Description
Cranberry pistachio shortbread cookies blend festive flavors in a delightful holiday treat. Crisp, buttery edges and rich white chocolate drizzle make these cookies a perfect companion for winter gatherings and sweet celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 1/3 cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (227 grams) butter
- ¾ cup (90 grams) pistachios
- 1 cup (150 grams) dried cranberries
Secondary Ingredients:
- ⅔ cup (133 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (85 grams) white chocolate
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Optional Ingredient:
- 1–2 teaspoons water
Instructions
- Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Using a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until the mixture becomes airy and pale, approximately 3 minutes. Incorporate vanilla extract thoroughly.
- Gradually introduce the flour mixture into the butter blend, mixing until just combined without overmixing.
- Gently integrate pistachios, dried cranberries, and white chocolate pieces, ensuring even dispersion throughout the dough.
- If the dough appears crumbly, add 1-2 teaspoons of water and mix until the texture becomes cohesive.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions, shaping each into a cylindrical log approximately 2 inches in diameter.
- Wrap each log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or up to 3 days to enhance flavor and improve slicing.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C) and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Remove chilled logs and slice into uniform cookies ranging from ¼ to ½ inch thick.
- Arrange cookie slices on prepared baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart to allow for slight spreading.
- Bake for 16-20 minutes, monitoring until edges turn a delicate golden brown.
- Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets for a few minutes to stabilize, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Serve and savor these elegant shortbread cookies alongside your favorite beverage.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain the cookies’ shape during baking.
- Ensure pistachios and cranberries are chopped finely to distribute evenly throughout the dough for consistent flavor in each bite.
- Add extra white chocolate drizzle after cooling for a more decadent presentation and enhanced sweetness.
- Try alternative mix-ins like orange zest or almond extract to create unique flavor variations while keeping the classic shortbread texture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 156
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 21 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg