White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies with Vanilla

Published: May 21, 2026
Sakura YamamotoSakura Yamamoto
Categories: Cookies, Dairy
Tags: Dessert, Baking, Cookies, Macadamia Nuts, White Chocolate

Macadamia Nut Cookies

Soft, chewy cookies packed with toasted macadamia nuts and sweet white chocolate chips.

Prep Time:15 minCook Time:12 minTotal Time:27 minServings:24Difficulty:Easy

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories:195 kcal
Protein:2 g
Carbs:22 g
Fat:11 g

There is something truly decadent about a well-made macadamia nut cookie. The buttery crunch of the nuts paired with a soft, chewy dough is a match made in heaven. I love making these for special occasions, but they are simple enough for a lazy Sunday afternoon treat that fills the whole house with the most incredible vanilla aroma.

The secret to these cookies is ensuring your macadamias are slightly salty to balance the sweetness of the white chocolate. When you bite into one, you get a beautiful contrast of textures that feels like a little luxury. They are best enjoyed slightly warm from the oven when the chocolate is still melty and the edges are perfectly crisp.

Ingredients

  • Unsalted butter, softened:1 cup
  • Light brown sugar, packed:¾ cup
  • Granulated white sugar:½ cup
  • Large egg:1 piece
  • Vanilla extract:1 tsp
  • All-purpose flour:2 cups
  • Baking soda:1 tsp
  • Salt:½ tsp
  • Macadamia nuts, roughly chopped:1 cup
  • White chocolate chips:1 cup

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

    Parchment-lined baking sheets ready for white chocolate macadamia cookies
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.

    Butter and sugars creamed until light and fluffy in a mixing bowl
  3. Add the egg and vanilla extract, then beat until fully incorporated and smooth.

    Egg and vanilla beaten into the smooth cookie dough base
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

    Flour baking soda and salt whisked together in a bowl
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.

    Dry ingredients added to wet cookie dough and mixed until just combined
  6. Gently fold in the chopped macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips with a spatula.

    Macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips folded into cookie dough
  7. Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough (about 2 tablespoons each) onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.

    Rounded scoops of white chocolate macadamia cookie dough spaced on a baking sheet
  8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden brown but the centers still look slightly soft.

    White chocolate macadamia cookies baked with golden edges and soft centers
  9. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Fresh cookies cooling on a baking sheet and wire rack

Tips & Notes

  • For the best flavor, use roasted and salted macadamia nuts to provide a nice savory contrast to the sweet white chocolate.
  • Ensure your butter is truly softened at room temperature, but not melted, to prevent the cookies from spreading too thin.
  • If you have time, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to create a thicker, chewier cookie.