Macadamia Nut Cookies for Two

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My new favorite thing is baking just the right amount of cookies—no leftovers to tempt me later, no making a mess of the whole kitchen, and no fussing over a big batch of cookies.

If you’ve ever found yourself craving something sweet, but don’t want to commit to eleven dozen cookies (okay, a small exaggeration there, haha), these small-batch macadamia nut cookies for two are exactly what you need. The combination of rich, buttery macadamia nuts and sweet, creamy white chocolate are just the best.

Two macadamia nut cookies sitting on a plate with a blue border and an antique spatula.
Two tacos sitting on a white plate with chopped avocado and cilantro on top.

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    So, Why Small-Batch?

    Well my friend, because the struggle is real. You know how it is—mixing up a huge bowl of cookie dough, filling tray after tray, and then facing the inevitable, too many cookies and not enough zero self-control. That’s where my small-batch baking comes to the rescue. It’s the perfect way to satisfy your need for something sweet without going overboard.

    This simple recipe yields just two beautifully golden, soft, and chewy macadamia nut cookies. It’s ideal for sharing with someone special—just enough to enjoy together without the temptation of leftovers (or eat them both yourself, no judgment here).

    Two cookies sitting on white plates with an antique spatula.

    The List of Ingredients

    • Butter: We’ll use unsalted butter for these cookies. Make sure it’s at room temperature too, for easy creaming (since we’re not using an electric mixer). The butter, of course, gives these cookies their tender texture and rich flavor.
    • Sugars: We’ll use a little of both white and brown sugar. The brown sugar adds moisture, while the granulated sugar gives the cookies a golden crisp edge.
    • Egg Yolk: We’re using only the yolk here, which adds richness and keeps the cookie dough from being too wet. A whole egg would be too much.
    • Vanilla Extract: This elevates the flavor of the cookies, adding warmth and sweetness.
    • Flour: All-purpose flour is all you need—it gives the cookies their structure without making them too cakey.
    • Baking Soda and Sea Salt: A pinch of each helps the cookies rise perfectly and enhances all the flavors.
    • White Chocolate Chips and Macadamia Nuts: The white chocolate chips and sweet and smooth, while the macadamia nuts add that perfect crunch and buttery flavor.
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    How to Make Small-Batch Macadamia Nut Cookies for Two

    1. Preheat: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
    2. Cream: In a small mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar with the back of a spoon until the mixture is smooth and light-colored.
    3. Wet Ingredients: Stir in the vanilla extract and egg yolk until smooth and combined.
    Butter, sugar, and brown sugar creamed in a small glass bowl with a spoon.
    Egg and vanilla extract added to the creamed butter mixture in a glass bowl with a spoon.
    1. Dry Ingredients: Add the flour, baking soda, and sea salt to the bowl. Mix until there are barely any streaks of flour remaining, and the dough is smooth. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cookies tough.
    2. Fold in the Goodies: Gently fold in the white chocolate chips and chopped macadamia nuts.
    Dry ingredients added to the wet ingredients in a glass bowl with a spoon.
    White chocolate chips and macadamia nuts added to the cookie dough in a glass bowl with a spoon.
    1. Scoop and Shape: Divide the dough in half. If you want to be precise, use a 4-tablespoon cookie scoop to make two heaping scoops of dough. Place them on the lined baking sheet, leaving enough space for them spread during baking.
    2. Bake: Pop the cookies into the oven and bake for 10-11 minutes. I always rotate the pan halfway through to ensure even baking. You’ll know the cookies are done when they’re slightly browned around the edges and puffed up in the center.
    Macadamia nut cookie dough mixed up in a glass bowl with a spoon.
    Two cookie dough balls scooped out on a lined baking sheet with a cookie scoop laying next to them.
    1. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The tops of the cookies will fall during cooling and crinkle and crack open.
    • Be sure to check out the full ingredient list and recipe instructions below.
    A macadamia nut cookie broken in half to show the inside of the cookie.
    Two Nordic Ware quarter sheet pans.

