Pistachio–Cherry Icebox Cookies
By Amy Traverso|Nov 04 2013|
Pastry chef/teacher Cindy Salvato developed these pistachio-cherry icebox cookies for Yankee in 2004, and they remain a favorite, both for their exceptional flavor and for their festive red-and-green color scheme.
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Yield
about 4 dozen cookies
Total Time
1 hour 30 minutes minutes
Hands-on Time
30 minutes minutes
Ingredients
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature, softened, plus more for pan
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 large egg, separated
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup pistachio nuts, roughly chopped
1 8-ounce container candied red cherries, roughly chopped
1/3 cup coarse or sanding sugar
Instructions
Using a standing or hand-held mixer, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Beat the egg yolk in; mix well. Add the flour and pistachios; blend on low speed until just combined. With a strong spoon or your hands, mix the cherries in. Divide the dough in half, and roll each piece into a log about 12 inches long. Wrap in plastic and chill at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.
Preheat your oven to 350° and set a rack to the middle position. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (or grease lightly with butter). Pour the coarse sugar onto a piece of waxed paper or aluminum foil.
Brush the egg white lightly over the surface of the log; press and roll the log into the sugar. Using a sharp knife, slice the log into 1/2-inch rounds; transfer to the cookie sheet and bake 12 to 15 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Cool completely, and store in an airtight container or freeze.
These cookies are amazing and so easy to make. They are a rich shortbread with nuts and cherries…. a perfect combination I make half with green cherries and half with red cherries, alternating the colored sugar with the color of the cherry used. . I usually make in large batches and roll the logs in in saran and then in foil and keep in my freezer. This way I have a fresh batch whenever I need during the holidays. Just thaw at room temp, slice and bake. Seriously, this cookie is fantastic!
Can maraschino cherries be used instead of candied?