Last Updated November 14th, 2021 at 09:14 pm by Lisa
Shortbread Christmas Cookies are baked with peppermint white chocolate and macadamia nuts, these say Mele Kalikimaka and Aloha with their tropical vibe.
Since colonial times, pineapples have been used during the holidays and especially at Christmas. They are a sign of friendship and gracious hospitality in homes around the world.
Each year I create at least one new cookie and these remind me of a relaxing island getaway...
Why You Will Love These...
- These Christmas shortbread cookies take less than an hour to make. And an hour for the peppermint bark icing to set.
- Shortbread cookies are easy with simple ingredients.
- Macadamia nuts make rich and amazing.
- Butter cookies, gingerbread cookies, thumbprint cookies, chocolate chip, snowball cookies, and gingersnap cookies are all traditional classics, but these cookies are so fun and different.
- Chopped peppermint bark and the melted peppermint bark drizzle on top certainly make these cookies festive for the holidays.
A shortbread cookie tastes like a sugar cookie but they do not have a leavening agent (like baking soda or baking powder etc.), so shortbread cookies are a bit harder with a special snap or crunch compared to the softer, crisper sugar or butter cookie.
Where Can I Find Peppermint Bark?
Palmer sells Peppermint Bark chunks. These work perfectly. I found mine in a local grocery store, and they are available online.
You can also use a peppermint bark with dark or milk chocolate, these are more popular chocolate barks and easier to find.
And receive a free recipe ebook as our thank you.
What Can I Sub For Peppermint Bark?
Peppermint bark chips are available from the Palmer company, if you can't find this product use some white chocolate chips and finely crushed candy canes to mix into the cookie dough and melt together for the icing.
Let's Make These Cookies!
You can order a pineapple-shaped cookie cutter if you wish, but any cookie cutter shape will work. To make these Christmas shortbread cookies, you will need...
- 2 cups butter softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cups macadamia nuts finely chopped
- 1 cup peppermint bark chips, finely chopped (if you can't find this product use some white chocolate chips and finely crushed candy canes or use milk or dark chocolate bark)
- 1 cup peppermint bark chips (melted) for icing decoration
Step 1: On a cutting board, finely chop both the macadamia nuts and peppermint bark chips, you can do them both together. Set aside.
PRO TIP: Before chopping your macadamia nuts, try one. They're prone to going rancid quickly, so you want to make sure you're using fresh macadamias in this recipe!
Step 2: Preheat oven to 375.
Step 3: In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix softened butter, powder sugar, and vanilla extract.
Step 4: Add flour 1 cup at a time and mix well.
Step 5: Add finely chopped macadamia nuts and peppermint bark chips, mix well.
Step 6: Roll out cookie dough to ¼" thick on a lightly floured surface, and cut into pineapple shapes. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 7: Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until edges are slightly golden brown. Cool cookies completely.
To Make The Cookie Icing
Step 8: In a small glass bowl, melt about 1 cup of the peppermint bark (chips) in the microwave on high for 30 seconds, keep melting in 30-second increments until just melted, and stir.
PRO TIP: Place melted peppermint chocolate in a strong gallon zip-top bag, snip a tiny corner of the bag the tip, and decorate with drizzles of melted peppermint bark in a criss-cross pattern on the pineapple cookies.
Step 9: Let the melted chocolate set for a couple of hours before stacking the cookies.
Holiday baking is a time to slow down and create delicious sweets that only come once a year, and these cookies are a special treat for sure.
More Christmas Cookies
- Santa's Cookies and Milk is the way to write a wish list!
- Santa's Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies are loaded with milk chocolate chips, Andes Creme De Menthe baking chips, and peppermint crunch pieces, such a hit with everyone.
- S'more Cookie Dough Truffles are no bake and adorable.
- Pile all your fresh baked cookies and candy on a Peppermint Candy Plate, people will ask how you made it!
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Peppermint Macadamia Shortbread Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
cookie dough
- 2 cups butter softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup peppermint bark Palmers White Candy Peppermint Bark Bar finely chopped
- 1 cups macadamia nuts finely chopped
cookie icing
- 1 cup peppermint bark chips melted for drizzle decoration
Instructions
- On a cutting board, finely chop both the macadamia nuts and peppermint bark chips. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375.
- In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix softened butter, powder sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Add flour 1 cup at a time and mix well.
- Add finely chopped macadamia nuts and peppermint bark chips, mix well.
- Roll out cookie dough ¼" thick on lightly floured surface, and cut into pineapple shapes. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until edges are slightly golden brown. Cool cookies completely.
- In a small glass bowl, melt about 1 cup of the peppermint bark (chips) in the microwave on high for 30 seconds, keep melting in 30-second increments until just melted and stir.
- Place melted peppermint chocolate in a strong gallon zip-top bag, snip a tiny corner of the bag the tip, and decorate with drizzles of melted peppermint bark in a criss-cross pattern on the pineapple cookies.
- Let the melted chocolate set for a couple of hours before stacking the cookies so the "icing" dries.
- Enjoy, and Mele Kalikimaka.
I made these at Christmas and then again recently. First I made them with the peppermint chips - yummy and unexpected -and then with white chocolate chips. Next I am going to try them with dark chocolate or some kind of premium "tropical" flavored chocolate bar. As I love all things tropical, I fell in love with that pineapple cookie cutter and had to hunt one down. I love it!