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Pistachio Cocoa Nibs Cookies

Are you ready for Christmas? I am not, but my kitchen is! My oven has been rehearsing its favorite carols and humming a happy Christmas Cookie song. You don’t know the Christmas Cookie song? Goes something like this:
"99 Christmas Cookies in the jar, 99 Christmas Cookies in the jar. Take one down and pass it around, 98 Christmas Cookies in the jar.
98 Christmas Cookies in the jar, 98 Christmas Cookies in the jar. Take one down and pass it around, 97 Christmas Cookies in the jar.
…..
No Christmas Cookies in the jar.
Crank the oven on and bake some more, 99 Christmas Cookies in the jar."

And now you know how I get through an entire weekend of baking for us, the neighbors, the family, the friends, clients and patrons. Cookies, macarons, truffles, you name it. My fridge and freezer look like some kind of nut case replaced all food groups by just one, sugar. It leans towards that trend the other months of the year, but really I had a chuckle earlier when I reached for the veggies I needed to make ratatouille. I need to start making my holiday boxes and deliver/mail them soon or I am going to break down and start eating them all!

I like to include a variety of down home treats like chocolate chip cookies, marshmallows, biscotti, and more delicate things like truffles, macarons, madeleines, etc… I like bringing my heritage into a bit of everyday style baking. I know I am not the only one and I love all the family recipes popping around on blogs during the holidays. I am learning so much about holiday traditions from other countries and other people. It’s like food traveling somewhere new everyday. Thanks to all of you out there sharing with me/us. And if you wish to find a list of tried and true Christmas Cookie recipes, visit Susan’s Food Blogga blog where these Pistachio Cocoa Nibs ccokies are heading for her Christmas Cookies From Around The World Event.

Now here is a recipe I tried recently that I think will become a regular in the Christmas cookie repertoire. I found it while reading one of my favorite blogs "Cake On The Brain". Her posts are funny, from the heart and always challenging her self and the way I think about things I deal with everyday. Sometimes I feel jaded by the world I bake for: catering, restaurant, private parties,etc… Her fresh and vibrant perspectives recharge my battery quite often. Go look at her latest macaron creation…with grated dried raspberry on top…how ingenious!! The original recipe is from Alice Medrich’s Bittersweet calling for pecans, cocoa nibs and bourbon, which she adapted and which I adapted a little also by using pistachios and Cognac. The result, a delicate crumb, a punch from the cocoa nibs (thanks Lisa for the stash) and a little flavor from home with the Cognac.


Pistachio Cocoa Nibs Cookies:

Makes about 2 dozens

1 cup raw skinned pistachios, finely chopped
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 cup cocoa nibs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tb. Cognac

Combine the butter and sugar, in bowl of electric mixer and beat on high speed until smooth and creamy (1 minute). Add the vanilla and Cognac. Beat in the pistachios and cocoa nibs. Add all the flour at once. Beat on low speed until flour is incorporated.
Form dough into 12-inch log about 2 inches thick. Wrap in parchment and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. At this point you can freeze the log for up to 3 months.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Use a sharp knife to cut the cold dough log into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place cookies at least 1 1/2 inches apart on parchment-lined cookie sheets.
Bake in the middle of the oven for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the cookies are light golden brown at the edges. Let cookies firm up on the pans for about 1 minute before transferring them to a rack to cool completely. Try to save some for the day after, they taste even better 24 hours later. The cookies can be stored in airtight container for at least 1 month.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two more very important things:
The first one is a shameless plug for a friend: Hannah from Bittersweet just published her first book, My Sweet Vegan.

I am among the lucky few to have received a preview copy and I have to tell you to run and get it, regardless of your dietary preferences. I am not a vegan and yet I am wowed by the delicious recipes she wrote. I made her Lemon Lime Sunshine Bundt cake last night and could not stop nibbling on it all day long. Congratulations on your first book Hannah and I can’t wait to see what is up next!

The second one is to tell you about Menu for Hope. Although I realised too late the deadline to send in a participation item, I still urge you to go and donate. The amount raised will go to support the school lunch program in Lesotho, Africa.

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Comments


defientchef December 13, 2007 um 6:42 am

yummy cocoa nibs!!! youre my hero


Peabody December 13, 2007 um 7:14 am

I too was lucky enough to get her cookbook. I will be doing a post about it next week some time.


Tablebread December 13, 2007 um 7:23 am

Pistachio cookies sounds super yummy! I haven’t had anything like that since Hawaii!


Rosa's Yummy Yums December 13, 2007 um 7:38 am

Delicious! Such cookies would not last very long at my place…

Cheers,

Rosa


ink and ginger December 13, 2007 um 7:48 am

Ooh, I have a big bag of cocoa nibs that I bought bulk. This looks like a perfect way to use them!


sher December 13, 2007 um 8:12 am

Your oven sings? I’m going to have a talk with mine and learn why it’s so silent. Those cookies are to die for!


