Sugar Cookies With Pistachio And Dried Cherries Recipes

CHERRY PISTACHIO COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and orange zest. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and cream of tartar; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in cherries and pistachios., Divide dough in half ; shape each into an 11-in.-long roll. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate at least 2 hours or until firm., Preheat oven to 375°. Unwrap and cut dough crosswise into 1/2-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Frost cookies with melted white chocolate; let stand until set., To Make Ahead: Dough can be made 2 days in advance. Wrap in plastic and place in a resealable bag. Store in the refrigerator., Freeze option: Place wrapped rolls in a resealable plastic freezer bag and freeze. To use, unwrap frozen logs and cut into slices. If necessary, let dough stand 15 minutes at room temperature before cutting. Bake as directed, increasing time by 1-2 minutes. Decorate as directed.

SUGAR COOKIES WITH PISTACHIO AND DRIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Open sugar cookie log and press into a rectangle on cutting board.
• Add pistachios and cherries.
• Press into dough and then re-shape into a log.
• Slice into 1/4 inch rounds.
• Transfer cookies to a baking sheet.
• Bake 7-11 minutes until golden around the edges.
• Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
• While cookies are baking, melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler or a bowl over simmering water.
• When cookies are cool, dip bottom half of cookies into melted chocolate and place on waxed or parchment paper to cool.

DRIED CHERRY AND ALMOND COOKIES WITH VANILLA ICING

Steps:

• For the Cookies:
• In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, cinnamon, and salt until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, then beat in the egg. Add the flour and beat on the lowest speed until just blended. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the dried cherries and almonds.
• Transfer the dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and shape it into a log, about 12-inches long and 1 1/2-inches in diameter. Wrap the dough in the plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. (Dough can be made up to 3 days in advance).
• Arrange an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 heavy baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cut the log crosswise into 1/2-inch thick slices. Transfer the dough slices to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1-inch apart. Bake until the cookies are golden around the edges and puffed, about 15 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before icing, about 30 minutes.
• For the Icing:
• Put the powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in the vanilla extract and water, adding more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the mixture becomes a drizzling consistency. (Makes about 2/3 cups icing, enough to ice both variations.)
• Put the cooled cookies on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Using a spoon or a fork, drizzle the cookies with the icing, allowing any excess icing to drip onto the baking sheet. Allow the icing to set before serving, about 1 hour.
• Cook's Note: To toast the almonds, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 6 to 8 minutes until lightly toasted. Cool completely before using.
• Cook's Note Alternative:
• Replace the dried cherries with 1/2 cup coarsely chopped dried apricots and add 2 tablespoons of toasted pine nuts. Also, use 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and omit the almond extract.

SUGAR COOKIES WITH PISTACHIO AND DRIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Open sugar cookie log and press into a rectangle on cutting board. Add pistachios and cherries, press into dough and then re-shape into a log. Slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Transfer cookies to a baking sheet.
• Bake 7 to 11 minutes, until golden around the edges. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
• While cookies are baking, melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler or bowl over simmering water.
• When cookies are cool, dip bottom half of cookies into melted white chocolate and place on waxed or parchment paper to cool.

CHERRY PISTACHIO SLICE-AND-BAKE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer, beat sugar, butter and oil until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until combined. Add flour mixture to egg mixture in 5 batches. Stir in cherries and chocolate. Divide dough in half; form into two logs, 2 inches by 8 inches; wrap in plastic wrap and freeze, 1 hour. Heat oven to 350°. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. Spread nuts on a cutting board; roll logs in nuts. Cut logs into 20 slices each and arrange on baking sheets. Press cookies lightly. Bake until golden, 8 to 9 minutes; transfer to wire rack.

SUGAR COOKIES WITH PISTACHIOS AND DRIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
• 2. Open sugar cookie log, and press into a rectangle, on a cutting board. Add pistachios and cherries, press into dough, and then, reshape into a log. Slice into 1/4 inch thick rounds.
• 3. Transfer cookies to a baking sheet. Bake 7-11 minutes, until golden around edges. Transfer to wire racks, to cool completely.
• 4. While cookies are baking, melt white chocolate chips, in a double boiler or bowl over simmering water. When cookies are cool, dip bottom half of cookies into melted white chocolate, and place on wax paper or parchment paper, to cool.