Pistachio, Lemon, and Vanilla

Pistachio, Lemon, and Vanilla Shortbread

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup semolina flour
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 ½ teaspoons grated lemon peel
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup shelled natural coarsely chopped Nichols Farms Pistachios

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 13×9x2-inch metal baking pan. Combine all purpose flour, sugar, and semolina flour in processor; blend 5 seconds. Add butter, lemon peel, and vanilla. Using on/off turns, blend until coarse meal forms. Turn dough out into bowl. Add nuts and knead gently to combine. Press dough evenly over bottom of prepared pan. Using fork, pierce dough all over.

Bake shortbread until pale brown in center and golden at edges, about 35 minutes. Cool in pan on rack 10 minutes. Cut lengthwise into 4 strips, and then cut each strip crosswise into 6 squares. Cool completely in pan. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover tightly with foil; store at room temperature.)

Semolina flour, often labeled “pasta flour,” is available at specialty foods stores, Italian markets, and some supermarkets.

Makes 24 cookies