Best Ever White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe (2024)

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Do you want the Best Ever White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe?? They are my FAVORITE cookies, and I make them almost weekly, soft and chewy, yet crunchy from texture.

Best Ever White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe (1)Some may claim to have the Best Ever White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe, but in my opinion, it’s right here. I’ve taken and tweaked a handful of recipes over the years, and though I don’t claim to be a huge “recipe developer” this one is my baby.

I know lots of people like to claim all over Pinterest that they have THE.BEST.COOKIE.EVER. recipe, but theirs simply can’t be, because mine is. The base is delicious with a unique twist, and any type of chips can be substituted. This one is the official Best Ever White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe.

Here are some varying ways you can make the cookies:

  • substitute white chocolate for semi sweet, milk, butterscotch
  • omit the nuts
  • add M&M’s
  • double the batch!

It’s the cookie base that is truly my fave.

It’s got a secret ingredient, that I shall share. I seriously make a variationof these cookies nearly every Sunday, and have done so for the past 2 years. Why have I never shared them before? Well, they started off as someone else’s, but I’ve tweaked and prodded the recipe over the years, that I think I can officially call it MY favorite to share. I introduce to you….my favorite baked treat!

{This post originally shared August 2015, updated June 2015}

Let me give you a little scenario of a typical baking session. I LOVE white chocolate the best, and my kids and husband don’t love it so much. I generally split the batter in half, with white chips in one bowl and milk chips in another bowl. I roll out their cookies into balls, and roll out half of my cookies into balls, while hoarding away a quarter of the white chocolate chip cookie dough in a container in the fridge for myself to enjoy in sporadic increments over the next 24 hours…if it lasts that long. The good and not so good of myself being the only one liking which chocolate chips is…well…you know. Only I am eating it.

Something magical and not so magical happened during this last baking session when I added the macadamia nuts. My oldest declared these very cookies, “the best cookies he’s ever had in his entire life.” Even though I was the baker and should have been completely satisfied with that sentiment, I was hurt for all of those other delicious cookies that I’ve created in the past. They deserve some love, too.

I was equally shocked to hear this because:

  1. they had white chocolate chips
  2. they don’t generally care for ANY nuts in their treats. What gives?

I don’t know, but this combo, and love for this batch of White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookies was loved by all family members, even the previous white chocolate haters.

The only thing that was different from this batch besides the nuts, is the butter.

I’ve failed many attempts at cookies over the years, and have found the key to success in the butter. I generally don’t think hours in advance to pull out the butter to sit ’til it hits room temperature. I pull out a cold cube, cut it up into 8-10 pieces, and let it sit, or nuke it for 10 seconds ’til it softens. I’ll also often refrigerate the cookie dough. I did not do that this time.

I had set out a cube the night before, for toast (it’s kept on the counter always) and it was untouched, so I figured I’d use it for the cookies and replace it with a new one later. This is the only thing I did different, and it did seem to offer a perfect plump-ness to the cookie. (I also cooked it a touch longer than normal, I often prefer partially cooked cookies, just like the cookie dough).

BUT, that isn’t actually the secret ingredient to make my most favorite cookies.

Best Ever White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe (2)

The secret is….almond extract instead of vanilla!

Oh almond flavor, how I love thee. I first realized my love for you with the Fudgy Vanilla Brownie (white texas sheet cake).

The flavor is so subtle, yet so divine.

Here is the simple recipe:

4.5 from 4 votes

Best Ever White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe (3)

Print

Best Ever White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

30 mins

Our Family's most favorite cookie recipe ever!

Course:Dessert

Servings: 24

Author: Kristen Duke

Ingredients

  • 1stick unsalted room temperature butter
  • 3/4cupbrown sugar
  • 1/4cupgranulated white sugar
  • 1egg
  • 1teaspoonALMOND extract
  • 1 1/2cupswhite flour
  • 1teaspoonbaking soda
  • 1/2teaspoonsalt
  • 2teaspoonscornstarch
  • 2.5cupswhite chocolate chips
  • 1cupchopped macadamia nuts

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

  2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper

  3. Mix butter, white sugar, and brown sugar in mixer for 1-2 minutes.

  4. Add egg then almond extra until combined.

  5. Add flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt to mix.

  6. Add white chocolate chips and chopped macadamia nuts and gently mix.

  7. Roll cookie dough onto cookie sheet.

  8. Bake for 9-11 minutes until slightly brown on edges.

  9. (I often double the recipe)

Best Ever White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe (4)

Go ahead and make them and let me know if you agree that this is the Best Ever White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe.

