White Chocolate-Macadamia Drop Cookies

White Chocolate-Macadamia Drop Cookies
4 from 4 ratings
This recipe updates the standard white chocolate macadamia cookies that have been all the rage. These cookies are fairly large, chewy, and nutty-crisp. The recipe first calls for browning the butter in a saucepan and then toasting the nuts in the bubbling-hot fat for an extra-rich effect. 
Servings
25
servings
Ingredients
  • 2 sticks butter, cut into chunks
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped salted macadamia nuts
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoon light or dark corn syrup
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 2/3 cup unbleached all-purpose white flour
  • 1 1/2 cup good-quality white chocolate morsels, or chopped white chocolate
Directions
  1. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with baking parchment.
  2. In a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat, bring the butter to a boil. Adjust the heat so it bubbles gently. Stirring the bottom frequently, gently boil for 3 minutes. Stir in the macadamias; the mixture will foam up. Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds to 1 minute longer or just until the butter turns fragrant and the nuts just start to brown; check frequently and immediately remove the pan from the heat when the butter or nuts start to darken.
  3. Stop the cooking by turning the mixture out into a large heatproof bowl. Let cool until just warm to the touch, about 10 minutes, then stir in the sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly combined. Vigorously stir in the egg. Stir in the flour, then the white chocolate morsels or chunks until evenly incorporated. If the dough seems too stiff to drop, stir in a teaspoon or 2 of water; if too wet, let stand to cool for a few minutes longer.
  4. Using heaping soupsoons, drop the dough into 2-inch-diameter mounds, spacing 2 ¾ inches apart. Bake 1 pan at a time for 11-15 minutes or until the cookies are just light golden all over, slightly darker around the edges, and almost firm when pressed in the middle. Let the cookies stand to firm slightly, about 2 minutes. Using a wide spatula, transfer them to wire racks and cool completely.