LizNoVeggieGirl December 13, 2007 um 12:35 pm

I too am not exactly ready for Christmas; but your little song sounds like a great way to count down the days!! :0)

lovely cookie variety, as always!! Great combination with the pistachios and cocoa nibs.

I did an entire post just last night, about Hannah’s book, since she is a dear friend of mine!! I talked about the 2 recipes I’ve tried so far! :0)


Veron December 13, 2007 um 1:02 pm

When I attended Alice’s class in San Fran they were passing around the pecan version of this in the class. let me tell you they were just the best cookies I have ever tasted!


Bea December 13, 2007 um 1:20 pm

Pas encore Noel chez toi?? Non non, c’est toujours Noel chez toi, mais bien sur!


Patricia Scarpin December 13, 2007 um 1:39 pm

Lucky neighbors, friends and family, Helen!


Inne December 13, 2007 um 1:49 pm

You have a singing oven? Wow ๐Ÿ™‚
Haven’t used my cocoa nibs for a while now – this recipe has given me inspiration!


Dana December 13, 2007 um 2:13 pm

I love that you bring some of your own heritage to "homey" desserts. That’s what makes them special — and unique!! You have some *very* lucky friends and neighbors. These look delicious!


Mandy December 13, 2007 um 3:51 pm

I tried the version with hazelnut and walnut before. Guess it’s pistachio’s turn now. You are so good at making food looks pretty!


bakeorbreak December 13, 2007 um 4:34 pm

Those look and sound delicious. Maybe I need to move into your neigborhood! Happy holidays!


Anonymous December 13, 2007 um 4:47 pm

That last photo is gorgeous!


MyKitchenInHalfCups December 13, 2007 um 5:07 pm

Oh, yes, a happy oven is a singing oven and I love the song you & your oven are singing!
Maybe one day I’ll be baking some cookies.
Yours are always lovely!
I will be checking out Bittersweets vegan book!


Lesley December 13, 2007 um 5:41 pm

I have pistachios, I have cocao nibs, I can make these!
I’m a nutjob at Christmas too, I bake every day of December, give or take a couple. Good grief.


Cakebrain December 13, 2007 um 5:50 pm

Helene,
You never fail to pique my interest with your creative riffs on recipes. I love the pistachio idea with the cocoa nibs! You rock, girl!


Hillary December 13, 2007 um 9:16 pm

Those cookie look fantastic, of course. Pistachio and cocoa nibs…another genius flavor combination! ๐Ÿ™‚


Susan from Food Blogga December 14, 2007 um 12:00 am

No wonder you’re singing. I’d be singing too if I had these cookies. Just gorgeous! Thanks for submitting them to my cookie event. -Susan


Cookie baker Lynn December 14, 2007 um 12:50 am

Ah, the lucky recipients of your kitchen’s bounty! These cookies look fabulous and I’ll have to put the recipe in my pile to try after I’ve worked through my standard Christmas baking.


test it comm December 14, 2007 um 1:59 am

I recently saw a bag of cocoa nibs at a store and I have been looking for some recipes. These look good!


BitterSweet December 14, 2007 um 1:59 am

Thanks for the shout-out, Helen, and I hope that you enjoy each recipe you choose to make from the book!


Chris December 14, 2007 um 3:16 am

Hmmmm – Pistachio cookies with Cognac? Yeah buddy!


Sylvia December 14, 2007 um 10:39 am

Nice recipe, those cookies looks delicious. Thanks for share


Renee December 15, 2007 um 4:56 am

YummmmmmmM!


Anonymous December 15, 2007 um 6:17 am

I love pistacios and this simple cookie is exactly how I like them. Beuatiful.
ronell


Lis December 15, 2007 um 2:21 pm

They look AMAZING, my love! I’ve been craving pistachios a lot lately.. yummy!

xoxo


Caribbean Dreamer December 16, 2007 um 2:59 am

Merry Christmas to you and your family Helene! I look forward to reading your blog next year and many more years!!


Big Boys Oven December 16, 2007 um 3:59 am

Lovely cookies….artistic picture.


Cynthia December 17, 2007 um 11:41 pm

You have such an intelligent oven ๐Ÿ™‚


Mansi December 18, 2007 um 8:33 pm

wow! that’s brilliant, and I’m drooling more over the presentation and the photo with those blue pearls!!:) I love pistachios in my cookies or any baked stuff…


Anita (Married… with dinner) December 22, 2007 um 3:11 pm

oh, these are hauntingly good… and I am lucky because Cameron doesn’t like pistachios, so I get them all to myself ๐Ÿ˜€


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