A few other favorite cookies:

  • 5 Ingredient Chocolate Andes Mint Cookies
  • Cinnamon Chip Cake Batter Cookies
  • Gluten Free Butterscotch Soft Batch Cookies
Best Ever White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should I toast macadamia nuts before baking? ›

Roasting macadamias intensifies their buttery flavour and accentuates their unique crunch. It also gives you the opportunity to combine them with additional flavours and spices that complement the natural creaminess of macadamias.

What are the ingredients in Costco white chocolate macadamia nut cookies? ›

INGREDIENTS: ROLLED OATS, DATE PASTE, TAPIOCA SYRUP, PROTEIN BLEND (WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, DRIED EGG WHITES), EXPELLER PRESSED HIGH OLEIC SUNFLOWER OIL, INVERT SYRUP, WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS (SUGAR, COCOA BUTTER, WHOLE MILK, SOY LECITHIN [AN EMULSIFIER], VANILLA), PLUM PUREE, SOLUBLE CORN FIBER, MACADAMIA NUTS, VEGETABLE ...

What is the secret to making cookies soft and chewy? ›

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

Do you flatten cookie dough before baking? ›

If the dough is chilled before baking then the cookies will be slightly more rounded, so if you want slightly flatter cookies then bake them as soon as you have mixed up the dough. But we would not recommend flattening the cookies completely as this will affect the texture.

What temperature do you bake macadamia nuts? ›

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit (107 degrees Celsius). Any temperature between 225 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit (107 to 121 degrees Celsius) should be suitable for roasting macadamia nuts within ten to fifteen minutes. Mist the nuts with your buttery spray while you are waiting for the oven to warm up.

Can you eat macadamia nuts raw off the tree? ›

You can eat the nuts raw or roast them to intensify their buttery flavour. Store the kernels properly: The cracked kernel will keep for a few months in an airtight container kept in a cool, dry location such as the fridge, and longer in the freezer.

Does roasting macadamia nuts destroy nutrients? ›

Roasting them may lower their nutrients

People can eat macadamia nuts raw or roasted. One 2015 study suggested that roasting macadamia nuts, especially at higher temperatures, can reduce their nutrient content. It may be best to consume the nuts raw, soak them, or roast them at a lower temperature.

Who invented white chocolate macadamia nut cookies? ›

No one really knows who first put white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts together. White chocolate chips were first produced in 1937 but the macadamia nuts didn't become widely available to the public until 1975. But once these two flavors found themselves together in a cookie their popularity exploded.

Why are macadamia nut cookies so good? ›

The macadamia nuts have a rich, buttery flavor and a nice creamy texture. They add a slight salty crunch to the cookies that you will love. This is the BEST white chocolate macadamia nut cookie recipe. You have to try them!

Why is white chocolate paired with macadamia nuts? ›

White chocolate: You will often find macadamia nuts paired with white chocolate, due to their very mild flavors.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

What makes a cookie more soft? ›

The lower the protein, the softer your cookies will be. All-purpose flour is a medium-protein flour, making for mediumly-soft cookies. Cake flour is low in protein and you can substitute it into cookie recipes for all-purpose flour 1:1. The results will be very tender cookies.

Which is better, baking soda or baking powder? ›

When to use which one. Baking soda is used in recipes that also include an acidic ingredient, such as cream of tartar, buttermilk, or citrus juice. Conversely, baking powder is typically used when the recipe doesn't feature an acidic ingredient, as the powder already includes the acid needed to produce carbon dioxide.

What makes a cookie the best? ›

The best cookies have layers of texture. A slightly crisp outer shell that holds up to some heat with an inner core that's soft and chewy. Premium cookies taste great at room temperature, straight out of the fridge or slightly heated. Creating cookies in small batches is key.

What makes cookies chewy and not hard? ›

Different types of sugars affect the texture because they absorb different amounts of water. Remember moisture is the key! White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies.

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