Cherry Pistachio Ice Box Cookies
Cherry Pistachio Ice Box Cookies are buttery rich with festive Christmas colors of red and green. A perfect little cookie to add to any holiday treats platter.
Today we are doing special Make-Ahead cookie recipes for the holidays with Creative Cookie Exchange.
Wonderful cookie recipes that you can stow in your freezer and then bring out when the company arrives and you have fresh baked cookies at hand. Easy right? You betcha!!
The cookie that I choose I have made for countless years, actually, it is by Epicurious from 2006. Originally made with cranberries and I have done that also but have changed it over the years to cherries.
It has the traditional colors of Christmas, red and green and a wonderful sugared edge to make it even more festive. I also like that this cookie is squared off, it adds another shape to your festive cookie platter.
Wrapped up in plastic wrap and foil and placed in the freezer so that it is ready when you are for fresh baked cookies!! The original recipe has you place the dough in the fridge for at least 2 hours but I put it right into the freezer.
The finished product is a delicious cookie with pistachios, red cherries, and a hint of orange, bringing you all the flavors and colors for the holidays. I love making this cookie and I hope you do too!! ENJOY!!
Cherry Pistachio Ice Box Cookies for Creative Cookie Exchange
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp. finely grated orange zest
- 1/2 cup shelled natural pistachios
- 1/3 cup candy cherries
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup sugar sprinkles
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- Beat together butter, sugar, and zest in a bowl of a stand-up mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix until fluffy about 3 min.
- Gradually add in flour mixture on low in 3 separate batches. Mix until well incorporated and then add in the pistachios and cherries.
- Gather up the dough and divide it into two separate mounds on plastic wrap. Using the plastic wrap shape into a log about 1 1/2" in diameter. Now shape the log into a square shape by rolling onto aside and pressing slightly.
- Wrap the logs in foil and freeze until ready to use. Thaw slightly and paint with the egg, roll in sprinkles, and slice into 1/4" thick slices, rotating the log so that it stays square.
- Place slices on parchment-lined cookie sheets and bake at 350F for 15 min. or until golden brown.
- Let cool on cooling racks.
Notes
Nutrition
Creative Cookie Exchange
To join in the fun, just complete the steps below:
1. Write a blog post with the recipe and original photo. The theme this month is to make ahead freezer cookies for the holidays. The post should describe how to freeze the dough and also how to bake the dough when you are ready. We would like the recipe to be one you’re making for the first time, and photos must be original.
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You can also just use us as a great resource for cookie recipes–be sure to check out our Facebook page, our Pinterest Board, and our monthly posts. You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! Also, if you are looking for inspiration for this month’s theme, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made so far:
More Cookies!
Pumpkin Cranberry Cookie Drops from KarenTrina Childress
Espresso Pinwheel Cookies from A Baker’s House
Cherry Pistachio Ice Box Cookies from Noshing With The Nolands
Chai Spice Girls from All That’s Left Are The Crumbs
Scottish Shortbread from Made With Love
Chocolate Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies from Food Lust People Love
Neapolitan Striped Crisps from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
Coffee? Tea? from Ninja Baking
Christmas Linzer Cookies from It’s Yummi!
Chewy Pumpkin Ginger Cookies from If I Ever Owned A Bakery
Best Ever Sugar Cookies from Liv Life
Salted Dark Chocolate Crisps from The Spiced Life
Comments & Reviews
Laura says
Ack! I did not do a good job of commenting last month! Bad me, always behind! Pistachios are my favorite holiday nut. Well that and hazelnuts. So I think these look perfect–for make ahead or make during!
Aleesha Banks says
These cookies are so beautiful. And as well as nutritious too. Really can’t wait for having it.
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much Aleesha!
Rebecka says
I absolutely love this recipe! I can’t wait to try them this Christmas! Thanks for joining us for the Creative Cookie Exchange!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much Rebecka, they always get rave reviews!!
Rebecka says
I absolutely love this recipe! I can’t wait to try them this Christmas! Thanks for joining us for the Creative Cookie Exchange!
Sophia Remer says
Oh these sound and look so good! I love pistachios!! These would definitely be gobbled up at any holiday party! 🙂
Noshing with the Nolands says
I seem to use pistachios only at Christmas, I guess it is because of their green color. We love them too, thanks Sophia!!
SamiJoe says
Oooh these look so yummy~!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thank you so much!!
Felice/All That's Left Are The Crumbs says
I just love how festive your cookies are, and getting this recipe is just perfect since I picked up a bag of pistachios yesterday. I am looking forward to having a great range of cookie dough in my freezer just waiting to be baked.
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks Felice, I hope you try them!!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Tara, I LOVE these cookies! I have to make them! Cherry and pistachios are one of my all time favorites! Bookmarking this one!!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks Jennifer, I hope you like them as much as we do year after year!!
Greenthumb says
Your cookies look and sound of your cookie, I love them with the orange in them also.
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much for coming over!!
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories says
Cinnamon and orange! Sounds so interesting, and your cookies are beautiful. Perfect little nuggets of deliciousness.
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much Karen!!
Becca from It's Yummi! says
The colors and flavors in these cookies are making me giddy, Tara…Great job! I’m like you…why chill the dough when you can freeze it?!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks Becca!!
The Ninja Baker says
Your cookies are sooo cheery, Tara. Cherries and pistachios – perfect colors but also perfect flavors for the holidays. Happy Christmas!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much Kim!!
Holly says
What a nice treat especially for cookie exchanges as Christmas draws near. I love the colors you chose and the shape too!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much Holly!!
Stacy says
These are so beautiful, Tara! I love the colors and but I adore the sugared edge. Why has it never occurred to me to roll the dough in sugar instead of always sprinkling it on the top? Just beautiful!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much Stacy, I do like the sugared edge!!
Sarah | The Sugar Hit says
I adore pistachios, and I love the red and green of these guys! So festive, and at this time of year, that’s exactly what I want.
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much Sarah!!