Space Needle Apricot And Pistachio Butter Recipes

APRICOT AND PISTACHIO SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Measure your flour into a bowl and whisk to aerate the flour and remove any lumps.
• In a large mixing bowl of the bowl of a stand mixer combine the butter, brown sugar, salt, almond extract and vanilla extract. Mix on low until ingredients are roughly combined then increase mixer speed to medium and beat until mixture is lighter in color and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Add the flour all at once and mix on low speed until the flour is well combined and the dough has started to come together about 3 minutes. The cookie dough will have a crumbly texture in the beginning and then it will come together into a smooth dough. Add the chopped pistachios and dried apricots and mix on low speed until well combined, about 30 seconds.
• Turn the cookie dough out onto a lightly floured surface. You can turn it out onto a large piece of parchment paper or Silpat. Use your hands to shape the dough into a large ball and then divide it in half. Each half should weigh about 350 grams. Shape each half into a log about 6 inches long and 2 inches thick. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or Silpat.
• Using a sharp knife to slice the ends of the cookie logs to even out the ends. Slice each log into 1/4-inch rounds and place each slice on a cookie sheet about 1-inch apart. These cookies don't spread much. Bake for 22-25 minutes. Remove the cookies and allow to cool.
• Store the cookies in an airtight container.

APRICOT TART WITH PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lay 1 sheet phyllo on a parchment-lined 12-by-18-inch rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon butter and brush to coat the entire phyllo sheet.
• Top with another sheet and butter as above. Repeat with 7 more sheets, for a total of 9, buttering as you go. The final, top layer should also be buttered. (The rest of the phyllo can be wrapped and frozen for future use.)
• Dot the top sheet with jam by the teaspoon, then, using a spatula, spread the jam to cover the entire sheet, leaving a 2-inch border.
• Sprinkle a layer of half the chopped pistachios over the jam. Place the apricot wedges, skin-side down, in even rows across the surface, then sprinkle again with remaining pistachios.
• Carefully fold over the edges on all sides of the tart to make a 10-by-16-inch rectangle. Brush folded sides with butter. Sprinkle sugar generously over apricots and folded edges.
• Bake until pastry is golden and apricots begin to color, about 1 hour. Cool for 15 minutes, then cut into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

APRICOT-PISTACHIO SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed about 30 seconds or until smooth. On low speed, beat in almond extract, flour and salt until soft dough forms. Stir in apricots and nuts. Shape dough into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate 45 minutes.
• Heat oven to 350°F. On lightly floured surface, roll dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. With floured 2 1/2-inch square or round cookie cutter, cut dough into 25 squares or rounds. On ungreased cookie sheet, place squares about 1 inch apart.
• Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.