Description
Buttery pistachio shortbread cookies elevate classic Scottish treats with rich, nutty elegance. Crisp, crumbly edges and delicate green hues invite sweet moments of pure indulgence you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 sticks (227 grams) salted butter
- 1 cup (120 grams) pistachios (without shells)
- 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
Sweeteners:
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
Coating/Decoration:
- 4 ounces (113 grams) dark chocolate
Instructions
- Prepare butter at room temperature, ensuring it’s soft but not melting. Gently cream butter until smooth and uniform.
- Incorporate sugar into the butter, mixing until just combined without whipping excessively to maintain a dense texture.
- Gradually fold in flour, stirring until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Use hands to bring the dough together gently.
- Roughly chop pistachios, maintaining some larger pieces for texture. Fold ⅔ of the nuts into the dough, kneading minimally to prevent toughness.
- Form dough into a log approximately the width of a paper towel roll. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm.
- Preheat oven to 320°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice chilled dough into ½-inch thick rounds and arrange on the sheet.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until edges turn golden. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Melt chocolate in microwave using 30-second intervals, stirring between each to prevent burning. Dip cookies halfway into melted chocolate.
- Place dipped cookies on parchment paper. Sprinkle remaining pistachios over wet chocolate. Optional: Add a pinch of flaky sea salt for enhanced flavor.
Notes
- Softening butter is crucial for achieving a smooth, creamy texture without overworking the dough.
- Room-temperature ingredients blend more evenly, creating a more consistent cookie base.
- Gentle mixing prevents incorporating too much air, keeping the shortbread dense and rich.
- Chopping pistachios unevenly provides delightful texture variations in each bite.
- Chilling the dough helps cookies maintain their shape and develops deeper flavors.
- Use high-quality chocolate for dipping to elevate the overall taste experience.
- Flaky sea salt adds a sophisticated contrast to the sweet chocolate and nutty pistachios.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 168
- Sugar: 4.2 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 10.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 6.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18.8 g
- Fiber: 0.6 g
- Protein: 2.3 g
- Cholesterol: 31 mg