Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies

These are the cookies that I made for the Bakesale for Japan fundraiser last month.  My friend MC and I had each donated 100 cookies each and I donated some Chi Chi Dango as well!  The bakesale was an awesome event to participate in and I'm so happy that I had the chance to contribute.  I believe the Los Angeles locations raised over $15,000 and nation wide somewhere around $125,000.  MC and I of course also picked up several of the great looking baked goods for ourselves and our boyfriends.  Plus didn't you know that baked goods that are bought for a good cause have No Calories? 

Done!  At 1am the night before the bakesale...

Anyways for the bakesale I had decided to make a cookie that my mom is well known for, Macadamia Nut Shortbread cookies.  I liked this recipe since it makes a lot of cookies, and since it was a refrigerator cookie dough, so I could bake them at my convenience. 

Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies 
from my mom

6 sticks butter (my mom sometimes does half margarine and half butter)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 T. vanilla
5 and 3/4 cups flour
1 and 1/2 cups chopped macadamia nuts

1.  In a bowl cream together butter and sugar.  *Be sure to use butter that is room temperature, or be sure to cream butter really well.  If not you may end up with a cookie that spreads too much or has holes in it!*
2.  Slowly mix in vanilla, flour and macadamia nuts, making sure nuts and flour are well mixed.

3.  Divide dough and form into 4-5 logs and wrap logs in wax paper or saran wrap.  Refrigerate for 2-3 hours (or overnight).  *Chilling for a shorter time will cause the cookies to spread out and not maintain its shape*

4.  Once ready, preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Slice off 1/4 inch thick slices.  *Your knife should cut easily through the dough and create solid discs.  If it does not refrigerate longer*
5.  Bake 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until edges are a light golden brown. 

These cookies are great.  I've played around with them and added in matcha powder, mini chocolate chips and even drizzled chocolate over the tops.  Ooh it probably would be awesome dipped halfway in caramel and then in chocolate.  Mmm pure decadence.

Macadamia Nut Lilikoi Ice Box Pie

Lilikoi, or passion fruit is one of the flavors that I closely associate with growing up in Hawaii.  It's the perfect tangy, sweet and fruity flavor.  The last time I was home I stocked up on locally made lilikoi butters and jellies so I could enjoy them up on the mainland.  I decided to make an old school Hawaii desert, a no bake ice box pie!  This desert comes together in a snap and may even convert the passion fruit hater into a passion fruit lover. 


Macadamia Nut Lilikoi Ice Box Pie
1 cup macadamia nuts, measured then chopped
1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese (I used low fat)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp sugar
3/4 cup butter
salt
1 cup powdered sugar
1 (14 oz) container of Cool Whip (or two 8oz containers)
1/2 cup - 3/4 cup lilikoi butter
1/2 cup lilikoi jelly

Crust
1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×13 pan.   In a bowl combine flour, butter, sugar, chopped macadamia nuts and a pinch of salt until crumbly.  *Make sure you crumble to small pieces or you will have holes in your crust as the butter melts!*
2.  Press mixture into pan and bake for 20 minutes. 

3.  Let cool.  Mix jelly in a bowl to make it spreadable.  Spread a thin layer of lilikoi jam over the crust. 

Filling
1.  In a bowl combine softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla.  Beat or mix until well combined. 
2.  Fold in 8 oz of Cool Whip into the mixture.  Spread the mixture over the cooled jam covered crust.  Cover with foil and place in the refrigerator to set.

Topping
1.  Spread a thin layer of Lilikoi butter of the cream cheese mixture.  *The lilikoi butter I bought was rich in taste and had a strong lilikoi taste so I didn't layer it on too thick, if yours is not as strong, feel free to make a thicker layer.*

2.  Cover the lilikoi butter with a layer of Cool Whip with chopped mac nuts.

Sorry I didn't take a picture of it sliced, but it comes together really nice.  I took this over to my friends house for a lunch gathering and we all ate several pieces!