Christmas Cookie #10: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

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Uncle Glen with Matthew, Dec. 2010

My mom has four younger brothers.  The youngest, Glen, lives the farthest away in Illinois, about 11 hours from here.  Glen is a master carpenter.  He remodels homes with great craftmanship.  One year for her birthday, he rebuilt my grandma's 100 year-old damaged cedar chest with the same tools his great-grandfather used to build it. 

Each year, I send him a box of homemade Christmas cookies. 

I send him a dozen of each of the family cookie favorites.  I used to make him chocolate chip cookies, then he told me that he loved white chocolate macadamia nut cookies even more.  Ever since then, these cookies replaced the chocolate chip cookie in his gift box.

I can see why he prefers these.  The creamy white chips are delicious with the rich brown sugar-based cookie and macadamia nuts add a firm texture.  The shortening helps preserve the cookies, making them perfect for 2-3 day shipping to a loved one.

I combined the shortening and sugar in my Kitchen Aid first.

Then, I added egg, milk and vanilla and mixed them well.

Next, I added the dry ingredients and mixed until a soft dough formed.

I chopped the macadamia nuts on with my ulu knife.

I was holding my fussy baby at this point.

I'm glad I can use the ulu with one hand!

Finally, I mixed in the white chips and macadamia nuts.

I scooped them out with my cookie scoop.

After I dropped the dough onto the cookie sheet,

I flattened the balls slightly with the back of a spoon.

I baked the cookies for 9 minutes at 375F.

[Print this Recipe]

WHITE CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA NUT COOKIES

Ingredients:

*1 1/4 c. firmly packed light brown sugar
*3/4 c. butter flavor shortening
*2 Tb. milk
*1 Tb. vanilla
*1 egg
*1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
*1 tsp. salt
*3/4 tsp. baking soda
*1 c. chopped macadamia nuts
*1 c. white chocolate chips

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 375F.  Combine sugar, shortening, milk, and vanilla in large bowl.  Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add egg into creamed mixture
2.  Combine flour, salt, and baking soda.  Mix into creamed mixture until blended.  Stir in white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts.
3.  Drop rounded tablespoonsful of dough 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet.  Bake for 9 minutes.

Yields 3 dozen cookies.

Do you mail any homemade baked goods to anyone during the holidays?

• Tomorrow, I will share the recipe for Stone Jar Cookies, chewy cookies with nutmeg and chopped nuts.  Friday will be the last recipe of my 12 Cookies of Christmas series, Monster Cookies.