Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Bars With Shortbread Food

WHITE CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA COOKIES

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.

MACADAMIA NUT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 2 large cookie sheets with vegetable shortening.
• Cream the butter and sugars together in a large bowl. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well blended. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually blend into the batter. Stir in the chopped macadamia nuts and chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.
• Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown. Remove from the oven, and transfer the cookies to cooling racks.

CHOCOLATE CHIP SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-inch-square baking pan with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides.
• Beat the butter, vanilla and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the confectioners' sugar and beat until just incorporated. Add the flour in 2 batches and beat until smooth. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips with a wooden spoon.
• Lightly dust your hands with flour and press the dough into the prepared pan. Score the top with a knife to make 9 strips, then score the strips in half to make 18 pieces. Bake until the edges are firm and the top is dry, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Immediately rescore the cookies, then let cool 20 minutes in the pan. Lift the foil to remove the shortbread from the pan and transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Cut the shortbread into pieces along thescored lines. Put the remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted. Drizzle over the shortbread and let stand until set, about 1 hour.

CHOCOLATE CHIP-MACADAMIA NUT BARS WITH SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• 1. Make Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend flour and sugar in processor. Add butter; process using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer mixture to 8-inch square glass baking dish. Press mixture onto bottom and 3/4 inch up sides of dish. Bake until crust is golden brown on edges, about 15 minutes.
• 2. Meanwhile, prepare the Filling: Whisk sugar, flour, eggs, butter and vanilla extract to blend in large bowl. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
• 3. Pour filling into warm crust, smoothing surface.
• 4. Bake until filling is golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 50 minutes.
• 5. Transfer dish to rack; cool completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.)
• 6. Cut into 16 squares.

WHITE CHOCOLATE-MACADAMIA-CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 F (325 F for dark or nonstick pan).
• Combine cake mix, oil, water and eggs with electric mixer on low speed until smooth.
• Spread into ungreased 13X9-inch pan.
• Bake 18-22 minutes until top is golden brown.
• Remove partially baked crust from oven.
• In 1-cup measuring cup, microwave caramel topping about 15 seconds or until warm and pourable, and drizzle over crust.
• Crumble cookies over crust.
• Bake 18-22 minutes longer or until golden brown.
• Cool completely and cut into bars.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP MACADAMIA NUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In medium bowl combine flour, soda and salt. Mix well, set aside.
• In a large bowl with a mixer blend sugars at medium speed. Add butter and mix to until it forms a grainy paste, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat at medium speed until fully combined.
• Add the flour mixture, macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips, and blend on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
• Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Move immediately to cooling rack.

WHITE CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA CRANBERRY DREAMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. Cream together white sugar, light brown sugar and butter (do not use shortening). Stir in slightly beaten eggs and vanilla.
• Add flour mixture until just mixed. Stir in vanilla chips, macadamia nuts and dried cranberries.
• Drop dough on an ungreased cookie sheet by small scoop or rounded teaspoon. Bake in preheated oven until cookies are just set, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Cookies will sink slightly.
• Variations: To make chocolate cookies, omit 1/2 cup flour and replace with 1/2 cup cocoa. To make refrigerator cookies: Roll dough into 2 rolls, wrap with plastic wrap and chill or freeze. (If you freeze the dough, thaw for at least 1/2 hour before cutting). Slice 1-inch slices; cut into 4 and place on baking sheet point up. For fancier cookies: Drizzle melted white chocolate on chocolate cookies and melted dark chocolate on the white cookie. Enjoy!

WHITE CHOCOLATE-MACADAMIA NUT BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. Heat butter and brown sugar in 3-quart saucepan over low heat about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted; remove from heat.
• Beat vanilla and eggs into sugar mixture with electric mixer on medium speed. Beat in flour and baking powder on low speed. Stir in half of the nuts and 1/4 cup of the baking chips. Pour into pan. Sprinkle with remaining nuts and 1/2 cup of the baking chips.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until top is golden brown and center is set. Cool about 30 minutes.
• Melt remaining 1/4 cup baking chips and the shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Pour into small resealable plastic food-storage bag; seal bag. Cut small opening in a corner of the bag. Squeeze bag to drizzle melted chips over bars. Cool until set. For 48 bars, cut into 8 rows by 6 rows.

CHOCOLATE CHIP-MACADAMIA NUT BARS WITH SHORTBREAD CRUST

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend flour and sugar in processor. Add butter; process using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer mixture to 8-inch square glass baking dish. Press mixture onto bottom and 3/4 inch up sides of dish. Bake until crust is golden brown on edges, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling:
• Whisk sugar, flour, eggs, butter and vanilla extract to blend in large bowl. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
• Pour filling into warm crust, smoothing surface. Bake until filling is golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 50 minutes. Transfer dish to rack; cool completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.) Cut int 16 squares.