    Nordic Ware

    Quarter Sheet Pans

    These natural aluminum commercial baking pans are my favorite. This size fits two of these cookies perfectly.

    Now, About The Cookies

    Once your cookies have cooled, they’re ready to devour, and I’m positive they’ll hit the spot. They’re rich, buttery, and loaded with chunks of white chocolate and crunchy macadamia nuts—I mean, what more could you ask for? YUM!

    If by some miracle you don’t finish them in one sitting though, these cookies can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days before they dry out or get stale. They also freeze really well (for up to three months or so), but let’s be honest—they’re so good, they probably won’t last that long. Haha!

    A macadamia nut cookie broken in half to show the inside of the cookie.

    A Few Tips for Perfect Cookies

    • Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter is at room temperature for easy creaming. This helps achieve the perfect texture, since we aren’t using an electric mixer. 
    • Measuring Flour: Be precise with your flour measurements. Too much flour can make the cookies dense and dry. Use a spoon to fill your measuring spoon and level it off with a knife for accuracy.
    • Don’t Overbake: These cookies continue to bake slightly after being removed from the oven. Take them out when they’re just starting to turn golden around the edges for a perfectly chewy center.

    Tip

    If you want to make four or even six smaller cookies, use a smaller cookie scoop (try a 1.5 or 2-tablespoon size) and reduce the baking time by a minute or so.

    Two macadamia nut cookies sitting on a plate with a blue border and an antique spatula.

    So my friend, the next time you’re in the mood for a sweet treat but don’t want to commit to a huge mess in the kitchen or a full batch of cookies, whip up these small-batch macadamia nut cookies for two. They’re easy to make, delicious, and just the right size for a little treat. Let me know what you think!

    Two macadamia nut cookies sitting on a plate with a blue border and an antique spatula.

    Macadamia Nut Cookies for Two

    By: Kristine Underwood
    These small-batch macadamia nut cookies for two are loaded with creamy white chocolate and buttery macadamia nuts. Soft, chewy, and easy to make, these cookies have just the right amount of indulgence without the temptation of leftovers. Perfect for sharing or enjoying solo.
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 11 minutes
    Total Time 16 minutes
    Course Sweets & Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2 cookies
    Calories 395 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 TBS unsalted butter (room temperature)
    • 2 TBS brown sugar
    • 1 1/2 TBS sugar
    • 1 egg yolk
    • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
    • 5 TBS flour (all-purpose)
    • 1/4 tsp baking soda
    • 1/8 tsp sea salt
    • 1 1/2 TBS white chocolate chips
    • 1 1/2 TBS macadamia nuts (roughly chopped)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line one baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • In a small mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until smooth and light colored
      2 TBS unsalted butter, 2 TBS brown sugar, 1 1/2 TBS sugar
    • Add the vanilla extract and egg yolk and stir to combine.
      1 egg yolk, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
    • Add the flour, sea salt, and baking soda to the bowl and mix until no streaks of flour remain.
      5 TBS flour, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/8 tsp sea salt
    • Fold in the white chocolate chips and chopped macadamia nuts.
      1 1/2 TBS white chocolate chips, 1 1/2 TBS macadamia nuts
    • Divide the dough in half or using a 4 TBS cookie scoop, scoop two heaping scoops of dough and place on the lined baking sheet.
    • Bake at 350 degrees for 10-11 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through to ensure even baking. The cookies should be slightly brown around the edges and puffed up in the center when done.
    • Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
    • If you need to store a cookie, place it in an airtight container for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

    Notes

    *There’s no need to weigh ingredients for this recipe, just gently scoop and level off the ingredients before adding them to the bowl.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 cookieCalories: 395kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 5gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 302mgPotassium: 111mgFiber: 1gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 483IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 2mg

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    2 Comments

    1. I love all your recipes because I don’t have to constantly scroll up to when it comes to measurements 🙌5 stars

      1. HI Carol, thank you so much! I’m so glad you find it helpful, it makes following a recipe (online) so much easier for me too. 🙂