White Chocolate Macadamia Cranberry Dreams

I know, I know, who can afford macadamia nuts?  But this cookie… I happened to get a pound of beautiful fresh macadamias as a gift and I used a cup of them to whip up this recipe that’s been bothering me since I discovered it.  As usual, I tweaked the original recipe just a tad, adding the orange zest and chopping the white chips.  Next time, I will add just ½ teaspoon of almond extract along with the vanilla.  One of the best so far.

Yield:   55 cookies

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ¾ cup white sugar

• 1 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 2 eggs, slightly beaten

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• ½ teaspoon orange zest

• ¾ cup vanilla baking chips or white chocolate chips, chopped

• 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts

• 1 cup dried cranberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. Cream together white sugar, light brown sugar and butter. Stir in slightly beaten eggs, vanilla and zest.

3. Add flour mixture until just combined. Stir in vanilla/white chocolate chips, macadamia nuts and dried cranberries.

4. Drop well-rounded tablespoonfuls of chunky dough 2” apart on parchmented cookie sheets.  Bake in preheated oven until cookies are just set, about 10 to 11 minutes. Remove to cooling racks.