Sunday, December 9, 2012

Cranberry Pistachio Shortbreads~

Every year I make shortbreads..these..every year:)without fail..



These are delicious too..and festive looking..
I think these were my favorite looking..

But this year I added some cranberries and pistachios to some~


While away in the USA..we went to Target a few times..It's such a lovely store..It always looks new..and fresh..and everything is always so tidy..
I found their holiday sections had great prices for the quality of the merchandise..I was able to pick up different wrapping sand add ons for gifts..
And these cute little things in their $ stands at the entrance..Small treat boxes and bakers  Christmas twine..

I opted for a recipe I found last year and refound this year..
Cranberry Pistachio Shortbreads as Jacques..likes everything in the recipe..
They are good and colorful and hold their shape very very well.

They stack up nicely..and tuck into the little gift bags perfectly..


The recipe is as easy as 1-2-3.

And you can find it here..at Joy of Baking..in it's entire form..

Or here..

La Recette:

2 1/3 cups of flour
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup or 2 sticks of unsalted butter at room temp
2/3 granulated white sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract..I use the bean paste
1 cup unsalted pistachios coarsely chopped
1 cup dried cranberries coarsely chopped

In a large bowl whisk flour and salt
In stand mixer..beat butter until smooth..add the sugar and beat until smooth and creamy...beat in vanilla..  gently stir in f lour mixture ..stir in nuts and cranberries making sure to incorporate evenly.

I formed mine into 2 logs.. and wrapped in Saran Wrap..refrigerated overnight..

The next day I sliced and baked on parchment papered cookie sheet at 325(pre-heated) for about 15-20 minutes.
Cooled on racks..


Enjoy..


..P.S.
You know I enjoy Pinterest...very much..

And sometimes I go to pin something and go to the source and I get a warning..so I do not proceed..
Last night..I pinned some chalkboard freebies---no warning..nothing..so I pinned to share..in one instant..an extra annoying toolbar inserted itself to my browsers..slowed everything down..went on AOL..Firefox..IE..Pinterest..etc..I spent at least 2 hours..Googling ...to remove..being led on a wild goose chase..Jacques stepped in also and found the last browser culprit..
So..just a head's up..that all is not what it appears..
Be cautious..these were cute and seemed harmless.



18 comments:

  1. Planning, baking, decorating and packaging...so much fun..yours are lovely and the shortbreads have me rethinking what I do...

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  2. Love the packaging, and the cookies also.

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  3. I do love shortbread. My husband split time in Scotland and Ireland for two year -- he loves it too. I love the addiiton of cranberries and pistacios. Target is a great store :). Sorry about those out those trying to take advantage of us who are just trying to be inspired. Joni

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  4. Monique, I will never ever be able to understand what motivates people to embedd such maliciousness in their pages. It's sad really. Glad you were able to get your computer sorted. The things you find . . . so very cute and you always know the perfect things to do with them! Your shortbreads are so very pretty. I am going to be baking shortbreads today I think. Not sure what kind yet. What would Christmas be without shortbreads. Not quite the same I don't think! Love and hugs to you my dear friend! xxoo

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  5. Every friday i make shortbread cookies for our shop customers...they are verry delicous !!..happy week love from me...xxx..

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  6. You are a culinary artist Monique; these are adorable. Bonne semaine.
    Rita

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  7. Cranberries & pistachios sound delicious together Monique. And so pretty too in the gift bag.

    Thanks for the warning about Pinterest. Most people, including magazines, want you to pin their stuff. I would have been very upset if that happened to me. Thank goodness Jacques help fix it. Thanks for the heads up.
    Sam

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  8. Yes..just be careful..I would miss Pinterest!

    Ria..how nice of you and welcoming for your shop..I used to dream of having a little shop..and I had thought I would always serve something :)
    Looking forward to seeing all your Christmas treats everyone..have a wonderful day.

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  9. Delightful, even more Christmasy version of shortbread, Monique. You know they are my favorites also - Dangerously so :) I hope to bake cookies with Mack today. Simple cut outs. We'll see how that goes :-)

    What a shame about that site. I wish I knew more about the offending culpit. I hate when things like that happen. Time is so precious around this time of year and not to be spent undoing computer evils!

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  10. We adore shortbread too. What a wonderful flavor combination. I love your fun packaging from Target. I will have to head over there. You are like me, when I travel, I love to pick up fun things at stores we don't have.

    So sorry about the computer glitch. That is awful. I usually like to go check out the recipe when I pin. That is horrible and we wouldn't know how to fix it either!!!

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  11. You will have fun with Mack:)I am certain..you'll love the cookies just cause he was part of making them..I bought an easy bake oven for here..and gave it to Caroline right after:) Oy I had forgotten..all the little things..like the big oven better now..

    Jacqueline I like to go to the source too..how many times do we pin and get to a flickr album..and no recipe:)

    This was 5 free chalkboard prints..I deleted the pin immediately..when I saw that thing pop into my computer..

    You're right not the time of yr to be stressed over a computer..that's about the only material thing that stresses me:) I can wait in line for hours..let people go ahead of me..read books..stitch..etc..but computer glitches?I just want to solve them and start Googlng..which leads sometimes to greater issues..Like when I am Dr Google for myself.

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  12. Just Beautiful Monique...I must try the cranberry pistachio ones!
    I love the doves....I need to see if I have a cutter.
    Bisous!
    L xo

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  13. Beautiful! Shortbreads are buttery treats I cannot resist. A great gift idea.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  14. Your little shortbread birds are adorable, Monique.
    Yes, I agree about Target. I love going there for any holiday shopping...they have all the latest items for cooking, things nobody else carries.
    (So many warnings pop up while you're googling, that sometimes I wonder if the computer's going to explode.)

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  15. Monique, Other than fruitcake I haven't got around to doing any Christmas baking this year. Just looking at your lovely Christmas goodies is inspiring.

    Ann

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  16. Finally, I've been waiting on your cranberry shortbread cookies every since you mentioned them in the comments on my blog! So good and with pistachios! Also love the cookies that look like birds - how pretty! Will have to check out that link.

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  17. Cranberries and pistachios is an excellent combination. I am putting this recipe in my recipe box. Thank you-)

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  18. Love, love, love the shortbread Doves. We have a Sur La Table not too far from me; tomorrow it's a search for a dove cookie cutter. I can just picture you twirling the display!! Last year I bought a copper Eiffel Tower and Giant Snowflake at Sur - love that store.
    Judy/Texas

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