Belula

Pistachio Cranberry Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

These pistachio cranberry shortbread cookies are easy to make. They are super buttery, flaky, flavored with orange zest and dipped in dark chocolate to make them even better.

Belula December 30, 2021
One cranberry pistachio chocolate dipped shortbread pistachio cookie with others on the side and some dried cranberries around.

These pistachio cranberry shortbread cookies are super easy to make! The dough is shaped into a log, later sliced, baked, and dipped into dark chocolate glaze. The dough is also flavored with orange zest, which makes these cookies very flavorful and simply irresistible. Can’t wait for you to try them!

Ingredient Notes

  • Cranberries: use dried cranberries
  • Pistachios: make sure to crush them or cut them into small pieces.
  • Dark Chocolate: use a good quality chocolate!
The shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate drizzled with crushed pistachios placed in a domino effect manner seen from the front.
One shortbread cookie dipped in chocolate drizzled with crushed pistachios on a green plate with pistachios all around.
One hand holding one shortbread cookie dipped in chocolate drizzled with crushed pistachios with other cookies around.

How to make this recipe

To make these cranberry pistachio shortbread cookies you simply must:

  • Make the dough.
  • Roll the dough into a log 18 cm long (7 inches) and 6 cm (2.4 inches) in diameter.
  • Brush the log with egg wash and roll it in sugar.
  • Slice the log into cookies 1.5 cm thick.
  • Bake the cookies.
  • Dip the shortbread cookies in chocolate and sprinkle with pistachios.
  • Enjoy!
A bowl with the mixed sugar and butter to make the cranberry shortbread cookies.
The egg with 1/3 of flour plus the butter and the sugar inside the bowl.
The cookie dough plus the remaining flour inside a bowl.
The shortbread cookie dough with the cranberries and the pistachios inside the bowl.
The cranberry pistachio shortbread cookie dough shaped as a ball.
The cranberry pistachio shortbread cookie dough shaped as a log.
2 hands covering the cranberry pistachio shortbread cookie dough shaped as a log with parchment paper.
2 hands brushing the shortbread log with egg wash.
2 hands rolling the cookie dough log in sugar.
2 hands slicing the cranberry pistachio shortbread cookies with a knife on a wooden chopping board.
The cranberry pistachio shortbread cookies placed on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Closeup of one raw cranberry pistachio shortbread cookie.
Closeup of the baked cranberry pistachio shortbread cookies.
One hand dipping a cranberry pistachio shortbread cookie in a bowl full of melted chocolate with other cookies around.
One hand dipping a cranberry pistachio shortbread cookie in a bowl full of melted chocolate with other cookies around.
The shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate drizzled with crushed pistachios.

Recipe Notes

  • Make sure pistachios and cranberries are cut into small pieces to that when slicing the cookies, the log doesn't break apart.
  • After rolling the dough into a log, cover in saran wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Strain the egg wash to remove all the egg impurities.
  • When you remove the log from the refrigerator, let it sit 5 minutes. Then roll it out to smooth out the edges and make it as round as possible.
  • Slice the cookies using a sharp knife. 1.5 cm is a reference, you can slice these cranberry shortbread cookies thinner if this is your preference. Adjust baking time in case, as they will bake for a shorter time.
  • The chocolate/oil mixture must be at 30 C° when dipping the shortbread cookies.
  • After dipping the cookies, place onto a wire rack and let the chocolate set at room temperature before eating them.
  • Bake until golden.
The pistachio cranberry shortbread cookies arranged in an irregular manner as seen from above.
4 shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate drizzled with crushed pistachios placed in a domino effect manner seen from the side.
4 stacked cookies dipped in chocolate drizzled with crushed pistachios

Expert Notes

  • If you prefer smaller cookies, you can divide the dough into 2 pieces and roll out each piece into logs of 4 cm in diameter. Also, you must slice these thinner, no more than 1 cm thick.
  • Baking time is approximate! It will depend on your oven and the thickness of the shortbread cookies! So, check on them, they are ready when golden around the edges.

Making ahead

The dough can be made up to 3 days in advance and kept rolled into a log in the refrigerator. Then simply slice and bake the cookies once you are ready!

