Sunday, November 4, 2007

Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread

Ever since I saw the ad in the Star Tribune about the holiday cookie contest, I was pumped to enter. I knew I wanted to use a variation of a cookie my mom and I made when she last visited. It's a cranberry shortbread that is absolutely divine. I know I personally ate an entire batch of these. Luckily I had my mom and party guests to eat the other 2 batches we made!

I couldn't decide whether I wanted to add lime zest or pistachios to them to make them more festive (and flavorful) for the holidays...So I baked both versions. Since everyone who tasted them couldn't decide which was better, I decided that the final recipe would have pistachios, cranberries, and lime zest. I set up a plate of them and even garnished them to look all pretty for my entry photograph...



I swear that the deadline said Nov. 5.

But I missed it by a whole week! I can't believe it! They're so damn good that I really thought I might win. I suppose I can still enter these cookies next year. Anyways, I suppose I'll give you all the recipe and console myself by eating too many of them.

Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

1 1/4 cups Earth Balance (Yep. You read that correctly. These are not low fat.)
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
2 1/4 cups flour (This is an occasion to break out the white flour)
6 oz. dried cranberries, chopped finely
1/2 cup roasted, salted pistachios, chopped finely
2 Tbsp. lime zest, chopped finely

Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare a baking sheet or two with oil or parchment paper. Using a mixer, cream together the Earth Balance and sugar. Slowly add in the flour until a dough forms. Stir in the cranberries, pistachios, and zest. If the dough is slightly too dry, add a bit of lime juice or water (by the DROP!). Pinch off about a tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Press the dough flat with a greased drinking glass or jar or your hand. This will make about 30 cookies, unless you end up making them too big like I do. Bake 11-12 minutes. The tops will look a bit dry when they are ready. Remove from baking sheet, cool and eat!

9 comments:

Gwenlet said...

Those look awesome!

Sarah said...

Are these the ones you had at your grad. school graduation party? I remember eating like 20 of those. Incredible!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

oh no!! I'm sorry you missed the deadline - these cranberry pistachio shortbread cookies look divine!!

Carla said...

oooh. i like the look of these! but do I need more cookies - not at all, maybe for christmas!!

Liz said...

Yep- these are the modified graduation party cookies!

Anonymous said...

Earth Balance ????

Liz said...

Sorry about that- Earth Balance is a great non-hydrogenated non-dairy buttery spread that works great for baking.

http://www.earthbalance.net/product.html#p3
Their website has some good information and you can find this at most natural foods stores.

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