Holiday Pistachio Cut-Outs

Holiday Pistachio Cut-Outs

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup finely chopped pistachio nuts
• Powdered Sugar Icing
• 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
• 1 Tablespoon orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325° F. In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour and sugar.
2. Using a pastry cutter, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs and starts to cling. Stir in pistachios.
3. Form mixture into ball. Knead just until smooth. Wrap dough. Chill for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
4. On a lightly floured surface roll the dough into a 10 x 6-inch rectangle. Cut the dough with decorative 2-inch cookie cutters or slice into thirty 2 x 1-inch strips. Place cut shapes or strips 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on sheet 5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack; cool for 30 minutes. Decorate as desired with Powdered Sugar Icing. Store in a tightly covered container.
7. Powdered Sugar Icing: In a large mixing bowl combine sifted powdered sugar, orange juice, and vanilla. Stir in additional juice, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the icing reaches piping consistency. If desired, tint a portion of the icing with food coloring.
8. Makes 1/2 cup.