Let the cookie baking begin!!! Last weekend, we baked up about 8 dozen cookies to give away to friends, neighbors and clients. It was the most warm, festive, sugar-high, Christmas-spirited day. For a few weeks, we perused all my December food magazines and searched cookbooks marking possible recipes. Then, we made a long list and my husband and I took turns picking favorites until we had 5 different recipes. Unfortunately, a number of them were thwarted by the total sell-out in the baked goods aisle at the store. I have never seen anything like it in an American grocery store. The shelves were nearly bare!

But, I love a good excuse to change directions and be spontaneous. Still lurking and waiting to be bought were a number of bottles of large, salted macadamia nuts. Although I love white chocolate, macadamia nut cookies, I have never made them myself. I searched online and found this recipe that was rated highly by all who tried it.

Honestly, this was the best cookie dough/beater licking ever. I knew from the fragrant, salty-sweet batter that we were in for a treat. The fresh baked cookies were sublime. They are so good that just moments ago, I opened up a gift box of cookies intended for my office neighbor and snitched one out for myself!

White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies
Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoons baking soda
10 ounces white chocolate (chips or bars cut in chunks)
1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped into chunks

Directions:

 

Heat oven to 375 F. In large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt with electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, beat well. Stir together flour, and the baking soda; gradually add to butter mixture,beating until well blended. Stir in white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. (Edges are golden brown and center is set.) Cool slightly, remove from cookie sheet to wire rack to cool completely.