Cherry Macadamia Nut Cookies Recipes

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHERRY COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a cookie sheet.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter and sugars. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars until fluffy and pale in color, 3-5 minutes. This step is important for ensuring soft, chewy cookies. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Using a wooden spoon, carefully stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture, just until combined. Stir in the white chocolate chips, dried cherries and macadamia nuts.
• Drop heaping spoonfuls of the batter onto the greased cookie sheet.
• Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes or until they just begin to turn golden around the edges. Allow the cookies to cool for 2 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• *Note: It isn't necessary for this recipe (I personally prefer the cherries to be chewy), but you can optionally place the dried cherries in a bowl and cover them with boiling water to soften them. Let them soak for 7-8 then thoroughly drain them. If you choose to soak them, use only 1/2-3/4 cup dried cherries as they will expand.

CHERRY NUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix softened butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well.
• Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl and add to creamed mixture. Stir in candied cherries and pecans.
• Shape dough into long rolls about 2 inches in diameter. Wrap in wax paper and chill at least 4 hours. (May be made days ahead before baking and stored in refrigerator or freezer. Let dough thaw slightly before slicing.).
• Unwrap and cut into 1/4 inch slices; place on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake in a 350 degree oven for approximately 10 minutes.

DRIED CHERRY, MACADAMIA AND WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• Pulse the oats in a food processor until some of it is fine and some of it is still very coarse. Dump the oats into a medium bowl and whisk in the flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, beat the butter and the sugars with a mixer at medium speed until very light, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until well blended. Beat in the vanilla.
• At low speed, add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Using a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, fold in the cherries, nuts and white chocolate chips. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least 24 hours and up to 48 hours.
• Position the racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
• Roll about 2 teaspoons of dough into balls and place them on the lined baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch of space between them.
• Bake until the cookies are golden brown around the edges and the centers are pale golden and still soft, about 9 minutes. Let cool on wire racks for about 10 minutes, then transfer the cookies with a spatula to the racks to cool completely (or for as long as you can wait!).

WHITE CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and baking soda; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in nuts and baking chips., Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on pans 1 minute. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Freeze option: Freeze cookies, layered between waxed paper, in freezer containers. To use, thaw before serving or, if desired, reheat on a baking sheet in a preheated 350° oven 3-4 minutes.

ALMOST CHERRY GARCIA COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Plump the dried cherries by soaking them in boiling water to cover for a couple of minutes.
• Drain well and toss with cherry brandy.
• Let the cherries sit in the brandy for a couple of hours, or even overnight for the best flavor, then drain before using.
• Cream the butter with both sugars.
• Blend in the egg, vanilla and almond extracts.
• Fold in the salt, baking soda and flour.
• Fold in the cherries, white and dark chocolate and, if using, the macadamia nuts.
• Batter should be soft.
• Drop in generous tablespoons onto the baking sheets, leaving space between dollops of batter.
• Bake until lightly browned around the edges, 12-14 minutes.
• Cool on racks.