Ghirardelli White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe

White chocolate macadamia nut cookies are such an easy recipe to make, and they turn out chewy, buttery, and delicious every time.

The recipe turns out gourmet cookies that are the perfect treat for any party or gathering, and they might just be our favorite cookies.

The Best Cookies

The classic cookies might just be my favorite cookie now because they really do taste like a gourmet white chocolate chip cookie and I love them right out of the oven. Warm and perfect. 

My mom loved white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and would never pass one up. As a teen, I didn’t want to get anywhere near a nut, so I passed most of the time.

Now, I love the sweet and salty taste combination and wouldn’t pass these up for anything. 

The cookies have buttery and chewy centers with crisp edges and tops that are out of this world.

I shared the cookies with some friends the other night and they thought they tasted better than store-bought cookies. 

I like thick cookies and these turned out nice and thick and they cooked up perfectly. You can see in the picture that the top cracked a little to reveal the soft centers, which stayed soft for a couple of days. 

What do I need to make the chewy white chocolate macadamia nut cookies?

Dry Ingredients

• Ghirardelli white chocolate chips
• Macadamia nuts
• White granulated sugar
• Brown sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Salt

Wet Ingredients

• Softened butter
• Vanilla extract
• Eggs

Full printable recipe with measurements and instructions listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Ok, let’s get to the recipe. I have some tips down below that you can read about after checking out the steps to these cookies. 

How do I make white chocolate macadamia nut cookies?

1. Add the butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and eggs to a large mixing bowl and mix everything together with an electric mixer.
2. Next, add the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder and mix until the dough is well blended.
3. Finally, add the white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts and mix into the dough. 
4. Scoop onto a cookie sheet and bake for 10-13 minutes or until golden brown on the top and edges. 

Step-By-Step Instructions

Start by adding the softened butter to the bowl.

Next, add the sugar to the bowl. 

After you add the granulated sugar, you will add the brown sugar.

This will give the cookies a bit of a deeper flavor. The molasses in the brown sugar gives them some depth. 

Then you’re going to add the vanilla extract. I love adding vanilla to cookies because it adds so much flavor in my opinion. 

Mix everything together with the hand mixer on medium speed.

If you have a Kitchenaid stand mixer, you can use that, too. Either one will work well. 

The all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda come next. Add those to the bowl and mix everything together again. 

Once you’ve mixed the dough, add the white chocolate chips. 

Ghirardelli makes premium white chocolate chips that are so rich and decadent and taste wonderful in this cookie.

And then add the crunchy macadamia nuts to the bowl. Give everything one more stir. It’s ok to use the hand mixer here.

The mixer won’t break up the nuts or chocolate, and if it does, it’s only a little bit. 

Finally, scoop the cookies out onto a cookie baking sheet. I like to use my stoneware pan because it seems to bake more evenly.

I used large scoops for this recipe with my large scooper and I spaced them out about two inches apart. Don’t be afraid to make a big cookie with these as they will spread and stay thick.

Baking the white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies

Bake them for about 10-13 minutes. The bake time will depend on your oven, as well as the type of cookie sheet that you use.

My stoneware pan will bake the cookies a little longer after I take them out of the oven because it holds in the heat. If you have a metal pan, the cookies might bake faster. 

I let the cookies sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes because if you try to take them off right away they will fall apart.

Leaving them on the cookie sheet will allow them to set up. I then move them over to a cookie rack to cool. 

Favorite Cookie Recipes

• Classic chocolate chip cookies over at Julia’s Simply Southern
• M&M cookies – these cookies are the perfect cookie with lots of color and flavor.
• Texas cowboy cookies – these are such flavorful cookies with pecans, raisins, coconut, chocolate chips, and more.
• Brownie mix cookies – the recipe is a fun one, and only calls for a few ingredients. They are a great addition to any party.
• Easy white chocolate chip cookies – white chocolate tastes good anytime, especially nestled in these cookies.
• Easy Snickerdoodle cookie recipe without cream of tartar is a classic, one of our favorites, and easy to make. They are always a special treat.

Tips for making white chocolate macadamia nut cookies:

• Use softened butter (but still a tad cool) as it will cream better with the other ingredients. If you didn’t set the butter out to soften, you can place it in the microwave for a few seconds at a very low setting until it becomes softer. But don’t walk away as the butter melts very fast. 
• Find the best white chocolate chips that you can. For this recipe I used Ghirardelli. 
• Don’t allow the cookies to bake too long. They should still be chewy in the center. 

What nut is closest to macadamia?

The Brazil nut is close to a macadamia nut if you need to substitute them in this recipe. 

What do macadamia nuts taste like?

Macadamia nuts have a bit of a buttery flavor to them. They are a rich nut. 

How do I store the cookies?

I keep the cookies in an airtight container, such as a Tupperware container or a sealed container. You can use Ziploc bags, as well. 

Can I freeze the cookie dough?

Yes, you can freeze the cookie dough for up to three months. Scoop the dough into balls and place them on a cookie sheet in the freezer. Once they are frozen, place them into a freezer-safe airtight bag.

When you’re ready to bake the cookies, place the frozen cookie dough on a cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper, and bake for 15-17 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown.

Delicious White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Check out the recipe card below, grab those ingredients, and start baking! There is so much flavor in this super easy recipe.

After the cookies bake, you can pour a glass of milk and enjoy your treat.

Then, share your comments below and share a picture of your cookies on the Pinterest Pin!  If you made any changes or added something different, be sure to share it with us so we can try it, too!