- If there is one cookie in this year's Starry Night collection that positively shouts CHRISTMAS, it has to be this one. If you don't overbrown the cookies, the sparkling red cranberries, green pistachios, and yellow lemon zest and candied ginger will glow like little jewels. To enhance this jewel-like effect, I like to keep the surface embellishment to just a light dusting of fine, clear sanding sugar, which lends sparkle but doesn't detract from the colorful bits studding each cookie.
And the flavors-oh my! This is one cookie that is as interesting on the first bite as on the tenth bite. In fact, it's hard to stop eating these delectable, crisp, yet chewy, little morsels. You might want to make a double batch, and hide one batch for yourself, because your family and friends will beg you mercilessly for all you will give them. Trust me, I've learned this lesson the hard way.
In true shortbread style, I roll these cookies just a little thicker than usual. This makes them good candidates for shipping, as they don't break as easily as thinner cookies. The added thickness is also better as a vehicle for the cup and a half of chopped goodies that go into the dough. You don't want to flatten these goodies too much in the roiling process.
If there is a trick to this recipe, it is in ensuring that the cranberries and candied ginger are super plump and moist to begin with. Do not use a forgotten bag of dried up cranberries or candied ginger for these cookies. That might not spell disaster in a more liquid batter, such as a muffin or cake, but here there is no moisture for these ingredients to grab. Plus, the baking itself is drying, potentially rendering these succulent, sparkling bits as hard and unchewable as pebbles.
Cranberry , Pistachio & Ginger Shortbread
These cookies are loaded with interesting textures and flavors, all held together in a buttery, lemony shortbread. Be sure to use very fresh and moist dried cranberries and candied ginger.
INGEDIENT NOTE Trader Joe's sells super moist and very delicious candied ginger chunks. If you can get them, definitely use for this recipe.
2 3/4 cups King Arthur unbleached, all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (3 sticks)
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon lemon oil (or 1 teaspoon lemon extract)
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup roasted, unsalted pistachios, chopped
1/2 cup moist candied ginger, chopped
Finishing
clear sanding sugar, optional
To follow along as we bake our way through this year's Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies: Starry Night collection, see the kickoff post and the entire collection
Also, check out last year's collection, Twelve Days of Christmas Cookies: Deck the Halls
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Tags: candied ginger , Christmas , cookies , Cranberries , dessert , holiday , pistachios , shortbread , twelve days of Christmas cookies
This entry was posted
7th,
2009 at
07 pm and is filed under Cookies , Let It Snow .
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Monday, December 7, 2009 By Susan S. Bradley
15 Responses to "Cranberry, Pistachio & Candied Ginger Shortbread"
