Orange and Macadamia nut cookies!

Nov 20, 2011
icemaiden013

Baking…again…yes, I need to wash my aprons!

Tonight’s creation was a quick Thank-you batch of cookies for the lady who gave us the Rain tickets for Friday night.  I’d stumbled upon this recipe a while back and it’s been taunting me from my recipe folder ever since!

I made a half-batch, I think 72 cookies may have been just a few too many to have sitting around the house!

Orange and Macadamia nut cookies – recipe and picture courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 2 cups butter
  • 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts or toasted walnuts
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon finely shredded orange peel
  • 4 – 6 tablespoons orange juice
  • Granulated sugar
  • Finely shredded orange peel (optional)

Note: I added a teaspoon(ish) or cinnamon, I figured that it’s Autumn and cinnamon epitomises everything Autumnal for me, and it’d add a depth of flavour.  It worked out nicely!

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, powdered sugar, and cornstarch. Using a pastry blender (I had never heard of a pastry blender, so I just used my hand mixer), cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Stir in nuts.  Combine egg yolks, 1 tablespoon orange peel, and 4 tablespoons of the orange juice; add to flour mixture, stirring until moistened. If necessary, add remaining orange juice to moisten.

Note: I found this cookie dough to be too sticky, that meant I couldn’t use cookie cutters or a cookie press to make them, and, as such, very awkward to shape.

2. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough until it forms a ball. Shape dough into 1-1/4-inch balls. Arrange balls on an ungreased cookie sheet; flatten to 1/4-inch thickness by pressing with the bottom of a glass, dipping glass into granulated sugar for each round.

3. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Transfer cookies to wire racks; cool completely. Frost with Orange Frosting. Garnish with additional finely shredded orange peel, if desired. Makes about 72 cookies.

Note: With my half-mix, I ended up making thinner cookies than I’d have liked, I probably got about 45 cookies from them.  They were a little browner around the edges than I’d have liked.

Do NOT expect these balls to ‘melt’ in to cookie-shape, if you put the balls in the oven, they will stay ball-shaped!

I didn’t make any frosting (below), but it looks pretty simple and I imagine it’d be delicious!

Orange Frosting

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons softened butter
  • 1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel
  • 2 – 3 tablespoons orange juice

Directions

In a bowl stir together sifted powdered sugar, softened butter, finely shredded orange peel, and enough orange juice to make an icing of spreading consistency.

This recipe was a quick, easy and delicious – not too sweet, not under-sweetened, Col and I both thought they were yummy (he’s just told me he’s going to test the dunk-factor later).  If I were to make them again in the future (which, I think I will!) I’d definitely make larger balls of dough and thicker cookies, but otherwise they were great!

15 thoughts on “Orange and Macadamia nut cookies!”

  1. What’s a cup in proper money? I can’t deal with cups, but I can deal with grams or with pounds and ounces (and I can convert between metric and imperial, but I can’t convert cups).

    1. 1 cup is 8oz I think, but I’ve just bought measures that are 1cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup – I swear, if the world worked in cups it’d be so much easier for everyone!!

    3. I’m not saying it’s easier to work with in a certain country, I’m saying all countries should use this method cause it’s fundamentally easier, you stick the measure in the tub, level it off and you’re done, no faffing with scales or grams!

      1. But they simply don’t sell measuring cups like those here in the UK is my point. It’s not about the ease of use, it’s about actually implementing the system in the first place.

        And I like faffing with scales, it’s part of the appeal of baking for me!! But then I am a freak, after all. 😀

      1. Well, you’re certainly helping in the over-complication – all you have to do is tell me what one cup is in “proper money” and then it would be easy to convert (once I track down some cups). Although… As I gave away all my cake tins, I can’t actually bake anything at mine anymore anyway!! So this conversation is merely an exercise in gently winding each other up!! 😉

      1. Ooh, that link is helpful, thank you!

        I do like where it says “Also, remember that in the more logical English system of measurement, a fluid ounce and a dry ounce mean two different things.”

        Can’t tell if it’s being sarcastic or not though!!

        As I don’t have any pots or pans, a set of cups is a bit pointless, although I suppose I’d be able to use them at Whitby when I get there.

    6. haha yeh perhaps more logical, but also more time consuming and work! I think you should have a set, just to have a set! lol

  2. You can get cups in England 🙂 I have a set. A UK cup is different to a US cup, just make things even more complicated! Generally though, I’ve found stuff still works if you just treat them the same. Mine were a xmas present and came from Next, but most places will sell you cup measures. My mum has a set that just look like big spoon measures. I learnt in lbs and oz, then moved onto grams and am now completely converted to cups! I still use grams if the recipe shows that, but I much prefer using cups.

    You can’t convert cups directly to lbs or grams or whatever though. A cup of butter will weigh more than a cup of sugar, say (or the other way round, I don’t know which is actually heavier off the top of my head… but you get what I mean) because you’re measuring by volume and not weight. A cup of feathers would weigh less than a cup of nails 🙂

    1. yeah I know, that’s what the link says that I sent to Louisa, it depends on the volume of content being measured! I swear though, it’s soooooooooooo much easier using cups isn’t it? It’s just quicker!

      Are you doing thanksgiving today?

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