especially the reindeer and the linzer cookies.
    I have got to get a move on with my baking!

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  8. What a great flashback. I remember most of these....especially that shortbread. I love how thick you do it. I think I might try today!! Sorry for having to link to last weeks..but it works for me! It slipped my mind totally. Thanks for joining me :-)

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  9. What a fun trip down Christmas Memory Lane. ... I love cookies and am probably not as discriminating as I should be. All of yours look delicious and pretty, a great combo. The linzers are so elegant, and although I remember when you posted them, I don't recall seeing the little cutout stars next to the cookies. How cute!

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  10. The cookies are beautiful. I hope I can make some that pretty for Christmas. God bless, Doylene

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  11. Susan, works of perfection...all of them :) The cookie recipe shared here sounds delicious - bookmarked already. I know that a lot of people love shortbread but you know me, I'd reach pass them to whatever that chocolate creation is behind them, LOL! Good luck starting this year's baking.

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  12. I am now officially in cookie heaven. It's so funny, yesterday I was talking with my roommate about how white chocolate macadamia nut cookies were one of my favorites ever and now here you are with this recipe. Talk about good timing!

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  13. Oh holy moly. I did no holiday baking the last two years, but am making a list of what we'll be doing this year -- and those Linzer cookies with the layer of chocolate... they are a must.
    Cookie swoon....
    Cass
    PS Shortbread is my fave, too.

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  14. Nothing short of fantastic, Susan!

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  15. The glass of Candy Cane cookies is so pretty and I just love Candy Cane Cookies!

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  16. Your blog is beautiful. I've just reviewed several posts and have been struck at your beautiful pictures. Your cookies from last year sound delicious, may just have to squeeze them into my baking schedule!

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