With crisp edges, soft and chewy centers, plenty of white chocolate chips, and macadamia nuts too, these cookies make me grin with every bite.
These are rich, sweet, nutty cookies packed with white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts. If you aren’t a fan of white chocolate, feel free to use your favorite chocolate instead. However, if you like white chocolate, the combination of macadamia nuts and sweet vanilla chips can’t be beat.
Macadamia Nut Cookies
What exactly is it about macadamia nuts that makes them such a fantastic and classic addition to so many cookie recipes?
Macadamia nuts have a delicate, sweet, almost buttery flavor due to the nut’s high fat content. The nuttiness is much more subtle than other tree nuts – e.g. the more commonly used pecans and walnuts. That very subtle flavor works well to highlight the rich, creamy taste of the macadamias.
There’s something almost magical about macadamia nuts, isn’t there? (There must be, because the price for these nuts can be outrageous at times!)
I try to buy them when they’re on sale – and when they are on sale? I stock up. Macadamia nuts will keep nicely in the freezer for up to a year, so feel free to grab extra next time you catch them on sale.
And speaking of sales, if you happen to find salted vs unsalted nuts on sale, don’t hesitate to buy them – unless you absolutely hate a salted dessert. Personally, I like the bit of extra salt that it adds.
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:
- butter
- light brown sugar
- white sugar
- egg
- vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour *
- baking soda
- kosher salt
- macadamia nuts
- white chocolate chips
* See the note in the recipe card for gluten-free ingredient alternatives.
White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Combine the butter and both sugars in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until fluffy and smooth.
Add the eggs and beat until fully incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and beat to combine.
Stir in the chocolate and the nuts. Line a baking sheet with parchment and then use a medium size scoop (about 2 tablespoon size) to place dough onto the baking sheet. Roll into balls with your hands.
Bake for 9-11 minutes and remove from the oven when the cookies are just barely browned at the edges. They should be slightly puffed, but still soft. If desired, sprinkle the warm cookies with Maldon salt.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Cookies with Nuts
The chewiness of pudding cookies and the decadence of toffee and chocolate create a decadent treat in Toffee Coconut Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies. This is an easy cookie recipe that’s perfect with each and every bite.
Walnut Cookies are tender buttery sweet cookies with a center of chewy brown sugar, walnut, and sour cream filling. These are brown sugar drop cookies and that brown sugar and butter combination makes the perfect cookie base for the chewy nutty filling.
Buttery, nutty cookies are topped with the sweet jam of your choice in these simple, gluten free Pecan Thumbprint Cookies.
The velvety sweetness of chocolate mingles with the nutty goodness of walnuts in these Chocolate Decadence Cookies. Paired with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk, these cookies are pure and indulgent chocolate bliss.
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour *
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup chopped macadamia nuts
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
* Gluten-Free Alternative
- ½ cups brown rice flour
- 1 cup tapioca starch
- ⅓ cup potato starch
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Combine the butter and both sugars in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until fluffy and smooth.
- Add the eggs and beat until fully incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and beat to combine.
- Stir in the chocolate and the nuts. Line a baking sheet with parchment and then use a medium size scoop (about 2 tablespoon size) to place dough onto the baking sheet. Roll into balls with your hands.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes and remove from the oven when the cookies are just barely browned at the edges. They should be slightly puffed, but still soft. If desired, sprinkle the warm cookies with Maldon salt.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
{originally published 5/27/13 – recipe notes and photos updated 4/29/24}
Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover says
Look at your yummy cookies, I wish to have some right now!
Grandbabycakes says
How yummy do these look? I love brown butter in cookies. That nutty flavor is insanely delish!
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking says
Oh these look so delicious! White chocolate and macadamia nuts what an awesome combination!!
Liz Berg says
These look amazing, Mary! I'm such a cookie monster 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
I could definitely not be trusted with a batch of these in the house! They look amazing Mary, all of my favorite stuff!
Jenn says
Oh my, those look and sound amazing! I'd like a dozen or so right now… and yes, I would eat them all!!! 🙂
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
I'm in – these are beautiful cookies. I got so busy for a few days and missed so much. You post all these amazing recipes and I'm still trying to get one up! You rock Mary!
Becki's Whole Life says
Oh wow. Macadamia nuts are great in yummy buttery cookies! That shot of the broken cookie at the bottom looks soooo good!
Anonymous says
Love these cookies! We used dark chocolate chips instead of white chocolate. This is a total keeper. Thanks!
Al says
The ingredients don’t say baking powder but it is saying to add it in the directions.
Mary Younkin says
Mags says
Hi Mary, thank you for this recipe. I have gluten free flour can I use that with some zanthan gum?
Mary Younkin says
If you’re using a gluten free flour blend, it likely already has xanthan in it. If not, go ahead and add it.