Description
Cranberry pistachio shortbread cookies bring festive cheer with their delightful blend of tangy berries and nutty crunch. Delicate, buttery, and elegant, these cookies offer a perfect balance of flavors that will charm guests and satisfy sweet cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks / 226 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
- 1/2 cup pistachios, chopped
Sweeteners:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Cream butter and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl until smooth and fluffy, ensuring a light, airy texture.
- Infuse the mixture with vanilla extract, stirring until fully incorporated and fragrant.
- Gradually blend flour and salt into the butter mixture, creating a cohesive, soft dough that holds together easily.
- Gently fold chopped cranberries and pistachios throughout the dough, distributing them evenly for maximum flavor in each bite.
- Shape the dough into a cylindrical log approximately 2 inches wide, ensuring uniform thickness.
- Tightly wrap the log in plastic wrap to maintain its shape and prevent moisture loss.
- Refrigerate the wrapped dough for at least 1 hour, allowing flavors to meld and dough to firm up.
- Preheat the oven to 350F (175C), creating an ideal baking environment for crisp, golden cookies.
- Unwrap the chilled dough and slice into thin rounds, approximately 1/2 inch thick, using a sharp knife.
- Arrange cookie slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart to ensure even baking.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges turn a delicate golden brown, indicating perfect shortbread texture.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely, letting them crisp up and develop their signature tender crumb.
Notes
- Achieve perfectly soft butter by letting it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing, ensuring smooth and even incorporation.
- Use a sharp chef’s knife to create clean, uniform cookie slices that bake evenly and look professionally made.
- Try alternative mix-ins like dried cherries or orange zest to customize the flavor profile and keep the recipe exciting.
- For gluten-free options, substitute all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend while maintaining the same delicate shortbread texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 126
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1.3 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg