Christmas 2013 Series–Yin Yang Chocolate Macadamia Cookies

UPDATED POST ON 21-10-2014

No doubt this is one of my favourite cookies.. I seldom prepared as it is quite high calorific and if not because friend have requested to show her helper how to prepare this, I do not I will prepare now…I have made some adjustments to the recipe today based on what I have at home….I have substitute almond nibs with macadamia nuts and instead of prepared in the Ying Yang pattern, I opt to prepare all as chocolate flavoured so as not to confuse her… Ha-ha.

INTRODUCTION

Christmas 2013 is approaching, time to get ready your cookies for friends and relatives. I will not be going back to my hometown for Christmas this year and I have relatives now staying with me in Singapore whom are going back to hometown soon. I am now busy preparing Christmas fruitcakes, chocolates, cookies etc.. for them to bring back as hand gifts.

It may be slightly early for others but not too early. You can save the recipe (advise is to use “PINTEREST”, an easier way to keep and categorize your bakes, recipes wanted to try or special board such as Christmas To Do), test the recipe and decide if you want to make for your friends or relatives. This will definitely save you a lot of money and headaches to find suitable gift items. It will definitely be a presentable gift to the recipient and they will be delighted to receive these well thought homemade gifts. This Christmas 2013 and Thanksgiving 2013 series is to give you ideas of homemaking your own gifts or delicacies during these two important festivals.

My neighbour gave me one bottle of macadamia nuts and I did not have a chance to finish it. I still have a quite a lot left and immediately come across my mind is to prepare some macadamia nut biscuits. I have chosen a simple recipe and the cookie is definitely well beyond my expectations. Nice texture, not overly sweet with mouthful of macadamia nuts and caramelized chocolate chips. Preparation can be really simple if you do not want to create the Yin Yang effect.

WHAT IS REQUIRED

Recipe adapted from : Chocolate Macadamia Biscuits

Servings: 3 baking trays of biscuits (about 40-50 medium sized biscuits)

250 grams butter (soften at room temperature)
227 grams (1 cup) of soft brown sugar – Can reduce by 10 % sugar if desired
227 grams (1 cup) of white castor sugar – Can reduce by 10% if desired
312 grams (2.5 cups) of self raising flour
2 eggs
3 tablespoons of cocoa powder (not in picture)
2 teaspoons of chocolate molasses (optional, can be substituted with one additional tablespoon of cocoa powder)
2 teaspoons of vanilla essence
65 grams (1/2 cup) of macadamia nuts – chopped
80 grams (1/2 cup) of caramelize chocolate chips or chocolate chips
2 piping bags (not in picture – optional)

STEPS OF INSTRUCTION

Line 3 baking trays with parchment/baking paper and pre-heat the oven to 180 degree Celsius.

Cream the sugar and butter until light and pale. Add in one egg at a time, beat until well mixed.

Add in caramelized chocolate chips, macadamia nuts and vanilla essence. Use the machine to stir well. Sift in the self raising flour and mix well. Divide the batter into two portions. Put one portion in the piping bag. For the other portion, add in chocolate molasses and cocoa powder, mix well and place on another piping bag.

Pump the white dough in the baking sheet leaving adequate space for expansion. Pump the chocolate dough next to the white dough. You can create any pattern than you like as the dough is not an overly sticky cookie dough. Bake in the pre-heated oven at 180 degree Celsius for 10-12 minutes. Take the baking tray out, leave the cookies on the hot tray for at least 5 minutes before transfer to wire rack for cooling. Cool completely before store in an air tight container. Repeat the same for the other 2 trays.

CONCLUSION

This is an addictive cookie. It is crispy and I loved the crunchiness of the macadamia nuts and the caramelize chocolate chips. Family members loved it. When I start eating the cookies, I usually end up eating at least 5 cookies and I doubt if there will be any cookies left by the time my relatives schedule to leave for hometown. Well, recipe is here and I presumed they can bake themselves too… Ok, may be I will bake another batch the day before they left… Hope you like the post today. Cheers and have a nice day!

For more recipes, you can refer to my RECIPE INDEX (updated as at 15 October 2014) here and you can follow me at PINTEREST or visit the blog’s FACEBOOK PAGE to keep abreast of my future posts.