Dreaming of a Sweet Christmas
November 29, 2011 at 9:47 am | Posted in Baking / Cooking, Food | 31 CommentsTags: Christmas, cookies, dessert, holidays, nuts, pistachio, recipe, seasonal, sweet, vegan
No amount of planning ever seems to leave me properly prepared for the holidays, despite mustering all the enthusiasm possible and diligently keeping an eye on the calendar. Days mysteriously grow shorter, schedules fuller, and to further complicate matters, those originally simple plans of mine curiously evolve to become more and more complicated. Getting a head start usually means laying out a detailed list of presents to make, recipes to try, and fun activities to participate in… Which is lost or completely disregarded by the time December actually rolls around. After spending one too many of the last mailing days before Christmas stuck in line at the post office, fighting off the other hordes of procrastinators frantic to make the final cut off, it became clear that my approach wasn’t working.
This year, the plan is to plan less. Stick to simple but nice holiday cards, rather than elaborate gifts with complicated shipping requirements and deadlines. Make whatever recipes strike my fancy, whenever that might happen. Enjoy the holidays whenever they allow, without forcing artificial merriment at every turn. “Low-key” is the mantra of the season- No pressure, no anxiety, no self-flagellation when things don’t work out perfectly. Sounds like a much more enjoyable way to pass the next few weeks, don’t you think?
And just like that, I find myself almost on top of the key points that constantly evaded my grasp the previous year. Greeting cards are done and printing, and the first set of festive sweets has already sprung forth from the oven, seemingly without effort. It may be a push to fit that pending manuscript into the festivities, but at least it doesn’t seem like such a great burden to squeeze into the jam-packed holiday game plan.
It needn’t be a grand holiday, or one to remember above others, even. It just needs to be less than torturous, and adding in a bit of sweetness and good company would be a nice touch, too.
Pistachio Praline Linzer Cookies
Pistachio Praline Paste:
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 Cup Water
2 Cups Shelled, Skinned and Toasted Pistachios
3/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Place the sugar and water in a medium saucepan over moderate heat. Stir to combine, and bring to a boil. Allow the sugar to cook until it caramelizes to a deep amber color; about 10 – 15 minutes. Quickly add in the pistachios, stir to coat with the hot sugar, and immediately transfer everything out to a silpat or piece of parchment paper. Let cool completely before breaking it into chunks, and tossing the pieces into your food processor, along with the salt and oil. Pulse to break down the brittle to a coarse consistency, and then let the motor run until very smooth. It may take as long as 10 minutes, so be patient. Let cool before using, or store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Linzer Cookies:
1 Cup Non-Dairy Margarine
1/4 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed
1/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Almond Meal
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
Zest of 1 Orange
1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/3 Cup Plain Vegan Greek-Style “Yogurt” or “Sour Cream”
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line three baking sheets with silpats or parchment paper. Set aside.
Cream together the margarine and both sugars until homogeneous and fluffy pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the flour, almond meal, baking powder, salt, zest, and ginger, starting the mixer slowly to prevent the dry goods from flying out. Mix briefly before introducing the “yogurt” and vanilla as well. Mix just until a cohesive, smooth dough is formed, and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Press the dough into an even round and roll it out to 1/8th of an inch in thickness.
Use a 2 1/2 inch round cookie cutter to cut out the shapes. Cut out the centers of half of the rounds with a smaller shape of your choice. Transfer the cookies to your prepared sheets, and chill them for 15 minutes before moving them right into the oven. Bake for 10 – 15 minutes, until just barely golden around the edges. Let cool.
Assemble the linzer cookies by spreading 1 teaspoon of the praline paste on a whole cookie, and topping it with a cut-out cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies, and enjoy.
Makes 52 – 60 Cookies; 26 – 30 Sandwiches
Bonus! For a gift that keeps on giving, nothing beats a delicious, tried-and-true recipe from a friend. To share this recipe with someone you love, snatch up the free printable recipe card below. Just set your printer to “scale to fit” your paper, trim the excess as needed, fold down the center, and doodle something on the cover, or paste a photo if you prefer.
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I love linzer cookies. The cutouts just make them the cutest cookie possible.
Comment by Shannon— November 29, 2011 #
Homemade cards are the best gift you could get. And homemade cookies are the most fun gifts to make!
Comment by Grace@ FoodFitnessFreshair— November 29, 2011 #
Nicely said. When we take the pressure off, we tend to get things done anyway, and we are more pleasant to be around. With any special occasion, I find it is our own elevated expectations that lead to disappointment, especially with Christmas. I want to focus on family and fun this year.
Comment by Joann@womaninreallife— November 29, 2011 #
Ooo the pistachio is such a nice twist to these cookies. I love this idea. How festive and great holiday flavors!
