White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Snickerdoodle Bars
The ultimate blondie mashup— white chocolate macadamia nut snickerdoodle bars!
This recipe was developed in partnership with Diamond of California.
Fall is here! Fall is here! Fall is here!
And I can’t believe it, but I’m actually pretty excited. I’d been holding onto summer like something fierce, but I think I’m finally ready to embrace it all— changing leaves, chilly weather, and all things cinnamon.
Last weekend we took a drive up into the mountains to see if the leaves had turned yet, and they had! It made me so happy. You know something else that makes me happy? These white chocolate macadamia nut snickerdoodle cookie bars.
A few weeks ago I had a thought— white chocolate and macadamia nuts are a classic combination, and snickerdoodles and white chocolate go really well together, so why not combine it all into one?
I must be a genius, because these bars are brilliant! They’re soft, scented heavily with cinnamon, and packed with pockets of white chocolate and chunks of macadamia nuts. You’re going to fall in love with them just like I did.
Happy fall, everyone!
baking tip:White chocolate vs. white baking chips vs. melting wafers
Be sure to read the labels carefully when choosing white chocolate for your recipe as real white chocolate is not the same as white baking chips or white melting chips.
- White chocolate must have 20% cocoa butter to be labeled “white chocolate”. The cocoa butter gives it superior flavor and texture, and melts really well (though you have to be careful how you melt it). Ideal for desserts where you really want the white chocolate flavor to be the star, and for recipes that use melted white chocolate, such as a frosting or filling.
- White baking chips are made with a substitute like vegetable or palm oil instead of cocoa butter, and you’ll notice the words “white chocolate” actually aren’t anywhere on the label. They include stabilizers which prevent them from melting smoothly and vanilla extract for flavoring. Ideal for cookies and bars.
- White melting wafers/chips are made with a higher amount of fat and less stabilizers, and are designed to melt very easily. They have a very waxy texture and are flavored with artificial flavoring. Ideal for dipping and drizzling over treats.
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Snickerdoodle Bars
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter , at room temperature (200 grams)
- 1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar (215 grams)
- â…“ cup granulated sugar (66 grams)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ¾ cup all-purpose flour (330 grams)
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon , divided
- 1 cup white chocolate chips (170 grams)
- 1 cup macadamia nuts , roughly chopped (150 grams)
- ½ cup white chocolate , melted (optional) (85 grams)
- Additional macadamia nuts , for topping (optional)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar , for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with greased foil or parchment paper.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand-held mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and 1/3 cup granulated sugar on high speed until light and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each and scraping the bowl down after each addition.
- Add the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Mix until just combined.
- Add the white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts and mix until combined.
- Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle on top.
- Bake until edges are golden and center is set, about 25-30 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
- Drizzle with melted chocolate and macadamia nuts, if desired. Chill in the fridge 15 minutes to set, then slice and serve.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Diamond of California as part of a long-term culinary ambassadorship. Thank you for supporting partnerships with brands I love and believe in, which make Completely Delicious possible. All opinions are always 100% my own.
To find more great recipes using nuts visit the Diamond Nuts website. You can also find them on facebook, twitter, youtube, pinterest, and instagram.
Can you add semi sweet chocolate chips
Hi Annalise
Can’t have nuts, is there anything else I can use in this recipe. Also, can I add more white chocolate without messing up the recipe.
Sure, go ahead an sub more white chocolate chips for the macadamia nuts. Or, you can just leave out the nuts and the bars will be fine. 🙂
This was delicious…made it for our family bbq and everyone loved them!!! They are definitely very sweet and rich, but absolutely delicious, if you like snicker doodles you will love these!
These sound wonderful.