#4. Orange Pistachio Shortbreads

This cookie is known as a "slice and bake" cookie. It should be a staple in your fridge around the holidays if you happen to have unexpected guests stop by and need to give them a quick homemade treat. You simply form the dough into a log and roll it in your favorite chopped nut. In this case, I rolled them in chopped pistachios. Just take the log out of the fridge, slice off a few 'coins' and bake until golden. Easy as pie.

Ingredients:
8 oz (2 sticks) unsalted butter (at room temperature)
3 TB fresh orange zest (from about 3 large oranges)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups, minus 2 TB all purpose flour
pinch salt
1/4 cup chopped pistachios

Method:
Cream the butter, orange zest and sugar until fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Scrape down the bowl.
Beat in the egg yolk, salt and vanilla, continually scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the flour and mix until combined. Do not overmix. It's really that simple.
Take the dough out of the bowl and form into a log. This will be the exact size of your cookie once baked (they will not spread), so make sure you have them the size you want. For 'coins', form them into a log the approx. diameter of a paper towel roll. Once you are happy with the diameter, spread the chopped nuts on a piece of parchment paper or on a wide plate. Roll the cookie log in the nuts until completely coated. Wrap in foil or parchment paper. At this point, you can prep them to bake or freeze them for later on (just wrap them well).
If you would like to keep refrigerated to bake later, refrigerate at least 1 hour. When ready to bake, prep oven at 350 degrees. Slice 'coins' about 1/4 inch wide. Place on parchment or foil-lined baking sheet, about 1 inch apart. Bake 10-14 minutes (depending on the diameter you have chosen for the cookie), or until slightly golden. The cookie will be firm to the touch and just slightly golden. Let cool and they are ready to be served. FYI - If they are brown they have gone too far.
Dough keeps well wrapped in the fridge about 3 days and in the freezer about 6 months. Cookies are good for about 3 days kept in an airtight container.