MACADAMIA NUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Beat 1 cup softened butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 3/4 cup powdered sugar, beating until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract and almond extract until blended.
• Stir together 2 cups flour, 1/4 tsp. baking powder, and 1/8 tsp. salt.
• Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended.
• Shape shortbread dough into 2 (7-inch) logs. Wrap each log in wax paper, and chill 4 hours, or freeze logs in zip-top plastic freezer bags up to 1 month.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• If frozen, let logs stand at room temperature 10 minutes. Cut each log into 24 slices. Place shortbread slices 1 inch apart on lightly greased or parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
• Bake shortbread slices at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges of slices are golden.
• Remove shortbread from baking sheets, and place on wire racks; let cool completely (about 20 minutes). Store in airtight containers.
• Easy Variations:
• Cranberry-Orange Shortbread Cookies: Stir in 1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries and 1 Tbsp. orange zest with extracts in Step
• Pecan Shortbread Cookies: Omit almond extract. Stir in 1 cup finely chopped toasted pecans with vanilla in Step
• Toffee-Espresso Shortbread Cookies: Omit almond extract. Stir in 1/2 cup almond toffee bits and 1 Tbsp. espresso powder with vanilla in Step
• Coconut-Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies: Omit almond extract. Stir in 1 cup toasted coconut, 1/2 cup finely chopped macadamia nuts, and 1/4 tsp. coconut extract with vanilla in Step

Steps:

• For the cookies: Melt 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) of the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook, swirling the skillet, until the butter is golden brown. Set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the brown sugar, granulated sugar and remaining 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter. Drizzle in the cooled brown butter. Mix in the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla extract.
• In a separate small bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add half of the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and mix until incorporated. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix well. Add the nuts and white chocolate and mix until incorporated. Drop large scoops of dough onto the prepared baking sheets using a 2 1/4-inch ice cream scoop.
• For the topping: Top the cookies with a few chocolate chunks and chopped nuts. Bake until the edges start to brown, about 14 minutes. Sprinkle the tops with a small amount of sea salt. Let cool on the baking sheets.