The sweetness and crunch of macadamia nuts, paired with their subtle creaminess, makes them a perfect ingredient for luscious baked goods. This drool-worthy macadamia nut recipe, for instance, will impress guests at your next party — expect them to ask for seconds!

Source: wikimedia.org

You’ll need:

• 1 cup flour
• 2 1/2 sticks butter, cut into cubes
• 3 ounces of cream cheese
• a pinch of salt
• 1 3/4 cup water
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup Hawaii’s Local Buzz Nuts in the Nude, chopped

In your food processor, combine the flour, 1 stick of butter, the cream cheese, and the salt. Process until a firm dough forms. Roll the dough into a circle approximately 12 inches in diameter, and press it into a tart pan. Place parchment paper into the pastry, and fill it with dried beans. Blind bake the tart shell for 18 minutes at 375 F. To save time, you can use a pre-made shell and follow the directions on the packaging.

While the tart shell is baking, combine the sugar, lemon juice and water in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil, and boil for 15 minutes while stirring constantly. The mixture should take on a light brown color. Remove the mixture from the heat, and stir in the remaining butter, along with the heavy cream. Keep stirring vigorously until the butter is completely melted, and the mixture is uniform.

Remove the beans from the tart shell when it comes out of the oven. Place the macadamia nuts in the bottom of the shell. Pour the butter mixture over them, and bake the tart for 15 minutes at 350 F.

When the tart is lightly browned, remove it from the oven and cool it on a wire rack. Cool completely before serving.

For delicious nuts to use in this drool-worthy macadamia nut recipe and others, visit Hawaii’s Local Buzz.