Comment by Farrah P— November 29, 2011 #
I’ve being craving for pistachio filling/frosting for a while now (baby desires maybe?) and this recipe sounds delicious, I must try it!
Comment by Glauce— November 29, 2011 #
Oooh, these cookies look so good! I definitely need to try that praline paste…I’ve never made praline with pistachios but it sounds SO good! :)
Comment by sara— November 29, 2011 #
They look so adorable!
Comment by Angie@Angie's Recipes— November 29, 2011 #
I’ve never seen pistachio linzer cookies before — what a great idea!
Comment by Xiaolu/6Bittersweets— November 29, 2011 #
What a nice change to the oh so traditional linzer cookie! The pistachio praline sounds amazing, I’d probably just eat that on its own!
Comment by jb— November 29, 2011 #
These are so cute! And sound amazing!
Comment by Carrie— November 29, 2011 #
What a pretty cookie and set up! And pistachio to boot. You go girl! ;)
Comment by Karyl— November 29, 2011 #
I love pistachio can’t wait to try it. thx :)
Comment by diyfoodedition— November 29, 2011 #
These cookies look delicious! Great recipe for a holiday cookie exchange, thanks!
Comment by Natalie— November 29, 2011 #
these cookies look so super cute.. and i love pistachios and green:) and such a lovely picture too. i can never work under time pressure.. i am a freak out coz theres a deadline kind of person:)
Comment by Richa@HobbyandMore— November 29, 2011 #
There is really nothing worse and nothing so unholiday-esque as a forced holiday. I’m totally with you on this! just let it happen…and it will.
Linzers are one of my FAVORITE holiday cookies. And I love pistachio, to boot! You have made my holiday season with these!
Comment by Joanne— November 29, 2011 #
Dear me. I’ve never been into Linzer-type cookies as I’m not a huge fan of jam-related sweets, but PISTACHIOS. PRALINE. *licks screen*
P.S. Congratulations on conquering the holiday season this year! I am woman, hear me roar! :D
Comment by Hannah— November 29, 2011 #
These look wonderful, and so simple to make. :)
Comment by Laura @ A Healthy Jalapeño— November 29, 2011 #
Nothing like taking the pressure off of yourself, it makes for a way more fun and enjoyable holiday season. And such cute and festive cookies! :-)
Comment by chow vegan— November 30, 2011 #
O yes that burden of the holiday planning. Looking at my calendar last night I saw that it is pretty much packed so that means I cannot escape any planning or it will be total chaos. Lol. Love your pretty Christmas sweets!
Comment by Simone— November 30, 2011 #
Low key sounds like the perfect plan to me! Oh and those linzers look fantastic – why didn’t I ever think of putting praline paste in the middle of mine!
Comment by Y— November 30, 2011 #
I am completely on board with your approach to the holidays this year! It’s so much more enjoyable.
Your cookies are beautiful, Hannah! I love pistachio and incorporating them into Lindzer cookies is brilliant.
Comment by Faith— November 30, 2011 #
Oh these sound like heaven!! And they are beautiful! I have issues making pretty cut outs like this… I don’t think I have the right gene for it LOL
Comment by stephchows— November 30, 2011 #
You are the queen of a sweet treat, Hannah! Looks yummy AND pretty!
Comment by Dress and Dish: Lana— November 30, 2011 #
I’m all with you about the low-key holiday, but I’m also all about some cookie makin’ and those pistachio linzers look fantastic!
Comment by Jes— November 30, 2011 #
I agree, your low key strategy sounds perfect. :) I’m usually stressing out about everything too, not fun. These cookies are so cute! I love the green.
Comment by Ashley— November 30, 2011 #
These are so cute! Love Linzer cookies, yours look delicious!!
Comment by Annie @ Naturally Sweet Recipes— November 30, 2011 #
[...] Wintertime is cookie time, so here’s a recipe for Pistachio Praline Linzer Cookies >> [...]
Pingback by Vegan Bites: Travel, Food, and more— November 30, 2011 #
It happens that I forget a lot about cookies as Christmasy treats, and when looking at your picture (maybe the decoration around are part of this impression) it seems almost obvious that the end of the year is also a time when one makes little goodies and not only big large icy cakes.
I definitely like the idea of leaving a star “window” to show the Pistachio filling – and what a good choice it was to pick Pistachio. I never really tried to do anything sweet with it. Just putting them in cookies, as one would use Chocoalte chips.
I should try it though to see how I like it !
Comment by Löu— December 1, 2011 #
Looks yummy! Christmas is coming! I think I must try this!
Comment by xiaokang— December 1, 2011 #
These cookies are beautiful. I must make them! Thanks also for all of your “photography” tips!
Comment by ridzomom— December 2, 2011 #
just found your blog! these look delicious and so pretty!! :) ill be back soon!!
Comment by minibaker— December 2, 2011 #