Advent Calendar Day 10 – Pistachio & Orange Shortbread Coins

Tiny, Fancy, Dangerously Addictive

Day 10 is here, and we’re leaning into elevated Christmas biscuit energy.
If you’ve ever wanted to bake something that whispers “I’m classy,” “I’m festive,” and “I definitely did not almost burn these,” then Pistachio & Orange Shortbread Coins are your new December love language.

These buttery little discs are melt-in-the-mouth tender with a subtle orange zing and the festive crunch of pistachios. They look elegant, taste incredible, and somehow manage to make you feel like a very capable adult—even if your kitchen is currently home to three rolls of wrapping paper, a tangled string of fairy lights, and a rogue bauble that keeps following you around.🎄

⭐ Why These Make December Better

Perfect for gifting, snacking, and spontaneous “I’ll just have one” moments
Look fancy with almost no effort
Freeze beautifully
Great for solo bakers—make a small batch or a full Christmas tin
Smell like you’ve been baking since November

🍊 Ingredients (Makes 12–14 small biscuits)

100g unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup icing sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Zest of 1 orange
3/4 cup plain flour
2 tbsp finely chopped pistachios (plus extra for the edges)
Pinch of salt

🔥 How to Make It

Cream the softened butter, icing sugar, vanilla, and orange zest until pale and fluffy.
Add the flour, pistachios, and salt. Mix gently until a dough forms.
Roll the dough into a log (about 4cm thick), wrap in baking paper, and chill for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 160°C. Slice dough into 1cm rounds.
Press the edges of each cookie into chopped pistachios for that smug, bakery-level finish.
Bake 10–12 minutes until pale golden.
Cool before eating… or don’t. I don’t make the rules.

Solo batch: Halve everything and freeze half the dough log for later.
Party batch: Double quantities and store in a tin—keeps beautifully for a week.

💬 Christmas Card Message to Write to Your Single Friends

“Wishing you a Christmas filled with sweetness, small joys, and treats you don’t have to share. May your days be merry, bright, and delightfully buttery.”