White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

 

  As I've mentioned previously, I'm not that big a fan of sweets.  Oh sure, I'll make exceptions (Cadbury Cream Eggs, Peeps, Starbursts), but for the most part, I'm a salty-savory type of gal.  I will make exceptions for these cookies.

The recipe that I just tried out is proving to be one of my favorites - you can't substitute margarine for butter here - it just won't work.  Browning the butter instead of just softening it gives the cookies a totally different taste, which makes using real butter totally worth it to me.  

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

    From Joy the Baker 

0.5 c. (1 stick) butter

1 c. packed brown sugar

2 tbs. milk

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1.75 c. AP Flour

0.5 tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. salt

0.5 c. coarsely chopped macadamia nuts

1 - 1.25 c. white chocolate chips or chunks 

• Preheat oven to 350 F.  In a medium saucepan, melt the butter, stirring constantly until the solids separate out and start turning brown.  This can take a while, up to 10 minutes based on your pan. Once browned, set the butter aside to cool, and assemble dry ingredients (flour through salt) in a bowl.
• Using a mixer, mix browned butter and brown sugar.  Beat for about 2 minutes, then add in egg and beat for 2 minutes more.  Add milk and vanilla and mix to incorporate.  
• Scrape down the side of the bowl and add dry ingredients all at once, until just mixed.  Folkd in nuts and chocolate. 
• Drop by rounded teaspon onto baking sheets.  Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until cookies are done to your liking.  Let rest on the baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack.