Cranberry and Macadamia Nut Shortbread Bars

What could be better then a crispy shortbread cookie paired with white chocolate? Not much. But, I added some macadamia nuts and fresh cranberries to see if I could changes things up. It turned out totally delicious!

I know a few people that are die hard white chocolate macadamia nut cookie fans...

Ingredients For Chocolate Chip Cookies

When I worked at Blondie's, the white chocolate mac nut had a dedicated customer base. The people that came for them rarely bought anything else.

They are a classic cookie, what's not to love??

But, when my boyfriend asked me to make some for him...I just didn't feel like making the same old white chocolate chip cookie with mac nuts.

I wanted brighten up the cookie with out losing some of the classic elements, like white chocolate and delicious cookie dough. I thought of one of my favorite coffee shop treats, the cranberry bliss bar from Starbuck's.

But, their bar seems more cake like, and not so much cookie. They also use dried cranberries, and a lemony frosting with white chocolate chips in the dough.

Which is awesome, but still not exactly what I had in mind.

I decided to go with this recipe. It's still decadent and sweet like a regular white chocolate chip cookie, but a little tart and not so chewy.

The bars consists of a classic shortbread cookie with chopped macadamia nuts mixed in, sliced fresh cranberries on top, and a layer of melted white chocolate to pull it all together.
Cranberry and Macadamia Nut Shortbread Bars

Note: I used the same recipe from the dulce de leche shortbread cookies.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 sticks cold organic butter cut into small pieces 2 cups organic flour 1/2 cup organic sugar 1 TSP vanilla a pinch of salt, I added a little more then normal due to the large amount of white chocolate 1 12 oz. bag of white chocolate chips about 1/2 cup organic fresh cranberries, sliced thin about 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts - feel free to add as much or as little as you like

To Make the Shortbread:

Using your fingers, combine the butter, flour, sugar, vanilla and salt until the mixture becomes a uniform dough. If it seems a little dry - add in a TSP of cold water until it is the correct consistency Mix in about 2/3 - 3/4 of the chopped macadamia nuts Press dough into a greased or lined 8x8 or 9x9 pan, make sure it is one even layer Bake at 350º F for about 15 minutes, or until the top is just starting to turn golden

Once the macadamia nut shortbread has cooled, decorate the top with the cranberry slices.

Melt the chocolate chips over a double boiler until smooth and pourable.

Pour the white chocolate over the cranberries and cookie until it is evenly coated. If you want to add a little decoration on top of the white chocolate, sprinkle with more cranberry slices and chopped macadamia nuts.

Allow the white chocolate to completely harden before cutting the bars.
Things I would be more careful about next time...
I wasn't paying enough attention to what I was doing, and messed a few things up.

Like the macadamia nuts...

I just sort of threw them in. I didn't even think to chop them. The pieces were way to big for the thickness of the bar.

So learn from me, chop your man nuts into small pieces! It really makes a difference in the consistency and texture of your shortbread cookie.

And now, the cranberries...

I wanted to make the slices very very thin so that it would end up being almost a tart like layer, but it would be with cranberries. I ended up just roughly chopping my cranberries. I had no idea how to go about getting the super thin slices without hurting myself.

I think if you have the tools necessary to get the super thin slices the bars would be even more fabulous! Otherwise, I recommend chopping them up and either adding them into the dough, or spreading over the top of the cookie.

Cranberry and Macadamia Nut Shortbread Bars

Check out more cookie recipes here!