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Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

5 from 6 votes

Pistachio Shortbread Cookies - A simple slice and bake shortbread cookie loaded with buttery flavor, vanilla beans and pistachios.

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Tender and buttery Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

 

We recently shared a recipe for Pecan Sandies and were so thrilled with the texture and taste, we had to make them again using pistachios and just a few small tweaks.   I couldn’t resist making another version especially after I found a bag of pistachios hiding in the pantry.  As you know, nuts don’t last forever so of course it was the right thing to do.  I couldn’t wait to see how the little green pistachios looked against the tender buttery cookie dough with the sugary crust.  These Pistachio Shortbread Cookies were a big hit and barely lasted 24 hours.    Twenty-four cookies in 24 hours … you can do the math!  Just kidding!  We shared some … a few … maybe three 🙂

 

 

Pistachio Shortbread Cookies-1 Pistachio Shortbread Cookies-2

This dough is practically perfect in every way.  It’s not at all greasy, crumbly or sticky.  It rolls up beautifully and after a few hours in the refrigerator, all you have to do is slice and bake.  Look at all those vanilla beans!  The Pecan Sandies were brushed with a beaten egg yolk and rolled in Turbinado Sugar.  These cookies were brushed with a lightly beaten egg white and rolled in coarse white sugar for a lighter look.  Both processes work great for these cookies.

 

Tender and buttery Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

I would love to experiment with the dough as a crust in a small tart.  If the nuts are finely ground, this would be pretty easy to press into a pan.

 

 

Tender and buttery Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

It was hard but I resisted the urge to add chopped dried cherries or white chocolate chips.  The simple buttery cookies with vanilla beans and toasted nuts have more than enough flavor for me.

 

Tender and buttery Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

 

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Tender and buttery Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

 

Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Author: Tricia
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5 from 6 votes
A simple slice and bake shortbread cookie loaded with buttery flavor, vanilla beans and pistachios.

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unsalted pistachios shelled
  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • ½ vanilla bean seeds removed
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg white lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons light colored coarse sugar I used organic white coarse can sugar - regular granulated sugar would work great too

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter for 1 minute until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla bean seeds, salt and vanilla to the butter and blend on medium low until combined.
  • Add the flour a little at a time and mix until incorporated.
  • Fold in the pistachios using a rubber spatula.
  • Place the dough on a large piece of parchment paper lightly dusted with flour. Form the dough into a log 12-inches long and about 1½ inches thick. Wrap the dough tightly in the parchment paper and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
  • When ready to bake preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Remove the dough from the refrigerator to rest while preparing the egg wash.
  • Gently beat one egg white with ½ teaspoon water.
  • Lightly brush the entire log with the egg white then roll in the coarse sugar to coat.
  • Slice into ½-inch thick rounds and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Bake for 16 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottom and set.
  • Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container.

Recipe Notes

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 156IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

 

Pecan Sandies-5

Pecan Sandies

 

Are you a shortbread fan?  I am a short-shortbread fan but I know tall people that like them too.  Hope you have a terrific weekend!  We have a little snow in the forecast if you can believe it.  As long as I don’t have to shovel any more snow I’m fine with it.  It won’t be long until we are talking about how hot it is outside!  Thanks so much for stopping by – and don’t forget to make these cookies soon 🙂

Tricia

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42 Comments

  1. Amy

    5 stars
    Absolutely fantastic. So delicious, everybody raves about them.
    I dip half each cookie in dark chocolate for an added touch. Yummy!

    Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      I LOVE that you dipped some of the cookies in chocolate Amy. I’m going to try that next time I make these. Thank you so much for the feedback and for trying the recipe 🙂

      Reply

  2. Ailenid

    They were amazing. I did swap the vainilla bean for orange zest and omit the salt since my pistacios were salted. Everyone at the house loved them and they were so easy to make. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

  3. Susan

    Oh, my, my, my! Being a die-hard pistaschio and shortbread lover my mouth is watering over these, Tricia. I keep my pistachios in the freezer – makes them last so much longer and the really taste great right from the freezer too.

    Reply

  4. cheri

    Hi Tricia, these cookies look scrumptious, love that you added vanilla bean. Sounds like is would make a great crust. Hope you are having a wonderful week-end.

    Reply

  6. Muna Kenny

    When I was a little girl my Aunt used to bring me and my sisters Persian cookies, those cookies were delicate and perfumed with rose water, and looked exactly like your shortbread! So beautiful and elegant, as always 🙂

    Reply

  7. Beth

    Ooh … I love pistachios, and I love shortbread – I think I’d adore these cookies! (And I might even be tempted to add those dried cherries that you mentioned.)

    Reply

    • Tricia Buice

      I feel a new adaptation coming Beth! I think these cookies would be good with just about anything added or even plain. Hope you have a wonderful week – thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

  8. Dom

    I adore shortbread. I think it must be my favourite and I love cut cookies from a log like this, they just look so perfectly homemade! Love the pistachios too!

    Reply

  11. Mimi

    I don’t make cookies for the most part (cause I would eat them all) but I might have to make an exception for this recipe. They’re beautiful, and when I catered, I always relied on refrigerated cookie dough because the cookies were more consistent. I made a similar recipe for a friend’s wedding with rose petals!!! The dough is so versatile – I’d be adding extra goodies to the pistachios, too!

    Reply

  14. Abbe @ This is How I Cook

    Outstanding Tricia! As a matter of fact I just made your pecan version two days ago. I used half brown sugar and half powdered, switched to walnuts and added 1 1/2 T of walnut oil. No photos, unless you want an X-ray. Sent them home with Manservant’s assistant because they are way too dangerous! I’m sure this version is the same!

    Reply

  15. Chris Scheuer

    I’m not sure how a few simple ingredients can be transformed into something so wonderful but shortbread cookies are on the top of my list of favorites. And adding pistachios is a wonderful idea and so pretty too!

    Reply

  16. Monica

    So gorgeous! I love pistachios in everything, Tricia. Always seems like if a dessert has pistachios, it’s going to be a big hit. I can practically taste these cookies…

    Reply

  18. Sara

    I love pistachios and they are such an underutilized ingredient in baking. These cookies look absolutely amazing, I could definitely eat more than my share 😉

    Reply

  20. Liz

    Oh, my. These look perfect! I adore pistachios and could eat them in record time, too. But those pecan sandies are calling my name, too! YUM!

    Reply

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