Macadamia Cream Cheese Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 6 ounces salted macadamia nuts, very roughly chopped

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together, then set the bowl aside. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with the butter until the mixture is smooth. Add the brown sugar and sugar, and continue beating until the dough looks light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and egg until blended. Add the dry mixture and mix only until it disappears into the dough. Fold in the macadamia nuts. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 3 hours.
2. Set the oven racks in the middle and lower positions, and heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the cookies are lightly golden, about 18 minutes. Cool them on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then move them to a wire rack.