Caramel and Macadamia Nut Palets

Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 cup unsalted macadamia nuts, chopped
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. In a heavy saucepan, heat the 1 cup granulated sugar and water over medium-high heat without stirring until the sugar dissolves and caramelizes, swirling the pan occasionally, about 8 minutes.
2. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the macadamia nuts. Pour the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, and let it cool completely before breaking it into small pieces.
3. In another heavy saucepan, heat together the cream, 2 tablespoons chopped butter, and salt over medium-low heat until the butter is dissolved, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
5. In a separate bowl, beat together the 1/2 cup softened butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
6. Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract.
7. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in three batches, beating until just combined after each addition.
8. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
9. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
10. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness, and cut it into 2-inch rounds.
11. Place the rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake until light golden brown, about 15 minutes.
12. Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
13. To assemble the cookies, sandwich a dollop of the caramelized macadamia nuts between two cookies. Repeat with the remaining cookies and caramelized nuts.

Verdict:

These Caramel and Macadamia Nut Palets are a perfect combination of crunchy, sweet, and buttery flavors. They are perfect for any occasion and will truly impress your guests.

Serving Suggestions:

These cookies are perfect with a hot cup of coffee or tea. You can also serve them as a dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgence.