Recipe courtesy of Samantha Seneviratne

Pistachio Orange Shortbread

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  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 2 hr 20 min
  • Prep: 20 min
  • Inactive: 1 hr 35 min
  • Cook: 25 min
  • Yield: 12 to 16 cookies
The "short" in shortbread refers to the texture of the pastry—crumbly, crisp and buttery. But shortbread is also easy, the perfect cookie to make when you're short on time. The dough comes together in minutes, pats out into one sheet, and is baked, no scooping or portioning to worry about. Just speedy cookies for anyone with a short attention span. (I can't stop.) If you only have a 9 1/2-inch tart pan, feel free to use it; the shortbread will be slightly thicker and will need to bake a few extra minutes.

Ingredients

Directions

Special equipment:
An 11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium, beat the butter and sugar until combined and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg yolks and orange zest and beat until combined. Beat in the flour, salt and baking powder. Add the pistachios and beat just until evenly distributed. 
  2. Tip the dough into the prepared pan and press it into an even layer. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. 
  3. Sprinkle the top of the dough with sanding sugar and bake on a rimmed baking sheet until the shortbread is golden brown and set, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet holding the tart pan to a rack to cool for a few minutes. While the dough is still warm, remove the pan edges and cut the cookie into wedges. Let cool completely.
  4. Carefully separate the wedges and set them on a work surface. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Let stand at room temperature until the chocolate has set, about 1 hour.