Mmmm, don’t you just love dried cherries? I could eat the whole bag if you let me. So when Payson Fruit Growers contacted to to try their product, I said yes. I secretly want to do a taste test with my favorite brand, Archer Farms from Target.
Payson Fruit Growers sent me a bag of dried tart cherries and Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate. I have not used the Cherry Juice concentrate yet, but I hear it is great with ice cream.
The cherries were wonderful. Moist, perfectly tart and not the least bit bitter, just the way I like them.
I knew I had to use them in my White Chocolate Cherry Macadamia Nut Cookies. When I worked at the bakery, I bought this recipe along with me to test with the patrons. It was one of the most poplar cookies sold! I was hesitant, but I did leave the recipe at the bakery so she could continue to sell them when I left.
| White Chocolate Cherry Cookies with Macadamia Nuts |
- 8 oz (2 sticks) butter, softened but still cold
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups flour
- 3/4 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup dried tart cherries, chopped
- 1 bag white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup macadamia nuts, toasted and chopped
- To Toast The Nuts
- Preheat the oven to 350. Place the nuts onto a baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes or until they start to turn golden and you can start to smell them
- In a medium bowl, cream together butter and both sugars just until incorporated.
- Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until just incorporated.
- In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar and again mix until just incorporated.
- Stir in the cherries,chocolate chips and macadamia nuts.
- Portion out the cookies into 2 oz portions (about the size of a large cookie scoop). Place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Cover and place in the fridge for several hours. I always leave mine overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 375.
- Place the chilled cookie dough balls onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet before removing.
These cookies are best when they are slightly undercooked in the middle. They will set up once cooled and this will allow for a chewy cookie.
these look awesome! i love white chocolate + cherries.
Oh, man. Those could get me into trouble–the kind of trouble that lingers on my hips and bum.
Mmmmm white chocolate and cherries are a perfect pair! YUM
wonderful I agree, love these chunky delights.
Loved your cookies..will give ’em a try 🙂
Wow these look great! I’d love to try making these with dark chocolate chunks too!
These might be a favorite cookie and I haven’t even tried them! I love cherries. Cross my heart 🙂 When did you work in bakery?
Thanks Dana. I worked at the bakery a few months ago. I worked there for about 4-5 months.
I didn’t learn as much as I would have hoped. 🙁 But it was fun.
Oh wow you read my mind. I never buy white chocolate but on a whim just did this week. Great looking coopies and recipe!
These would go over quite well in our home since Grumpy is a huge white chocolate fan! Sound mouthwatering!
White chocolate and cherries is always a winning combo 🙂
These sound so good! A fun combination 🙂
Love those flavors in a cookie! I’m going to have to try those soon… my oldest would absolutely adore them!
What a great combo of flavors. Must give these a try. Thanks.
Oh yes, I do love dried cherries. However, I’m not overly fond of white chocolate. Think I may try these cookies using dark chocolate. I know you won’t mind! 🙂
These look awesome!! Loving the white chocolate/cherry combo.
Great recipe. White chocolate and cherries is a winner. Have a nice weekend.
I can see why these were so popular – they look fabulous, I’m a big dried cherry fan!
Yum!! These cookies look delicious Leslie!
what a clear photo.
i wish i had money for a new camera.
makes all the difference doesn’t it?
these look good honeybunch!
These look so delicious…I am such a fan of dried cherries in cookies.
I will take a dozen!
Great cookie combination! I bet these are so tasty. I wanted to let you know about my cookbook giveaway that is going on right now until July 16th. Stop on by to enter! Hope you are having a great week 🙂
http://steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-first-giveaway.html
Popped over to check your blog out after reading your guest post. Glad I found you. Great stuff on here.
oh. these looks yummy. white chocolate and dried sour cherries are always a magical combination.
i love dried cherries–no pits! plus, they go together with white chocolate extremely well. nice work!
I bet these are delicious!! I love Archer Farms stuff, well, because I am a Target junkie, so any reason to have to go there and buy ingredients…I am IN!
this is one of my most favorite combinations ever! there used to be a little cookie cafe at Union Station in DC that sold these. LOVED them.
Oh damn you Leslie, these look amazing and now I want cookies! =( hahaha
Hi Leslie
What size bag of white chocolate are you referring to, is it the 12oz bags, I’ve seen some in a smaller size too.
Also, I do not like macadamia nuts, is there any other kind of nuts I could use. Who won the dried cherries taste test?
Jackie,
Thanks for your comment/question. I used a 11 oz bag of white chocolate chips. If you dont like macadamia nuts, you can substitute hazelnuts or even pecans. I am sure both would be delicious! Both cherry brands were delicious. I would say Paysons Fruit growers came out a bit ahead. They were a bit more moist.