Baking with Macadamia Nuts

[Pam R]

I have a suitcase full of macadamia nuts and before they get distributed, I`m wondering if I should keep a couple of bags for baking. The only things I can remember having with macs are cookies (chocolate/mac), which I don`t want to make and a pretty good macadamia slice that had pecan pie style filling.

Anybody make any killer desserts with themÉ

[John DePaula]

Not much experience here, but what about a Coconut Pie with macadamias or a Tarte aux Noix but using macadamias instead of walnuts.

[JeanneCake]

I use almond and walnut creams for a lot of tarts I make - and I've been able to sub them with macadamia. I use the recipe in RLB's pie/pastry bible and sub out the macs and reduce the butter a little because macs are high fat nuts.

I've also used them to replace almonds in pate sablee for tart crusts, again watch the butter. They make great nut tarts - I have a honey coconut macadamia filling that I glaze with dark choc, it's a nice change (at least around here!)

[CaliPoutine]

I made some excellent white choc. macadamia cookies for xmas baking. They were so good( the best cookies I think I made).

Why the aversion to cookies?

[merstar]

A few things from my files to check out (first two had great reviews):

CHILLED LIME-COCONUT PIE WITH MACADAMIA-COCONUT CRUST -Bon Appetit

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/vie...ut-Crust-101823

BANANA, MACADAMIA NUT, AND COCONUT COFFEE CAKE

http://www.leitesculinaria.com/recipes/coo...offee_cake.html

MANGO-COCONUT MACADAMIA CRISP

http://jeannegrace.com/recipes/2007DinnerP...mia%20Crisp.htm

TRIPLE BERRY COFFEECAKE

http://creampuffsinvenice.typepad.com/crea...riple_thre.html

Edited January 14, 2009 by merstar (log)

[prasantrin]

Have you ever had the Hazelnut Tart from Bistro Dansk? I bet it would be excellent as a macadamia tart.

[tino27]

I use macadamia nuts in several of my cheesecake crusts and it works wonderfully. The basic ratio is 2 cups crushed cookies (I use Nilla Wafers), 1 cup finely chopped nuts, 1/4 cup white sugar, and 1 stick (8 ounces) unsalted butter. I do toast the nuts in a 350 deg oven first before crushing in a food processor with the sugar (the sugar helps to prevent you from making nut butter instead of finely crushed nuts).

This is enough to coat the bottom of a 10" springform pan.

[djyee100]

Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pie? This is a notable one--

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/chocolatemacnutpie.asp

Before you dispose of all those macadamia nuts, have you ever tried frying chicken or fish with a macadamia nut crust? And if you do SE Asian cooking, macadamia nuts are the common substitute for hard-to-find candlenuts.

[Pam R]

Why the aversion to cookies?

←

No aversion - love them, in fact. But I've had them plenty of times and I'd like to try something different.

Cheesecake is appealing . . caramel/macadamia cheesecake? white chocolate cheesecake with macadamia nuts?

Pies also sound good . . I might have to keep all of the nuts.

[SugarGirl]

I just came back from vacation with macadamia nuts, too! I was dying to try them in a lime dessert, so I made Jane Lawson's Macadamia Cake posted here http://chubbyhubby.net/blog/?p=476

It's delicious! The texture turned out quite light, though it is pretty buttery. I creamed the lime zest with the butter. And I didn't make the syrup because it was already sweet and lime-y enough for me.

[Genkinaonna]

I've made chocolate sponge cakes with macs substitited for ground almonds and added bananas sauteed in rum to a chocolate mousse filling and done a crushed mac praline to coat the outside. Pretty tasty.