
For my Christmas book give-away, I asked you tell me the name of your favorite Christmas cookie. And, boy, did you name some exciting ones! From Italian Taralles, knot cookies with the icing and sprinkles, to American Cranberry Turtle Bars to Austrian Linzer cookies, you covered the gamut of beloved international holiday treats.
However, four cookies topped your list of favorites. They are:
- Rich, buttery shortbread
- Simple sugar cookies
- Spicy ginger cookies
- And my favorite of the four, classic chocolate chip cookies
One day as she was making her Butter Drop Do cookies, she tossed some Nestle semi-sweet chocolate into the dough expecting it to get all melty. It didn't. In fact, the cookies were tantalizingly creamy and chocolaty, becoming an instant hit at the Inn. Eventually Ruth ventured into a partnership with Nestle and, lo and behold, the famous Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie was born. Nearly 80 years later, they remain one of America's favorite cookies.

So for all of my fellow chocolate chip cookie lovers out there, I've got a special Christmassy chocolate chip cookie for you: Chocolate Chip, Cherry, and Pistachio Cookies. When you bite into the slightly crisp exterior, you'll discover a soft chewy center studded with sweet chocolate chips, tart dried cherries, and rich pistachios.
Just to prove how good these cookies are,when my mom was here, I asked her to taste one to see if she liked it. She said, "I'm not a fan of chocolate chip cookies, honey." "Aw, come on, just taste one," I implored. She took a bite, paused, smiled, and said, "Now, that's what you call a chocolate chip cookie." Maybe I should call Nestle.
Chocolate Chip, Cherry, and Pistachio Cookies
These chocolate chip cookies are slightly crisp on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, where you'll discover sweet chocolate, tart cherries, and rich pistachios.
Makes about 30-35 cookies
Print recipe only here.
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cups dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup dried cherries
1 cup finely chopped pistachios
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and center a baking rack. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars; beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until smooth. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl; add to the large bowl, and beat until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips, cherries, and pistachios.
Drop 2 tablespoons of cookie dough 2 inches apart (as they will spread) on the parchment-lined baking sheets.
Bake cookies for 13-15 minutes, or until firm and golden brown around the edges. Transfer to a rack and cool for 15 minutes.
To store cookies, layer between pieces of waxed paper to prevent sticking and place in an air-tight container. Properly stored, cookies should last up to a week.

Now, thanks to the help of Random.org, I'm happy to announce the winners of the Christmas book give-away:
Lucky #48--Claire, whose favorite cookies are Nanaimo bars
and
Lucky #57--Culinarywannabe, whose favorite cookies are Haystacks
and
Lucky #57--Culinarywannabe, whose favorite cookies are Haystacks
Congratulations to you both! Please email me your full names and addresses so I can send you the book.
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36 comments:
Wow, I am totally disappointed! I was hoping that I'd win this, oh well. Maybe next time I'll be the lucky winner.
CONGRATULATION to both, Claire and Culinarywannabe!!!!
Those cookies look so special and absolutely good, I love any cookie recipe that include pistaschio in it.
Cheers,
Elra
I'm with your mom... I get kind of tired of the same old choc chip cookies. This recipe, with the pistachios (which I love) and cherries sounds like it's different enough to pique my interest :)
Congrats to the winners! I'd love to taste these cookies.
Sigh!!! Ok congrats to the two winners....
Am yet to find the perfect choc chip recipe...so this is something that I will try.
These cookies sound great!
Congrats Girls!!!
Aw, the cookie that won your mother over! They certainly are special treats (try getting those out of Mrs. Fields!)! Congratulations to the winners :)
lovely biscuits. congrats for all the winners. lucky girls!
mmmm, how delicious! so many, many wonderful flavors in there!
Oh my do these cookies look fantastic!
Oh yum! And "last a week"--in whose house?! Cookies never last a week in my house. ;)
Congrats to the winners!
Those cookies look fantastic! A real treat!
Cheers,
Rosa
congratulations to the winners. These cookies look so yummy
(you'll love my post tonight) seriously though i love the pistachios in this. i need to work my last pistachio packets i brought back form dubai so i appreciate anything with pistachio at the moment, perfect!
ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh bad luch for me :-)))))
Congragulations to both the winner.
I love those green spots on the cookies, i will make these for your Christmas Cookie season 3 :-)))
Will send you my cookies your way today.
The cookies look so yummy, everything I like in one thing = perfect :)
Call Nestle!
yummy! This looks like a wonderful recipe!
Susan! Make it stop - I didn't have time to add these to my cookie platter but now I'm sitting here trying to think of when I can find some time. Guess I should focus on my Eat Christmas Cookies submission first, though... but these look amazing - maybe a perfect New Year's cookie?! :-)
I simply love Nainamo Bars too- we called them Three Layer Bars and always had them at Christmas time. I may just have to whip up a batch again this year for nostalgia sake.
That's a chocolate chip cookie to serve Santa!! Love the cherry & pistachios.
Those cookies look wonderful. Congrats to the winners!!
Congratulations to both winners. I am planning to make nanaibo bars soon.
Susan congratulations on your book win!
YUM! And how funny...you give away books on Tuesday and you win one on Wednesday :) Instant karma!
elra-There will be more give-aways coming up so keep trying!
karen-It piqued hers, so good luck!
helene-Hope you try them.
rachel-Let me know if you like them! :)
susan-Thanks!
mark-Aw, thanks so much.
arfi-Thank you!
heather-I thought so too. :)
darius-Thanks!
kristen- Hah! Ain't that the truth. ;)
rosa-They are a holiday treat.
snooky doodle-Thank you!
meeta-They are divine, aren't they?
happycook-season 3? You're so sweet. :)
anne-I'm so glad to hear it.
lorilynn- Yeah! Huh? ;)
foodista-Thank you kindly.
kara-Ah, New Year's. Now you're talking. :)
kate-Is there a cookie with more names than that one? :)
tanna-I hope he likes it. :)
maria-Thank you!
ivy-Love them.
susan-Thanks.
michelle-Hah! I hadn't thought of it, but you're right. :)
What a delicious variation--and the colors are so subtle and pretty thanks to the pistachios and cherries!
Congratulations to all of the winners. Speaking of winners these chocolate chop cookies are a winner too!!!!
Such a lovely, yummy contest. The combo of cherries and pistachios is made in heaven. Who knew? Sending you the warmest wishes for a sweet, happy, healthy New Year 2009!
Missed it again Susan...he he...congrats to the lucky winners! Celebrate! Love the cookies...sugar, no spice but still everything nice...they look delicious. I love pistachios & cherries in anything baked, & these cookies look delicious!
cherries and pistachios are a great addition to your standard CCC!
Hi
Thanks for your quick reply re peanut fudge . I ll try it for Christmas :)
Yay!! I'm sooo excited!!! Thanks so much!!!!
Will try your Christmas cookies at home.
I can't help but think that choc chip cookies are one of America's great contributions to food - there are so many great versions of it - and I love the look of yours
I am SO bookmarking these - all my favourite flavours in one cookie!
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