SAFFRON AND PISTACHIO SHORTBREAD COOKIES

My daughter cleaned out her closet recently, and knowing how much I love previously owned clothes, especially those from friends, I offered the clothes to friends of ours with two girls younger than Elise.
When delivering items, I always try to deliver a treat too. I made these Saffron Pistachio Shortbread Cookies to go along with the clothes, they had a delightfully crunchy texture, and the flavor of the saffron was as unique as my daughters style.

SAFFRON AND PISTACHIO SHORTBREAD COOKIES

1 cup butter, softened
1 vanilla bean, scraped
zest of 1 orange
1 teaspoon saffron threads
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped pistachios

Use a mortar and pestle to finely grind the saffron threads into a fine powder. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter until creamy. Add in the vanilla bean seeds, orange zest, salt and ground saffron.
Mix in the powdered sugar and flour and stir until just combined. Form the cookie dough into a log, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least two hours.
Heat oven to 325F.
Roll the cookie dough log in the chopped pistachios (I let the cookie dough soften a little to allow the pistachios to adhere). Slice into 1/4 inch pieces.
Place the cookies on parchment lined cookie sheets, at least 1 inch apart, and bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the edges are light golden brown.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Yossy Arefi, Apt. 2B Baking Co.
apt2bbakingco.blogspot.com/‎