Chocolate Pistachio Hearts

Yield: 3 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup pistachio nuts
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon shortening
• 1/2 cup ground pistachio nuts

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, heat and stir butter and brown sugar over low heat until melted. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Cool mixture 15 minutes.
2. Stir in beaten egg, flour and cocoa powder until combined. Stir in 3/4 cup pistachio nuts.
3. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill about 30 minutes or until dough is easy to handle.
4. Roll dough out on a floured surface until 1/4 inch thick and cut into heart-shape pieces.
5. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for nine minutes at 350 degrees F. Cool cookies and set aside.
6. Heat chocolate chips and shortening until smooth. Dip cookies in, then coat with nuts.