Judys Macadamia Nut Bars Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHIP-MACADAMIA NUT BARS WITH SHORTBREAD CRUST

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend flour and sugar in processor. Add butter; process using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer mixture to 8-inch square glass baking dish. Press mixture onto bottom and 3/4 inch up sides of dish. Bake until crust is golden brown on edges, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling:
• Whisk sugar, flour, eggs, butter and vanilla extract to blend in large bowl. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
• Pour filling into warm crust, smoothing surface. Bake until filling is golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 50 minutes. Transfer dish to rack; cool completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.) Cut int 16 squares.

MACADAMIA NUT BARS

Steps:

• Crust: Mix together the ingredients for the crust, using a pastry blender or two knives, until the mixture resembles meal. Press the crust into an 8x8 inch pan and bake for 20 minutes in a 350 oven.
• Topping: Beat together the eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Mix the flour, baking powder, and coconut and add to the egg mixture, beating until smooth. Add the lemon juice and stir in the nuts. Pour the mixture over the crust and return the pan to the oven for 35 minutes. When cool, cut into bars.

MACADAMIA LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Combine the flour, confectioners' sugar and butter; stir in nuts.
• Press onto the bottom and 1/2 inches up the sides of a greased 8-in. square baking dish.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt.
• Beat in the eggs, lemon juice and lemon peel until light and fluffy.
• Pour over hot crust.
• Sprinkle with nuts.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Cut into bars.
• Sprinkle with the confectioners' sugar.

WHITE CHOCOLATE-MACADAMIA NUT BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. Heat butter and brown sugar in 3-quart saucepan over low heat about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted; remove from heat.
• Beat vanilla and eggs into sugar mixture with electric mixer on medium speed. Beat in flour and baking powder on low speed. Stir in half of the nuts and 1/4 cup of the baking chips. Pour into pan. Sprinkle with remaining nuts and 1/2 cup of the baking chips.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until top is golden brown and center is set. Cool about 30 minutes.
• Melt remaining 1/4 cup baking chips and the shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Pour into small resealable plastic food-storage bag; seal bag. Cut small opening in a corner of the bag. Squeeze bag to drizzle melted chips over bars. Cool until set. For 48 bars, cut into 8 rows by 6 rows.

JUDY'S MACADAMIA NUT BARS

Steps:

• Filling: Beat the eggs, vanilla, and brown sugar together until smooth. Sift flour with baking powder and salt; stir into egg mixture and blend well. Fold in coconut and nuts to complete the Filling. Butter Crust: Blend butter, sugar, and flour together with a fork to make a crumbly texture. Press into a 9-inch-square pan. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until light brown. Remove from the oven. Gently spread Filling over crust. Bake an additional 25 minutes at 350°. Remove from oven and place on a rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cool 5 minutes, then cut with a knife into desired size squares. For a romantic dessert, serve with chilled champagne! Fun Fact: The macadamia was introduced into Hawaii from Australia about 1881 where it was used as an ornamental plant and for reforestation. The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation in Hilo, Hawaii, is the world's largest processor of macadamia nuts. The first Mauna Loa macadamia nut plantation was planted in 1946, and the first commercial crop was harvested in 1956. The Hawaiian-produced macadamia established the nut internationally and has dominated the market. There is a limited but significant commercial production of the nuts in Southern California.