1/2 cup butter, softened
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
3 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 to 2 drops green food coloring
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup finely chopped pistachios
60 shelled pistachios (about 1/3 cup)
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch
YIELD: 5 dozen.
Nutrition Facts
1 cookie: 61 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 9mg cholesterol, 46mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.