Chocolate Cookies with Cranberries and Pistachios
Here’s a confession – I never go Christmas shopping. Ever. I do always have good intentions to buy gifts early, wrap them nicely and write a sweet card wishing everyone the best for the Holiday Season… but it never happens. Usually, my sister will shop for family and friends. She is ultra organized, actually shops throughout the year places the gifts in a large box so that come December everyone has a very nice gift from her… and usually from me too as I always ask her to “add my name” to the card she writes… Sometimes, if it’s someone she doesn’t know, at the last minute I’ve been known to panic shop, tell people “close your eyes and put your hands out” and then place an unwrapped gift in their hands. It’s a bad habit which I intend to break this year.
So, to kick off the Christmas season, I’ve decided to introduce a series called “All They Want For Christmas!”. The intention is to come up with food ideas for Christmas gifts that I think friends and family would want.
The first recipe in the series I call the Practically Perfect Chocolate Christmas Cookie – it’s a chocolate cookie made with dark lindt chocolate, studded with fruit and nut, in this case, cranberries and pistachios – the two of which I associate with the holiday season. These cookies are crisp on the outside but maintain that fudge like centre – just the way a perfect cookie should be!
Recipe (makes 15 pieces)
- 125 grams lindt chocolate, 70% cocoa, chopped
- 75 grams flour
- 30 grams dutch processed cocoa powder
- 50 grams butter
- 120 grams brown sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 egg
- 40 grams unsalted pistachios
- 40 grams dried cranberries
- Melt the chocolate by placing it in a microwave safe bowl and heating the chocolate for around 45 seconds at 15 second intervals. Allow to cool slightly.
- In the meantime, cream the sugar and the butter until pale and then add the egg.
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder and baking soda.
- Add the dry ingredients to the batter, a third at a time.
- Next, add the melted chocolate and mix well.
- Fold in the cranberries and pistachios and place in the fridge for around 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 160c (fan forced) and bake the cookies in batches for around 15 minutes. Half way through the baking process, remove the cookies from the oven and press them to flatten slightly with a spatula and then return them to the oven.
- Allow to cool.
Note: The cookies will last for 3 days in an airtight container.
Package in a paper box or glass jar with a festive ribbon
Trissalicious 
These cookies are delicious. I have tried them and they only lasted about 10mins in my area!
Trissa you are AMAZING!!!
These look sooooo good, seriously contemplating adding them to my ’12 Days of Christmas Cookie Extravanagza’!
I am so making these – they look delicious!
These cookies are absolutely amazing! Talk about deep, rich indulgence – I’ll have to make these as gifts for myself. 😎
Hi Trissa, can you ship to me??? It looks really good!!!!
Teach me to bake and I’ll teach you to take pictures… They are so lovely. I took some pictures of Macaron just for you in Paris. Check-out FB for more.
[…] Chocolate Cookies with Cranberries and Pistachios from […]
Super cookies!!! Make sure Baci and Bizou don’t have any!!! I want some of these!!!
hey triss! these look great…is white chocolate another option? i’m going to try these out in the weekend
I am a bad christmas shopper myself although I don’t have a sister that shops for me! (I have two sisters, but they would refuse to shop for me I am sure!!) I do shop eventually but I tend to leave things to the last minute resulting in panick shopping sprees and ending up with spending waaaay too much money!!
These chocolate cookies look dark and luscious and perfect for christmas!
They scream chocolate and whisper my name all at the same time…
[…] shares what she calls the Practically Perfect Chocolate Christmas Cookie – a chocolate cookie made with dark Lindt chocolate, studded with cranberries and pistachios. […]
That is what I want for Christmas!! That chocolate is so dark and heavenly!! gorgeous!!
My goodness! Those cookies are oozing with chocolately goodness. I’m terrible at buying gifts too, but alas, you’re at least trying to make a change. Kudos.
Hi Ninette
I am trying to make the change – I think one of my officemates was dumbfounded when I gave them the jar of cookies!
MMMMMMMMMMMM,…Your chocolate cookies look absolutely fabulous, Trissa!!
A lovely food gift for myself! hahahaha,…Beautiful appetizing pictures!
Food gifts are always brilliant standbys. Hehe don’t tell me that you never do that though, I worry about your Secret Santa recipient! 😛
Trissa they look amazing, yummy and two of my favorite ingredients….excite! Love cranberries and pistachios! mmm will definitely bake these cookies!!
You exactly hit the mark. It’s exactly what I want for a cookie – pistachios and cranberries and of course the ultimate dark chocolate you could find and in this case, it’s Lindt. Bravo. Now, you can send this to me and another beautifully wrapped gift. 🙂
Hi Divina – if you come here to Sydney rest assured Ill make these for you and you can eat them everyday!
Hi Sophie – thanks for the kind words!
Hi Madalene – thanks for stopping by my blog – do you know I have been drooling non-stop at yours?
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Trissalicious, Trissalicious. Trissalicious said: New Post: 1st in a series of Do It Yourself Christmas Gifts – lindt choc cookies with cranberries and pistachios http://bit.ly/choccookies […]
Dark Lindt chocolate and dried cranberries…you got me. THESE are my Christmas cookies!
Trissa they look so gooey and rich. Yummmmm…
Love the idea of your series!! Can’t wait for more christmas goodies. This just reminds me that I haven’t been baking since last sunday!! I think it’s a record.
They look so rich! And Christmassy! I’d happily gorge a glass jar full 😀
Hi Peachkins – glad you like the cookies – lindts my favourite too!
Hey Kath – yes they are delicious! I even microwaved one awhile ago – it was great warm!
Hi Ellie – better get back to the baking – your fans (like me) are waiting!
Hi Conor – thanks!!
wow those cocokies look amazing!!!!!!! im making white choc and cranberry cookies this year but i might have to make some of your ones too!!!
good luck with the christmas shopping… i usually leave it till the last minute but i actually have all my shopping done this year!
Yum these cookies look divine. I’ve always thought that the best Xmas presents are homemade. And edible! lol. Last for three days in the fridge? I don’t think you’ve ever get a chance to find out!
Pistachios and cranberries are a great combination. I think you’ve solved your Christmas gift-giving problems with this effort – everyone loves food, after all!
I can’t believe how heart-stoppingly dark these babies are!
This looks more than perfect. I think I stared at the photos for 5 minutes. Those cookies are… wow.
I’m sure that you will get your shopping done! Go today! Seriously, its the best way ;D.
they look so decadent Trissa
i usually write out cards & get gifts
but this yr its so busy i dont think ill find the time 😦
its a month and a week away!
Hi Betty – is it really only a month and a week away? Yikes! I’d better get a move on then!
Hi Lauren – glad you liked the picture! Took me awhile to take it properly – Ive got lots of left over shots!
Hi Helen and Belle – yes I agree – homemade gifts are the best… unless they come from my husband and then I’ll raise a fit! haha!
Hi Mademoiselle Deliciuese – yup couldn’t believe they would be that dark too until I folded in all that lindt chocolate!
Hi Buggy – good on you to have done all your Christmas shopping already!
Those seem like the best cookies to break that Christmas habit! They look wonderful.