Attention all food lovers and dessert enthusiasts! Imagine sinking your teeth into a buttery, crumbly shortbread with bursts of tart cranberries and crunchy pistachios. These easy Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread are a match made in heaven.
These delightful treats are not only delicious, but are lovely for the holiday season with their festive natural red and green colors.
The first time I made these were for the teachers at my son's school. The next day I heard rumors of shenanigans amongst some of them trying to keep them all for themselves.
They are that good.
Ingredients for Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread
Pistachios aren't the first choice of nuts when it comes to cookies. Pecans, walnuts and almonds are the usual go tos. But, pistachios are wonderful in these. Not only are they colorful but the flavor is a lovely contrast to the buttery shortbread and the tangy cranberries.
You could swap dried cherries for the cranberries if you prefer for the red green color combo.
The shortbread cookies are a simple concoction of basic ingredients:
- butter
- powdered sugar
- flour
- vanilla extract
Christmas Cookies Week
Huge THANK YOU to fellow Christmas cookie lover Jolene from Jolene's Recipe Journal for organizing Christmas Cookies Week.
Recipe
Ingredients
- ยฝ cup butter (softened)
- ยพ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ยฝ cup dried cranberries
- ยฝ cup pistachio nuts (halved or chopped)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 2-3 minutes. Add vanilla and mix to combine.
- Add flour until combined. Stir in cranberries and pistachios.
- Roll the dough into a 2 inch cylinder. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
- Preheat oven to 325โ.
- Slice dough in ยผ inch slices and place on a baking sheet, 1 inch apart.
- Bake 12-15 minutes until edges are just beginning to change color.
- Let cool for a minute or two on the pan then move to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Sound fabulous? Share it!
More Christmas Cookies
Wendy Klik
I can just imagine how tender and tasty these butter cookies were. Love the addition of cranberries.
Audrey
The were quite tender.
Tracy | Pale Yellow
Love the simple ingredient list. No surprise they were all snatched up!
Audrey
Simple is usually best when it comes to cookies.
Amy | Amy's Cooking Adventures
I love pistachios! I bet they're amazing in cookies!
Audrey
I will be trying them in even more cookies now, they are fabulous.
Susan
Your son's school staff paid you the highest compliments over these cookies. I am definitely giving them a try with all those rave reviews.
Audrey
When the Vice Principal tries to dupe the Principal that says something, doesn't it? ha ha!
Joanne/Wine Lady Cooks
This is a great shortbread cookie, love how you can add in cranberries and pistachios for a Fall Cookie. Great recipe that is quick and easy which is always my favorite as well. Thanks for sharing!
Audrey
Quick and easy are my favorites too.
Kris ~ Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cokies
Love cranberries. Even more than my love for them is my love of pistachios, so I know I would adore this cookie!!
Audrey
I'd never really thought to put pistachio in cookies before but they were great.
GiGi Eats
These cookies TOTALLY remind me of XMAS and I could NOT be more excited for the holidays - but first... WEDDING!!!!
Audrey
I guessed that was what your "big news" announcement was going to be. Congratulations!
Cindy's Recipes and Writings
What a great choice for shortbread! Love these Audrey!
Audrey
Shortbread is always a winner in my house and the pistachios were incredible.
Erin Table for Seven
These looks delicious..What a great combo of cranberry and pistachios!
Audrey
It was a great combination and now I am seeing it everywhere.
Nichole @ Cookaholic Wife
I haven't had pistachios in forever. Now I want them...in these cookies!
Audrey
I had to hide them from my husband or he would have eaten them all before i could make the cookies.
Cynthia
Love pistachios! What a great combination of ingredients. I love your story too! I am so glad you are a part of the Fill The Cookie Jar group! See you next month.
Audrey
Thank you for starting and organizing this group through thick and thin!
Jolene
Love shortbread and these are so pretty! Will have to add pistachios to the shopping list!
Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck
I'd be trying to keep these all to myself as well! Cranberry and pistachio is such a winning combo...especially during the holidays!