Orange Macadamia Cookies

Orange frosting matches the macadamia perfectly in this easy drop cookie recipe for Orange Macadamia Cookies.

These buttery and nutty cookies offer melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

Macadamia trees are native to eastern Australia, New Caledonia (an archipelago east of Australia), and Indonesia and are often referred to as Bush nut, Queensland nut and Maroochi nut.

Of the nine species of flowering Macadamia trees, only two are edible while the other seven all have poisonous or inedible nuts.

Around 1882, macadamia seeds were first transported to Hawaii and became a commercial crop there in the 1920s as a result of extensive planting.

Today, macadamia is also commercially produced in such countries as Bolivia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, Kenya, South Africa, Israel and New Zealand.

Be careful if you have any pets because macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs!

I think that's probably more information about macadamia trees and nuts than you cared to ever know, but I think it's important for all of us to know a little bit about ingredients we consume.

Orange Macadamia Cookies

Orange Macadamia Cookies Recipe

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup corn starch
1 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1 egg yolk
1 1/2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel
2 tablespoons orange juice
Granulated sugar
1 recipe Orange Frosting
Finely chopped macadamia nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
In a large bowl stir together flour, powdered sugar and corn starch.
Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Stir in the 1/2 cup nuts.
In a small bowl combine the egg yolkm orange peel and orange juice.
Add egg yolk mixture to flour mixture, stirring until moistened.
Knead dough in bowl until it forms a ball.
Shape cookie dough into 1 1/4-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Using the bottom of a glass dipped in granulated sugar, flatten balls until 1/4-inch thick.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are set and tops are dry.
Transfer cookies to wire rack and cool completely.
Frost cooled cookies with Orange Frosting.
If desired, sprinkle with finely chopped macadamia nuts.

Orange Frosting
In a medium bowl stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons softened butter and 1/2 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel. Stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons orange juice to make a frosting of spreading consistency.

This recipe makes about 36 Orange Macadamia Cookies.