These lemon shortbread cookies are going to change the way you make cookies forever!
The Best Pistachio Cookies
I am new to shortbread cookies. They just didn’t seem appealing to me when I could have a soft, chewy cookie instead. (Don’t we all prefer soft cookies over crunchy ones?)
Well, I did until now. I saw a recipe for Dark Chocolate Cranberry Shortbread Cookies and I immediately knew I had to try them.
The result? I fell head-over-heels in love with shortbread cookies and I began to realize how many variations I could make of these cookies.
My first variation was Lemon Pistachio Shortbread Cookies. (I also added some chocolate chips to the dough, but adding it to the name would make it WAY too long. Lemon Pistachio Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies. See what I mean? The chocolate is optional anyway.)
The thing that takes the most time with these cookies is freezing the dough. However, this is also a good thing, because you can make the dough days in advance, put it in the freezer, and then take it out when you want to bake the cookies so they will be nice and fresh.
How To Make Lemon Pistachio Cookies
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup butter, room-temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp. lemon juice (You can add a drop or two of lemon essential oil if you really want to kick up the flavor. Just make sure that your essential oil is safe for internal use).
- 2 cups flour
- 1/3 cup coarsely chopped pistachios
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
- Beat the butter for about two minutes in a large bowl. Butter should be pale and creamy.
- Add the lemon juice and beat another second or two until it is mixed in.
- Remove the bowl from your mixer (or take your beaters out of the bowl).
- Sift in the powdered sugar and gently stir with a wooden spoon.
- Sift in the flour and stir gently.
- Add the chopped pistachios and chocolate chips (if desired) and stir until combined.
- Put an 18″ (approximately) sheet of plastic wrap on the counter. (You can keep the wrap from moving around by wiping the counter with a slightly damp cloth beforehand).
- Put your dough onto the wrap and form into a long “log” about two inches thick. Press log tightly together so it does not come apart.
- Roll the dough up in the plastic wrap and put in the freezer until ready to bake.
- To bake, remove the log from the freezer and allow to thaw for about 15 minutes. Unwrap and slice into 1/2″ thick slices. (You may need to wait a bit longer for the log to thaw before you can cut into it. I use a large butcher knife to cut the cookie dough).
- Place on a baking sheet with a baking mat, or on a stoneware pan.
- Bake at 320 degrees for 16-18 minutes (longer if you use stoneware).
Lemon Pistachio Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, room-temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp. lemon juice, You can add a drop or two of lemon essential oil if you really want to kick up the flavor. Just make sure that your essential oil is safe for internal use.
- 2 cups flour
- 1/3 cup coarsely chopped pistachios
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
- Beat the butter for about two minutes in a large bowl. Butter should be pale and creamy.
- Add the lemon juice and beat another second or two until it is mixed in.
- Remove the bowl from your mixer (or take your beaters out of the bowl).
- Sift in the powdered sugar and gently stir with a wooden spoon.
- Sift in the flour and stir gently.
- Add the chopped pistachios and chocolate chips (if desired) and stir until combined.
- Put an 18″ (approximately) sheet of plastic wrap on the counter. (You can keep the wrap from moving around by wiping the counter with a slightly damp cloth beforehand).
- Put your dough onto the wrap and form into a long “log” about two inches thick. Press log tightly together so it does not come apart.
- Roll the dough up in the plastic wrap and put in the freezer until ready to bake.
- To bake, remove the log from the freezer and allow to thaw for about 15 minutes. Unwrap and slice into 1/2″ thick slices. (You may need to wait a bit longer for the log to thaw before you can cut into it. I use a large butcher knife to cut the cookie dough).
- Place on a baking sheet with a baking mat, or on a stoneware pan.
- Bake at 320 degrees for 16-18 minutes (longer if you use stoneware).
Nutrition
Other Notes
