Buttery, nutty, and sweet: Pistachio Cookies are gems fit for a queen.
Pistachios have a long and varied history—we know they’ve been around since approximately 7,000 BCE. In fact, the Queen of Sheba was said to have loved them and decreed that they were fit only for royalty! Fortunately for the rest of us, they have since become a popular snack and baking item.
With their naturally green color (once you get through the shell), pistachios make for a festive, colorful ingredient in cookies: for the holidays, for special occasions like weddings, or even just to enjoy as a dessert. Some bakers like to amp up the green color with some green food coloring, but leaving the dough as-is still means you end up with an enticing cookie.
Pistachio cookies are little buttery gems that have a shortbread-like texture but with a nutty sweetness from the chopped pistachios. You will love them because they are easy to make, have a rich but simple taste, and are the perfect addition to your holiday cookie tray, festive gathering, or your afternoon mug of tea or coffee.
Pistachio Basics
While most of us refer to pistachios as a nut, they are technically an edible seed from the pistachio tree. Pistachio trees grow in arid climates and flourish where there is warm sunshine and mild winters. The Mediterranean is a natural environment for these trees. They’re in the same family as cashews. Pistachios are sold either in their shells, which are fun to pop open like a clamshell, or unshelled. Look for both in your supermarket’s produce section near other nuts sold in shells.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Pistachio cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They also freeze very well. Let the icing harden and place in layers (with parchment or wax paper in between) into an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let them thaw at room temperature for about 1 hour before eating.
Vary The Bake Time
The 13-15 minute bake time called for in the instructions makes for a delightfully crisp cookie. If you prefer a softer, chewier cookie, reduce the bake time to 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let the cookies rest there on the hot cookie sheet for about 5 minutes. Then remove them to a wire rack to cool.
Serving Suggestions
On top of the finished cookies, you have options for the icing. For instance, mix up Sugar Cookie Glaze as instructed, with the almond extract. Almond flavor and pistachios go really well together. You can vary the flavoring of this simple glaze, however. At the holidays, to make a pink glaze, replace the almond extract with a teaspoon of seedless raspberry jam. Or swap out the glaze entirely with a cup of melted white chocolate chips—white chocolate and pistachios taste wonderful together.
As for other cookies to serve with pistachio cookies, consider holiday favorites like thumbprint cookies (Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints, for instance) and Christmas Cookies. Additionally, cookies like Cinnamon Cookies or Cranberry Orange Cookies complement pistachio cookies very nicely.
Pistachio Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup finely chopped pistachios
- Green food coloring optional
- Icing for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Beat butter with a paddle attachment or handheld mixer for 1 minute until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and almond extract, and beat until combined.
- Mix in flour, 3/4 cup pistachio crumbs, and food coloring (if using) until combined. Stop mixing once the dough forms together.
- Wrap the cookie dough securely and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Once chilled, form dough into 1-tablespoon-sized balls and place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. If crumbling, knead with your hands to bind.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Drizzle with icing if using.
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