Description
Cranberry pistachio shortbread delivers a delightful blend of festive flavors and buttery richness. Sweet-tart cranberries and nutty pistachios create a perfect holiday cookie that will charm guests and satisfy sweet cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (90 grams) powdered sugar
Add-ins:
- ¾ cup (90 grams) dried cranberries, chopped
- ¾ cup (90 grams) unsalted pistachios, chopped
Seasoning:
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
Instructions
- Cream butter and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl until light and airy, ensuring a smooth and fluffy texture.
- Gradually incorporate flour, salt, and orange zest into the butter mixture, mixing on low speed until a dense dough forms.
- Gently fold chopped cranberries and pistachios into the dough, distributing them evenly throughout.
- Lay out a sheet of parchment paper and divide the dough in half, shaping each portion into a cylindrical log approximately 1-1.5 inches in diameter.
- Carefully wrap each log tightly in the parchment paper, twisting the ends to secure and compress the dough.
- Refrigerate the wrapped logs for a minimum of 4 hours, or up to 3 days. For long-term storage, freeze logs in an airtight container for up to 2 months, thawing overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
- Prepare the oven by preheating to 325°F and lining baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Remove one log at a time from the refrigerator, unwrap, and slice into uniform cookies approximately 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick.
- Arrange cookie slices on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake for 14-17 minutes, watching for set tops and lightly golden brown edges, indicating the shortbread is perfectly cooked.
Notes
- Prepare dough logs ahead of time and refrigerate for convenient slice-and-bake cookies perfect for last-minute entertaining.
- Freezing option extends cookie dough storage up to two months, making meal prep flexible and stress-free.
- Precise slicing ensures uniform cookies that bake evenly and look professionally crafted.
- Orange zest adds bright, citrusy undertones that elevate the traditional shortbread flavor profile.
- Use cold butter and handle dough minimally to achieve the signature tender, crumbly shortbread texture.
- Chopped pistachios and cranberries create delightful bursts of color and unexpected taste combinations in each bite.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 143
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 12 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 27 mg