White Chocolate Cherry Chippers

I saw Paula Deen makes these cookies on TV and went right out and bought the ingredients to whip up a batch. I modified the recipe slightly by using Maraschino Cherries instead of candied cherries and doubled the quantity. I tend to make my cookies a little smaller so this recipe yielded about 72 cookies.

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Yields: 48 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) jar maraschino cherries
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened (1 Stick)
• 1  cup  packed light brown sugar
• 1  cup white sugar
• 2  large eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2  tablespoons milk
• 1  cup  coarsely chopped  macadamia nuts
• 1 (12 ounce) bag white chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Drain maraschino cherries and quarter each one.
3. Place cherries in a colander and let drain while making cookie dough.
4. Cream butter and sugars together in electric mixer until light and fluffy.
5. Add eggs, vanilla, milk, salt and baking soda and beat until just combined.
6. Add macadamia nuts and white chocolate and mix until just combined.
7. Slowly add flour mixing only until just combined.
8. While in colander gently blot cherries with paper towel trying to remove as much liquid as possible.
9. Remove bowl from mixer and by hand gently stir cherries into dough stirring only to blend.
10. Drop by heaping tablespoons 2 inches apart onto a greased cookie sheet or a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
11. Bake approximately 11 to 13 minutes.
12. Cool on wire rack.