Description
Homemade cranberry pistachio shortbread brings festive cheer to holiday baking tables. Buttery crumbles of sweet-tart cookies promise delightful moments shared with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (225 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (250 g / 8.8 oz) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (90 g / 3.2 oz) powdered sugar
- ½ cup (60 g / 2.1 oz) chopped dried cranberries
- ½ cup (60 g / 2.1 oz) chopped pistachios
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Creaming: Whip softened butter and powdered sugar into a fluffy, light mixture, blending in vanilla extract for aromatic depth.
- Dry Ingredient Integration: Sift flour and salt, then delicately fold into the butter mixture until just combined, maintaining a tender texture.
- Add-in Incorporation: Gently fold pistachios and cranberries throughout the dough, ensuring even distribution for balanced flavor and visual appeal.
- Shaping and Chilling: Form dough into two cylindrical logs, wrap tightly in plastic film, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to solidify and enhance flavor complexity.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C), line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats for optimal non-stick performance.
- Slicing and Arranging: Unwrap chilled dough logs and slice into precise 1/4-inch rounds, positioning cookies slightly apart on prepared baking sheets.
- Baking and Cooling: Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges turn golden brown, then allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack for complete cooling and crisping.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Ensure butter is softened but not melted for the perfect creamy, airy texture that creates cloud-like consistency.
- Gentle Mixing Technique: Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent tough, dense cookies; stir just until ingredients are combined for tender shortbread.
- Chill for Maximum Flavor: Refrigeration is crucial – allows ingredients to meld and develops deeper, more complex taste while helping cookies maintain shape during baking.
- Precise Slicing Technique: Use a sharp, clean knife and make consistent 1/4-inch slices to guarantee even baking and uniform cookie appearance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 129
- Sugar: 3.75 g
- Sodium: 0.10 g
- Fat: 9.25 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.50 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.75 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14.00 g
- Fiber: 0.25 g
- Protein: 1.50 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg