PISTACHIO CREAM CHEESE COOKIES

Pistachio Cream Cheese Cookies image

My son-in-law is a big fan of pistachios. He looks forward to these buttery cookies at holiday time, but I make them for him more than just once a year. -Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Desserts

Time 40m

Yield 5 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 12

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Ingredients

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)

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 61 calories, Fat 3g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 9mg cholesterol, Sodium 46mg sodium, Carbohydrate 8g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.