Orange Grove Butter Cookies with Toasted Macadamia Nuts

These divine, buttery cookies deserve a place on your cookie plate! Cut from thickly rolled dough, the resulting cookies look like little cakes. Their intense flavor comes from toasting the macadamia nuts and using orange oil (look for it in the spice aisle).

COOKIES

 1 cup sugar
 1 cup unsalted butter, softened, cut up
 1/2 cup macadamia nuts, toasted, finely chopped*
 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
 1 egg
 3 tablespoons half-and-half or orange juice
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 1 teaspoon orange oil or orange extract
 3 cups all-purpose flour
 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
 1/4 teaspoon salt

GLAZE AND GARNISH

 2 cups powdered sugar
 4 to 5 tablespoons fresh orange juice**
 1/4 teaspoon orange oil or orange extract***
 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
 24 macadamia nuts, halved

1. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place sugar, butter, 1/2 cup nuts and 1 tablespoon orange peel in food processor. (Dough also can be made using mixer.) Pulse until combined; process 20 to 30 seconds or until mixture is blended. Add egg, half-and-half, vanilla and 1 teaspoon orange oil; pulse briefly to blend. Add flour, baking powder and salt; pulse until dough starts to form.

2. Turn out onto lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Knead each half until smooth; pat into flat rounds. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours.

3. When ready to bake, heat oven to 350°F. On lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough into 6-inch round 3/4 inch thick. Cut cookies with 1- to 1 1/4-inch round scalloped cookie cutter; place 1 inch apart on baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. Combine scraps and trimmings; roll out and cut with cookie cutter. Bake, one sheet at a time, 12 to 15 minutes or until just golden brown around edges.

4. Meanwhile, in small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, 4 tablespoons of the orange juice, 1/4 teaspoon orange oil and 1 teaspoon orange peel. Add remaining 1 tablespoon orange juice, if necessary.

5. Place cookies on wire rack; cool completely. Spread each cookie with glaze; top each with macadamia nut half.

TIPS *To toast macadamia nuts, spread on baking sheet; bake at 375°F. for 4 to 6 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool.

 **Substitute 1 to 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur for part of the orange juice, if desired.

 ***Citrus oils replicate the intense flavor of citrus rind. For help in locating citrus oil, go to www.cookingclub.com and click on Featured Links.

About 4 dozen cookies

Recipe Source: http://portal.cookingclub.com/recipes/articletype/articleview/articleid/4968/orange-grove-butter-cookies-with-toasted-macadamia-nuts