Pistachio Shortbread
July 1, 2024
Ooooh, these shortbread cookies are good! They’re light, crisp and salt-forward, and the salt and chocolate combo makes it hard to have just one. The sweetness in the cookies is almost an afterthought, as if they’re so confident in their own deliciousness they don’t need to razzle-dazzle with heaps of sugar. The hint of pistachio adds the perfect je ne sais quoi.
This recipe calls for shelled pistachios and uses a food processor to form the dough, so everything comes together in just a few minutes. They look quite elegant, too. Serve them at a holiday dinner party or treat yourself to a cozy night in. Our dream is to pair them with a strong cup of chai and enjoy them in front of the fireplace while watching “The Grinch.”
SERVINGS
20
PREP TIME
10 min + 2 hr chill time
COOK TIME
20 min
Ingredients
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1cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
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1/4cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
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1/2teaspoon kosher salt
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1/2cup shelled, salted and roasted pistachios, plus extra crushed pistachios for sprinkling
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1/2teaspoon vanilla extract
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1stick cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
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10ounces bittersweet chocolate chips (60% cacao), divided
Directions
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1
In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, salt, pistachios and vanilla, and pulse 10 to 15 times until the pistachios are finely ground.
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2
Scatter the butter pieces in the food processor and pulse until the dough forms a ball, 1 to 2 minutes. Be careful to not overmix the dough.
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3
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and shape into a log about 10 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. Tightly cover the log in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 5 days. You can also freeze the dough for up to 3 weeks.
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4
Heat the oven to 325 F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
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5
Cut the chilled cookie dough into ½”-thick coins and place them about 2” apart on the prepared baking sheets.
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6
Lightly brush the top of each shortbread cookie with water and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the cookies are light golden brown on the top and bottom.
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7
Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
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8
Meanwhile, heat 1 inch of water in a saucepan over medium heat and cover with a glass bowl, setting up a double boiler. Add ⅔ of the chocolate chips to the glass bowl and heat until completely melted, stirring constantly. Take the chocolate off the heat and stir in the remaining chocolate chips until fully melted.
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9
Dip half of each cookie into the chocolate and place them on a sheet of parchment paper. Sprinkle with crushed pistachios and cool completely.
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10
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Recipe adapted from: Leites Culinaria