Lilikoi Cheesecake – Day One – Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies
While on vacation in Hawaii, I did some baking for my family. I decided to make some Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies, Lilikoi (Passion Fruit) Curd, and a Cheesecake for everyone. Let me just tell you how amazing this was!
The Shortbread Cookies were inspired from a local cookie shop – Big Island Candies. We drive over to Hilo and get a few boxes of these to bring back for ourselves and for gifts. They have a lot of yummy cookies and candies and it’s so hard to make up my mind while I’m there.
I decided to make these to be a cookie crust for my cheesecake. It’s a good thing that there were more than enough for the crust and for dipping.
While on the Big Island, I’ve gone to the beach, the pool, the forest, the desert, and the Jacuzzi. It’s a tough life, but hey – it’s my life. I am blessed to have parents who live here and siblings who fly over from Oahu to spend time with us. There was a total of 11 of us in the house and we all fit comfortably. At least the adults did; the kids slept on a few futons on the floor. They seemed very comfortable.
I will be here a few more days and I am excited to go on our boat ride with snorkeling. It looks amazing. Watch for photos on my Instagram feed with #psbonvacay.
Macadamia Shortbread Cookies
Easy and Delicious Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies - from Hawaii with Aloha!
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped
- 8 oz. dark chocolate
- 1/4 cup macadamia nuts, finely chopped
Instructions
- Beat the butter until smooth and add in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Gradually add flour then mix in the 1 cup of chopped macadamia nuts.
- Transfer the batter to a sheet of parchment paper. Lay a second sheet over top and roll to ¼ inch thickness. Try to shape into a rectangle as much as possible. Place it onto a cookie sheet and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 300°F and remove dough from refrigerator.
- Slice the cookie batter into 1x2 inch rectangles. Transfer to a cookie sheet lined with parchment and bake for 20 minutes. The edges should be slightly browned but the middle may still be soft.
- Cool the cookies completely.
- If you are making a crust, set aside at least ⅔ of the finished cookies. Set aside some of the "prettier" cookies for dipping.
- Melt your chocolate and dip the cookies or spoon the chocolate over the cookie. Gently remove any excess chocolate, lay it out on a sheet of parchment and sprinkle some finely chopped mac nuts on.
- Place into the fridge to set the chocolate and then serve.

Carol says
July 28, 2014 at 5:00 pmI got to taste-test these!! Sooooo good!!
Megan @ Our Pinteresting Family says
August 12, 2014 at 7:59 amThese look so pretty and delicious!
Karyn Granrud says
August 13, 2014 at 3:26 pmThanks 🙂
lovecraftingpaper says
August 13, 2014 at 5:33 amWow, these must me great! I love both macadamia and cheesecake! Thank you for sharing your cookie’s recipe! I found you through Emily’s Linky Party.
Mariangela
Karyn Granrud says
August 13, 2014 at 3:25 pmThey are an easy and delicious cookie to enjoy!
Jessica @ Sweet Menu says
August 15, 2014 at 2:25 amOh these look wonderful! I really love shortbread and this is a neat twist on the old classic!
Jodee says
August 15, 2014 at 10:58 pmThese cookies look absolutely beyond delicious! I love them…thanks for sharing!
Karyn Granrud says
August 23, 2014 at 8:49 pmThanks so much for stopping by!
Erin (@EMakingMemories) says
August 18, 2014 at 11:11 pmOh yum! Macadamia nuts are my favorite and so is shortbread. Combined? Yes, please!!!
http://makingmemorieswithyourkids.com
Karyn Granrud says
August 23, 2014 at 8:48 pmThey were really yummy! I hope you make them soon!
Bonnie @ The Pin Junkie says
August 22, 2014 at 12:16 amThanks for sharing this delicious recipe at The Pin Junkie! It was featured at this week’s party at http://www.thepinjunkie.com/2014/08/pin-junkie-pin-party-81.html
Karyn Granrud says
August 23, 2014 at 8:48 pmThanks so much Bonnie!!
Carmyn says
August 31, 2014 at 8:55 pmThese look so delicious, do you know roughly how many cookies this recipe made? I’m not planning on making the cookies into a crust, just dipping them all in chocolate and nuts!
Karyn Granrud says
September 3, 2014 at 12:37 amI think I got about 18 – 24 from the batch. It depends on how big you slice them and how thin you roll them. I had enough to crumble for my crust and dip for snacking on.
Jennifer Stewart says
October 31, 2014 at 5:31 pmShortbread is one of my favorite cookies and I am anxious to try this one with macadamia nuts so my oldest child will eat them. Macadamia nuts are his favorite!!! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Karyn Granrud says
November 6, 2014 at 10:40 pmThey were yummy! You can leave the nuts as chunky as you like. Enjoy!
Amber says
December 15, 2014 at 4:58 pmWhenever I visit my family in Hilo I always have to visit Big Island Candy for the macnut shortbread cookies. I can’t wait to make these!
Karyn Granrud says
December 17, 2014 at 11:32 amMe too! My family is in Kona and we make a drive over to Hilo for Big Island Candy and Two Sisters Mochi! Yum!!
Jayrah Belin says
December 18, 2018 at 2:21 pmKaryn I’m from Hilo & you know where the goodies are at! Those are my two pregnancy cravings besides poi.
Karyn Granrud says
January 10, 2019 at 11:48 amThe Big Island cookies are way better than the Honolulu Cookies. Wishing I could get back to the Big Island soon!
Donna Crow says
January 3, 2018 at 4:52 pmI made these and ground the nuts to a fine moist powder. I also substituted 1/3 cup of non gmo cornstarch for 1/3 cup of the flour. Dipped them in melted 60% organic chocolate buttons from local hippie store. Wowzer, they were good! Thanks for a great recipe.
Karyn Granrud says
January 5, 2018 at 1:21 pmSounds like some yummy substitutions. Does the cornstarch change the consistency of the cookie? Like make it fluffier when baking?
Debi Balter says
November 13, 2018 at 10:46 amwhat does the recipe mean when it says and back for 20 minutes?
Karyn Granrud says
November 14, 2018 at 10:09 amSorry, that should be BAKE. Bake the cookies for 20 minutes. It’s been corrected int he recipe box.
Brenda says
December 15, 2018 at 9:14 pmThese cookies are amazing. I love the macadamia nut cookies in Hawaii from Big Island Candies and the Honolulu Cookie company. I have a taste of Hawaii at home. These are a new family favorite.
Karyn Granrud says
December 16, 2018 at 1:13 pmThey sure are delicious. Personally, I prefer the Bog Island Cookies to the Honolulu Cookies. You can also add in some toffee bits to make their toffee ones 🙂