These White Chocolate Macadamia Nut and Cranberry Cookies are a soft, chewy cookie that is packed with a balance of sweet and tart flavors in every bite. The buttery cookie pairs so nicely with the creamy white chocolate, crunchy macadamia nuts, and tangy pops of dried cranberries.
These white chocolate macadamia nut, cranberry cookies only take about 30 minutes or less from mixing the ingredients to getting the cookies into your mouth and belly. The dough is also easy to make, with out any chilling needed, and bakes perfectly every time.
These cookies have such a delicious combination of flavors and textures in every bite. The dried cranberries adds such a nice pop of color to the traditional white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, and helps balance out the sweetness of the white chocolate!
Why You’ll Love these Cookies
- Balanced Flavors: Sweet white chocolate, buttery macadamia nuts, and tart cranberries all come together
- Chewy Texture: The cookies have soft and chewy centers, with slightly crispy edges thanks to the best balance of granulated and brown sugars.
- Bakery Style Cookies: The cookies bake up thick, and taste like they’d be from your favorite bakery!
Ingredients Needed
This is a quick overview of some of the ingredients you’ll need for this White Chocolate Cranberry Macadamia Nut Cookies Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- Unsalted Butter: Let the butter come to room temperature for about 30 minutes, so its soft enough to mix, but keeps the cookies thick.
- Brown Sugar and Granulated Sugar: The perfect balance of these adds chewiness, and a little crispiness on the edges.
- All Purpose Flour: Make sure to spoon and level the flour (or weigh it) for the most accuracy
- Salt: This helps balance out the sweetness in the cookies
- Macadamia Nuts: Chop the nuts roughly to spread them throughout the cookies so you get a crunch in every bite.
- White Chocolate Chips: Often listed as Vanilla Baking Chips, I recommend a high quality brand like Ghiradelli.
- Dried Cranberries: These will be called Sweetened Dried Cranberries or Craisins and they add a nice tartness to the cookies.
How to make White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies with Macadamia Nuts
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar. Add the butter and sugars to a large mixing bowl and mix for a couple minutes until they are light and creamy. Add in the egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
Step 2: Add in the Dry Ingredients. Add in the flour, baking soda, salt and mix until you have a soft cookie dough.
Step 3: Add in the Mix Ins. Add in the white chips, macadamia nuts, and dried cranberries, mix them into the dough until they are evenly mixed throughout.
Step 4: Bake the Cookies. Scoop the cookie dough into 1.5 to 2 TBS sized balls. Place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet, keeping the cookie balls at least 2 to 3 inches from each other. Let them bake until the edges are golden.
Tips and Tricks:
- Don’t Overbake: The cookies will look golden on the edges, and just set in the centers. Don’t keep baking them. Remove them from the oven and let the cookies cool for 10 minutes on the cookie sheet, as they will keep baking there.
- Pretty Cookies: If you want the cookies to look like the ones pictures, add a few extra pieces of the cranberries, white chocolate chips, and macadamia nuts on top of each cookie right when you bring them out of the oven.
Storage Instructions
You can store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 or 4 days. They can also be frozen and stored in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
The first time I made these cookies was for my students’ as a reward for something in class. Now if you know me, you know I love a good excuse for trying out a new cookie. They were a hit, and loved by everyone in class.
This White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies with Cranberries is a pretty straightforward cookie recipe, but of course my favorite part of the cookies are all the chunks! The creamy white chocolate chips, crunchy macadamia nuts, and tart dried cranberries come together for such a delicious flavor combination in these cookies.
These cookies are a little chewy, with crispy edges, and delicious bites of tangy cranberries, sweet white chocolate chips, and crunchy macadamia nuts. It’s not a revolutionary flavor combination, but let me tell you they are quite delicious. I had a hard time not eating a whole pan of them at once.
Looking for more cookie recipes
- Chocolate Chip Toffee Cookies
- Cinnamon Roll Cookies
- Brown Butter Cookies
- Cherry Almond Cookies
- Rolo Cookies
- Crumbl Caramel Apple Cookie Recipe // Best Christmas Desserts
- Saltine Cracker Cookie Recipe // Best Christmas Desserts
- Cranberry Orange Oat Cookies // Best Christmas Desserts
If you make this White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies with Cranberries please leave a comment and 🌟 rating letting me know what you think! If you post the photo on Instagram, please tag me – I’d love to see what you’re making!
White Chocolate, Macadamia Nut, and Cranberry Cookies
Ingredients
White chocolate macadamia nut cranberry cookie
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter (two sticks, softened)
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 6 TBS Granulated Sugar
- 2 large Eggs
- 1/2 TBS Vanilla Extract
- 3 cups All Purpose flour (weighed, or spooned and leveled)
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Macadamia nuts (chopped slightly)
- 1 cup White chocolate chips
- 1 cup Dried cranberries
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
Instructions
White chocolate macadamia nut cranberry cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet or two with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugars until smooth and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. 1 cup Unsalted Butter, 1 cup Brown Sugar, 6 TBS Granulated Sugar
- Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until just combined. 2 large Eggs, 1/2 TBS Vanilla Extract
- Add the dry ingredients, flour, baking soda, and salt and mix until you have a soft cookie dough. 3 cups All Purpose flour, 1 tsp Baking Soda, 1/2 tsp Salt
- Add in the mix ins and fold them into the cookie dough until they are evenly dispersed. (Save a few of each to top the cookies with if you don't have extra to make them look pretty) 1 cup Macadamia nuts, 1 cup White chocolate chips, 1 cup Dried cranberries
- Scoop the dough by 1.5 to 2 Tablespoon sized portions, and place them at least 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
- Bake the cookies until the edges are golden, and the tops are just set, about 9-12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, and let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
- Don’t Overbake: The cookies will look golden on the edges, and just set in the centers. Don’t keep baking them. Remove them from the oven and let the cookies cool for 10 minutes on the cookie sheet, as they will keep baking there.
- Pretty Cookies: If you want the cookies to look like the ones pictures, add a few extra pieces of the cranberries, white chocolate chips, and macadamia nuts on top of each cookie right when you bring them out of the oven.
- Storage Instructions: You can store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 or 4 days. They can also be frozen and stored in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
These White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies with Macadamia Nuts were first published on August 5, 2012. The photos and blog text were updated for clarity on February 9, 2026.
Ellen says
I haven’t made these in a while and definitely need to make them again. They are one of my favorites. So good.
omarylou says
Pretty sure if I’d have one of those cookies in my mouth, I’d have no problem to not speak! 🙂 I’m discovering your blog and I like it!
yumgoggle says
From one teacher to another…I am completing my degree to become a certified teacher. I would love to teach kids with special needs. This being my second degree, i am already a Medical Scientist by profession but after learning my daughter has special needs I decided to make a career out of helping other moms too, those who have no idea yet how to help their kids. I love teaching and I noticed the best way to teach them responsibility, to express themselves and to be adventurous would be some time in the kitchen. My little girl loves cooking, baking and anything that will allow her to use her red apron. I am sure she will enjoy these cookies too.
Anyhoo, we have just recently launched a food photo submission site, http://www.yumgoggle.com/gallery/ that allows you to showcase all your great work and share it with all of our visitors. Your phenomenal photos have caught our attention. We’d be proud to have your work as part of our growing collection to continue to have a larger reach and further inspire all fellow food lovers out there! (sorry for the blatant shameless plug)!