White Chocolate Cherry Macadamia Cookies

Chock full of creamy white chocolate chips, tart dried cherries, and crunchy macadamia nuts, these thick & chewy White Chocolate Cherry Macadamia Cookies would make the perfect addition to Santa's cookie plate...

So who else feels like we were catapulted straight from Thanksgiving dinner right into the Christmas season almost overnight? Granted, Thanksgiving did arrive a little later than it normally does this year, so maybe that is why I am feeling as if I have been scrambling this last full week before Christmas. 

We finally went out and picked out our Christmas tree and got it up and decorated last Friday. 

We didn't bother putting lights up outside this year because it seemed to rain almost every day that my son & I actually would have had the time to tackle the task. And by the time the weather cleared up, the lights would only be up for a couple of weeks so why bother with all that effort?

And while it may seem that I am grumbling a little (maybe there is even a little hint of bah-humbug in there?), it has been kind of nice to just be able to focus on the essentials for the holiday season for once. 

The tree may have been put up a little later than normal, but it IS up. The gift list has been checked off and the shopping is officially done. 

And I was still able to host my annual Christmas cookie baking party with my family. Things may not have went exactly according to my usual plan, but memories are being made and cherished family traditions are still being continued.

So what does the recipe for these White Chocolate Cherry Macadamia Cookies that I am sharing with you all today have to do with any of the above? ;)

White Chocolate Dipped Cherry Shortbread Cookies

These buttery, crispy cookies are studded with sweet & tart dried cherries and then dipped in white chocolate- perfect for the holidays... 

This year was my first time participating in the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap.  Last year I remember seeing food blogger friends posting all the fabulous cookies they were receiving from other food bloggers and wanting to kick myself for not signing up. So this year as soon as the sign-ups went up, I headed over and registered. :) 

What is the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap? To participate, each food blogger donates just $4 to Cookies for Kids' Cancer. 

Then you receive the addresses of 3 other food bloggers that you will bake cookies for and send off at least a dozen to each. In return, you will get 3 different dozens of homemade cookies from 3 other food bloggers. 

Helping a great cause and getting to try cookies from other food bloggers? That is a win-win in my book, folks. ;) And this year's cookie swap raised over $12,000 for Cookies for Kid's Cancer! 

If you follow me on Instagram, you already got a peek at the delicious cookies that came my way during this year's swap. 

My cookie swap recipients received these crispy and buttery dried cherry studded shortbread cookies that I dipped in white chocolate and finished off with some holiday festive sprinkles...

Fudgy Secret Ingredient Cherry Brownies

These thick, chocolaty and rich brownies are packed with tart dried cherries & have a secret healthy ingredient that you won't believe...

So here is the thing, you all... I am keeping a BIG secret from my husband.

Like HUGE.

If he finds out the secret ingredient in these Fudgy Secret Ingredient Cherry Brownies, he may not talk to me for a couple of hours.

Why?

Because he pretty much hates avocados.  Like a lot.

And after I whipped up this batch of thick, fudgy & moist brownies, I let him lick the batter bowl clean.

Which normally he would LOVE me for, but you see there was an entire mashed avocado in that brownie batter. ;)

I sort of held my breath as he started to scrape the bowl clean with a wooden spoon sure that he would know.

But he didn't.  He had no clue.

And I still haven't told him to this day. 

Shhhhhhhhhh...

Double Chocolate Cherry Biscotti

Combining deep, rich chocolate with tart dried cherries, these Double Chocolate Cherry Biscotti are the perfect sweet treat for coffee lovers...

Is your sweetheart a coffee lover?  Or are you maybe looking for a sweet treat that your co-workers would appreciate being left by the break room coffee maker Valentine's Day morning?

Not that you need anyone to make these Double Chocolate Cherry Biscotti for.  ;) You could totally bake up a batch of these and keep them for yourself.

Not a coffee fan?  They would be tasty dunked in a mug of hot chocolate or a tall glass of cold milk.

These biscotti have a deep, rich chocolate flavor.  And combine that with the tart dried cherries?  Perfection, folks. 

Cherry Almond Granola {The Leftovers Club}

It is the first Thursday of the month, and you all know what that means, right? Yep, time for The Leftovers Club big reveals.  This month I was paired up with Danielle from Dining With Dani.  I decided to send her a jar of my homemade Cherry Almond Granola.  My original inspiration for this recipe was the Cherry Almond Granola I used to buy from Trader Joe's when I lived in the big city.  I used to love it and haven't had it in quite some time, so I decided to try and recreate it in my kitchen.  I would say it turned out pretty successful. ;)

What you will need:

2 cups of old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup of chopped or sliced almonds

2 tbsp brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

4 tbsp coconut oil

1/2 cup of maple or pancake syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp almond extract

1/2 cup dried cherries

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Set aside.

In large bowl, mix together the oats, coconut, almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.  Set aside.

In a small saucepan, heat the coconut oil (sometimes it is solid at cooler temperatures) and the maple syrup together over medium heat.  Mix and heat until the coconut oil is melted.  This should only take a few minutes.

Remove from the heat and mix in the extracts.

Pour the liquid mixture over the oats mixture and mix until evenly coated.  

Spread your granola mixture evenly over your prepared baking sheet.  Bake for 30 minutes, stirring & flipping the mixture after 15 minutes.  

Allow the granola to cool completely before removing from the baking sheet.

Once cooled, transfer the granola to a large bowl and then mix in the dried cherries.

Store your Cherry Almond Granola is an airtight container for up to a month.  I prefer to use mason jars for storing and gifting my granola.  

Look, I even got all crafty and used washi tape and baker's twine to pretty up the jar that I sent to Danielle. ;)

Serve this granola over your favorite yogurt or pour milk over it and have it in the morning.  (Or be like me and snack on it while you are waiting for it to cool completely...)

Cherry Almond Granola

by Frugal Foodie Mama

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

6048283

Ingredients (6-8 servings)

• 2 cups of old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup of chopped or sliced almonds
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 cup of maple or pancake syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 1/2 cup dried cherries

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Set aside.

In large bowl, mix together the oats, coconut, almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.

In a small saucepan, heat the coconut oil (sometimes it is solid at cooler temperatures) and the maple syrup together over medium heat. Mix and cook until the coconut oil is melted. This should only take a few minutes.

Mix in the extracts.

Pour the liquid mixture over the oats mixture and mix until evenly coated.

Spread your granola mixture evenly over your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring & flipping the mixture after 15 minutes.

Allow the granola to cool completely before removing from the baking sheet.

Once cooled, transfer the granola to a large bowl and then mix in the dried cherries.

Store your Cherry Almond Granola is an airtight container for up to a month. I prefer to use mason jars for storing and gifting my granola.

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Be sure to check out all the other recipes in The Leftovers Club below!  You will find tons of tasty treats that also travel well. ;)