Best Pistachio Cherry Sandwich Cookies Recipes

PISTACHIO-CHERRY SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Pulse the butter, sugar, honey, egg yolk and vanilla in a food processor until creamy, scraping down the processor with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the flour and pistachios and pulse until the dough just comes together, 4 to 5 pulses.
• Transfer the dough to a sheet of parchment paper and knead until uniform. Divide the dough in half. Roll each half into a compact log, about 1 inch in diameter. Wrap the logs individually in parchment paper or plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 30 minutes and up to 3 weeks.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice the logs into 1/4-inch-thick rounds and place them on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until the cookies are firm and lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Spoon about 1/4 teaspoon cherry preserves on the undersides of half of the cookies, then sandwich with the remaining cookies. Store in an airtight container 2 to 3 days.

PISTACHIO CHERRY SHORTBREAD COOKIE TOWER (KRANSEKAKE)

Steps:

• Beat together the butter and confectioners' sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer until combined. Add the vanilla and mix until just combined.
• In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, ground pistachios and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar, beating just to combine. Add the dried cherries and mix just until combined; the mixture will look crumbly. Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface and knead few times with your hands until the dough comes together. Divide into 3 pieces and form each piece into a disk; wrap with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 4 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Roll the dough, one disc at a time, to 1/3-to-1/2-inch thick. Cut 2 rounds with a 6-inch cutter. Cut the center from each with a 4-inch cutter to create rings. Then cut 2 rounds with a 5 1/2-inch cutter and use a 3 1/2-inch cutter to create rings. Cut 2 rounds with a 5-inch cutter and use a 3-inch cutter to create rings. Cut 2 rounds with a 4 1/2-inch cutter and use a 2 1/2-inch cutter to make rings. Cut 2 rounds with a 4-inch cutter and use a 2-inch cutter to make rings. Cut 2 rounds with a 3 1/2-inch cutter and use a 1 1/2-inch cutter to make rings. Cut 2 rounds with a 3-inch cutter and use a 1-inch cutter to make rings. Cut 2 rounds with a 2 1/2-inch cutter and 2 rounds with a 2-inch cutter, leaving them whole. You may gather and reroll the scraps up to 2 times if needed but you will need to chill the dough before rerolling.
• Arrange the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 1 inch of space in between. Bake until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden brown, about 22 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool the cookies completely on a wire rack before assembling.
• When ready to assemble, stack the two 6-inch ring cookies atop each other, using the white Royal Icing to adhere to one another creating a sandwich. Repeat with the other like-size cookies so they are all in 2-cookie stacks.
• To assemble the tower, pipe white icing on the bottom of the stack of 6-inch cookies and set it on a decorative platter (the icing will help it adhere). Decorate the cookies with swags of red icing and add the next-largest sandwich. Continue decorating with swags of alternating colors of icing and stacks of cookies in descending sizes. Finish with the solid rounds on top.
• Add the confectioners' sugar and meringue powder to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; turn on low to combine. Add the water 1 tablespoon at a time, beating with the mixer on medium speed until the icing is thick and glossy but soft enough to pipe. Divide among 3 bowls, tinting one red, one green and leaving one white. Transfer the icing to plastic piping bags; snip off the corners.

CHERRY PISTACHIO COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Grind the 1/4 cup flour with the 1/4 cup pistachios in a mini chopper or a clean coffee grinder until a coarse meal is achieved. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• 2. Chop the cherries and add to bowl. Mix and separate the cherry pieces. I do this with clean hands.
• 3. Add the sugar and zest. Rub into the mix with fingertips to infuse all the flavors.
• 4. Stir in the salt and soda with a fork.
• 5. Knead in, by hand, the flour, butter, egg, and remaining pistachios.
• 6. Form 1 1/2 inch balls of dough and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Leave room for spreading out. Flatten each ball with the tines of a fork.
• 7. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 18 minutes or until slightly browned and set. Rest 2 minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely. Store airtight. Makes 28 cookies.

PISTACHIO CREAM CHEESE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter, cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until blended. Beat in egg, lemon zest, vanilla and food coloring. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture., Divide dough in half; shape each into a 7-1/2-in.-long roll. Roll in chopped pistachios. Wrap and refrigerate 2 hours or until firm., Preheat oven to 375°. Unwrap and cut crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press a whole pistachio into the center of each cookie., Bake 7-9 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

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.