Cranberry and Macadamia Nut Shortbread Bars

What may be better than the crispy shortbread cookie associated with candy? Not much. But, I added some macadamia nuts and fresh cranberries to ascertain if I could changes things up. It ended up totally delicious!

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

When I worked at Blondie's, the sweet mac nut had a dedicated client base. The people that came for the kids rarely bought everything else.

They really are a classic cookie, what's never to love??

But, when my boyfriend asked me to generate some for him...I just didn't think that making the same old candy chip cookie with mac nuts.

I wanted perk up the cookie without having losing many of the classic elements, like white chocolate and delicious cookie dough. I thought of 1 of my favorite restaurant 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, as well as a lemony frosting with sweet chips within the dough.

Which is awesome, but nevertheless accomplishment what I been on mind.

I decided to go using this recipe. It's still decadent and sweet just like a regular white chocolate chip cookie, but a little tart rather than so chewy.

The bars is made up of classic shortbread cookie with chopped macadamia nuts included, sliced fresh cranberries at the top, as well as a layer of melted sweet to tug it all together.

Cranberry and Macadamia Nut Shortbread Bars

Note: I used a similar recipe through 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 as a result of large amount of sweet 1 12 oz. bag of sweet chips about 1/2 cup organic fresh cranberries, sliced thin about 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts - feel free to add all the or less than you prefer

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 in the chopped macadamia nuts Press dough in a greased or lined 8x8 or 9x9 pan, make sure it is one even layer Bake at 350A? F for approximately quarter-hour, or before the top is merely beginning turn golden

Once the macadamia nut shortbread has cooled, decorate the most notable with all the cranberry slices.

Melt the chocolate chips on the double boiler until smooth and pourable.

Pour the candy in the cranberries and cookie until it's evenly coated. If you want to add somewhat decoration ahead from the sweet, sprinkle with increased cranberry slices and chopped macadamia nuts.

Allow the sweet to fully harden before cutting the bars.

Things I would be careful about the very next time...

I wasn't paying enough attention to what I was doing, and messed some things up.

Like the macadamia nuts...

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

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

And now, the cranberries...

I wanted to produce the slices super thin so it would always be almost a tart like layer, however it can be with cranberries. I wound up just roughly chopping my cranberries. I had no idea how to go about obtaining the super thin slices without hurting myself.

I think if you possess tools essential to obtain the super thin slices the bar cookie would be even more fabulous! Otherwise, I recommend chopping them up and either adding them to the dough, or spreading over the most notable with the cookie.