Cranberry And Pistachio Holiday Toppers Recipes

HOLIDAY CRANBERRY-ORANGE PISTACHIO BARS

Steps:

• Bright red cranberries and toasted green pistachios stud these tart-and-tangy bar cookies and make them a colorful addition to any cookie platter. They hold well in both the refrigerator and the freezer so they're an excellent make-ahead option.
• To prepare crust: Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 350degreesF. Coat an 8-inch-square baking pan with cooking spray.
• Beat butter, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and brown sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Stir in whole-wheat flour, 1/3 cup all-purpose flour and salt until well combined (the mixture will still be crumbly). Evenly press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until just barely golden around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes.
• To prepare topping: Combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add egg, egg white, orange zest and juice; stir until blended and smooth.
• Sprinkle cranberries over the baked crust. Pour the orange mixture over the cranberries and sprinkle with pistachios.
• Bake until golden and set, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack; if possible, chill before cutting into squares.
• Recipe Tips & Notes:
• 1. Note: Whole-wheat pastry flour is milled from soft wheat. It contains less gluten than regular whole-wheat flour and helps ensure a tender result in delicate baked goods while providing the nutritional benefits of whole grains.
• 2. Tips: To make quick work of chopping cranberries, place whole berries in a food processor and pulse a few times until the berries are coarsely chopped.
• 3. To toast chopped pistachios, cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes. .
• Recipe Nutrition:
• Per serving: 126 calories; 4 g fat (2 g saturated fat, 1 g mono unsaturated fat); 19 mg cholesterol; 22 g carbohydrates; 2 g protein; 1 g fiber; 44 mg sodium; 58 mg potassium
• 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings
• Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1 other carbohydrate, 1/2 fat
• To Make Ahead: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month

EASY PISTACHIO-CRANBERRY NOUGAT

Steps:

• Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray; line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides. Spray parchment and dust with milk powder. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add marshmallows and cook, stirring, until melted, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in milk powder, then cranberries and pistachios. Transfer to prepared pan, pressing or spreading to evenly fill. Lightly dust top with more milk powder. Let stand until set, at least 2 hours.
• Use overhangs to lift nougat out of pan. Cut as desired (we made strips slightly less than 1/2 inch wide, then cut them in half again to create about 4-by-3/4-by 1/2-inch pieces). Store between layers of parchment or waxed paper at room temperature in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

CRANBERRY PISTACHIO BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, mix together oil and sugar until well blended. Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts, then beat in the eggs. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder; gradually stir into egg mixture. Mix in cranberries and nuts by hand.
• Divide dough in half. Form two logs (12x2 inches) on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Dough may be sticky; wet hands with cool water to handle dough more easily.
• Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until logs are light brown. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
• Cut logs on diagonal into 3/4 inch thick slices. Lay on sides on parchment covered cookie sheet. Bake approximately 8 to 10 minutes, or until dry; cool.

CRANBERRY AND PISTACHIO HOLIDAY TOPPERS

Steps:

• 1. In small saucepan combine cranberries, white grape juice and honey. Bring to a simmer. Cook about 5 minutes or until cranberries are plump. Cool to room temperature.2. In small mixing bowl beat cream cheese on medium speed of electric mixer until fluffy. Add half of the cranberry mixture, half of the pistachios, parsley, salt and pepper. Beat until combined.3. Spoon cream cheese mixture onto crackers. Top with remaining cranberry mixture and remaining pistachios.*NOTE: Soften in microwave at high for 15 to 20 seconds.**NOTE: To toast nuts spread evenly on baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 5 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown, stirring once or twice.

PISTACHIO-CRANBERRY RUGELACH

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the softened butter, cream cheese and salt until blended; beat in cream. Gradually beat in flour. , Divide dough into four portions. Shape each into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until easy to handle. In a small bowl, combine the cranberries, pistachios, sugar and cinnamon; set aside., Working with one portion of dough at a time, roll each into a 12-in. circle on a lightly floured surface. Brush with one fourth of the melted butter. Sprinkle with one fourth of the cranberry mixture, pressing lightly to adhere. Cut dough into 12 wedges. Roll up wedges from the wide ends; place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets, point side down., Bake at 325° for 20-25 minutes or until bottoms are browned. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small bowl, mix the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough water to reach desired consistency. Drizzle over cookies.