Storage tips

These pistachio shortbread cookies must be kept in an airtight container. They keep for up to 1 week properly stored.

Freezer instructions

  • The raw log: properly wrapped and stored in a freezer container or bag it can be kept for up to 3 months in the freezer. To defrost, place in the refrigerator overnight then proceed to slice and bake the shortbread cookies as instructed in the recipe.
  • The sliced cranberry pistachio shortbread cookies: place in the freezer in a baking tray lined with parchment paper and cover with saran wrap until cookies are completely frozen. Then transfer to freezer bag or container. Can be kept for up to 3 months. To defrost: place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper at room temperature for 1 hour. Then proceed to bake as instructed in the recipe.
  • Baked cranberry pistachio shortbread cookies: stored in a freezer bag or container they can be kept frozen for up to 1 month. To defrost: place at room temperature for about 3 hours. Then dip in chocolate as instructed in the recipe.
One cranberry pistachio chocolate dipped shortbread pistachio cookie with others on the side and some dried cranberries around.
Closeup of one shortbread cookie dipped in chocolate drizzled with crushed pistachios.

Variations to this recipe

You can dip in white chocolate, simply swap the dark chocolate in the recipe with white chocolate.

Pistachios can be replaced with other nuts such as almonds or hazelnuts.

You can remove the orange zest from the recipe or replace it with lemon zest.

The ingredients used in all recipes on this site are measured using the metric system. I use a scale to be precise with my measurements and ensure good results. If you would also like to use a scale, here are some: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, France.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 10 servings
Nutrition: 298 cal
Cuisine: French

Ingredients

Pistachio Cranberry Shortbread Cookies

  • Unsalted Butter 120 g
  • Granulated Sugar 100 g
  • Orange Zest (the zest of 1 orange) 1
  • Salt 1 pinch
  • Flour 220 g
  • Eggs (large) 1
  • Raw Pistachios (crushed) 70 g
  • Dried Cranberries 70 g

Egg Wash

  • Eggs 1
  • Salt 1 pinch
  • Sugar (for covering the log) 150 g

Chocolate Glaze

  • Dark Chocolate 120 g
  • Neutral Oil 25 g
  • Crushed Pistachios 30 g
  • Dried Cranberries 30 g

Procedure

  • 1. Make the cranberry pistachio shortbread cookie dough: Mix the sugar, orange zest and the softened butter until the mixture is fluffy. Add in 1/3 of the flour/salt mixture and the egg and mix until combined. Add in the remaining 2/3 of the flour and mix until combined. Finally add in the thinly chopped pistachios and cranberries and mix until properly incorporated into the dough.
  • 2. Shape the shortbread dough: Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and shape into a log of about 18 cm long and 6 cm in diameter. Cover with parchment paper and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
  • 3. Roll the log in sugar: Pre-heat the oven to 170C° (340 F). Prepare the egg wash by mixing the egg with the salt. Strain and set aside. Remove the shortbread dough from the refrigerator, brush with egg wash and cover the log with sugar.
  • 4. Slice and bake the pistachio shortbread cookies: Slice 1.5 cm cookies off the log. Place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper leaving space between them. Bake for about 25 minutes, until cookies are golden around the edges. Let the cookies cool off over a wire rack at room temperature.
  • 5. Dip the shortbread cookies: Once the cookies have completely cooled off prepare the chocolate glaze. Melt the chocolate over a water bath (or using the microwave) then add the oil and mix until combined. Place in a small bowl, then dip 1/3 of each cookie into the chocolate and sprinkle with crushed pistachios and chopped dried cranberries. Place over a wire rack until the chocolate has completely set. Enjoy!
If you made this recipe I would really appreciate it if you leave a rating or comment below! Also, if you share on social media please use #cookwithbelula, I would love to see what you create!
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1 Comment
Wendi January 19, 2022

These are to die for! I had dried cherries and pistachios on hand, didn’t even dip into chocolate, so addictive! I love the freezing options that help me control myself from eating an entire batch! Thanks so much, definitely a keeper.

Belén Gowland
Belula January 25, 2022

HI Wendi!!
So happy you liked them! The freezer option is so practical, and I totally understand eating the whole batch lol Happy to help! Thank you for taking the time to come here and write this message! I appreciate it!

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