Pistachio Cookies

Soft, buttery cookies decorated with white chocolate and sliced pistachios make these the BEST Pistachio Cookies that everyone will love!

Looking for a festive cookie recipe to add to your Christmas baking list? Look no further! These pistachio cookies are easy to make and taste delicious.

They are great for serving at or bringing to a holiday party because they are so pretty. They are always the first thing to disappear whenever we make them for friends and family.

One of the things I love about these cookies is the pairing of the tender, buttery crumble of the cookie with the creaminess of the white chocolate coating.

Then you add the saltiness of the pistachios and it is a sweet and salty combo made in heaven. I know you’ll love these as much as we do.

Easy Pistachio Cookies

Here are some commonly asked questions

What is the best way to store Pistachio Christmas Cookies?

I like to place mine in an airtight container and keep them at room temperature for up to 5 days. Just make sure the chocolate has been completely set before stacking the cookies into a container.

What are pistachio cookies?

Pistachio cookies are a type of cookie that is sometimes made with pistachios crushed into the dough or decorated on top as a garnish. They are often flavored with vanilla or almond extract and can be decorated with pistachios or other nuts.

White Chocolate Cookies with Pistachio

Why do the ingredients need to be at room temperature?

Room temperature ingredients help to ensure that everything blends together perfectly. You don’t want any pockets of unblended butter. You want everything evenly disbursed for the perfect texture.

When your dairy products are at room temperature, they can create an emulsion. It’s essential to have an emulsion because air gets trapped, so the baked goods expand and get fluffy as it bakes.

When were pistachio cookies invented?

Pistachio cookies were first made in the 1800s by Italian immigrants who brought pistachios over from Pistoia, Italy. The cookies became popularized by the pistachio ice cream industry, and have since become a popular holiday treat.

Star Christmas Cookies

Ingredients for Pistachio Cookies

• corn starch
• all-purpose flour
• baking powder
• salt
• unsalted butter – room temperature
• egg yolks
• granulated sugar
• lemon zest
• vanilla extract

What are some variations of pistachio cookies?

Some variations of pistachio cookies include adding chocolate chips or dried fruit to the dough before baking.

You can also frost pistachio cookies with pistachio-flavored icing.

Another popular variation is to sandwich two pistachio cookies together with pistachio ice cream in the middle. Yum!

Holiday Cookies with Pistachio

How to Make Pistachio Cookies

1. In a large bowl whisk together the cornstarch, flour, corn starch, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
2. Combine the butter, egg yolks and sugar in a separate bowl. Using a stand or hand mixer, beat on a medium speed for about 2-3 minutes until the color lightens and the texture is fluffy.
3. Add the vanilla extract and lemon zest and mix until combined.
4. Fold in the wet mixture into the dry mixture. Mix on low until just combined.
5. Transfer the dough onto a silicone mat and flatten (1/4-inch thick) using a rolling pin.
6. Place on a large cutting board, cover with plastic and freeze for 20 minutes.
7. Once the dough is chilled, preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
8. Use a star cookie cutter to cut the dough and transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
9. Bake for about 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheet before decorating.

Cookies for Gifts

How to soften the butter to room temperature?

First

There are a couple of ways to do this. The first being that you can take the butter (& any other ingredients that need to be at room temperature) out, leave it on the counter for about 30 minutes while you prep for baking.

I usually start with all my chilled ingredients and pull everything I need out onto the counter before getting started – so I know for sure I have everything before I’m mid-way through I realize I’m out of something.

But sometimes it’s winter and that isn’t enough time to get the ingredients warmed up – OR – I’m just not that organized to plan ahead. It happens. So I have another couple of tricks.

Second

I place the butter in the microwave – wrapped in the paper. (don’t do this if it is wrapped in foil) Then I microwave for 2 seconds – flip – go another 2 seconds – flip again – and continue for 2 seconds on each side.

This is usually enough to get it perfect – sometimes stopping before if it feels soft enough. Take care when doing this method – overly softened butter from the microwave WILL ALTER the end result of the recipe. Don’t over-do it.

Third

My third method is to place the wrapped butter sticks in a zip-top bag and place it in a bowl of warm water. I do this with the eggs too. If the water isn’t too hot it can be THE PERFECT way to get “room-temperature” ingredients.

Cute Christmas Cookies

Can the dough be frozen for later?

Yes – this dough can be frozen and baked later. If you would like to roll the dough prior to freezing, just roll between the plastic and then freeze. When you are ready to bake, let the dough sit at room temp for about 30 minutes – then cut the shapes and bake as directed.

How many cookies does this make?

This will depend on the size of the cookie cutters you choose to use. As you can see here – I used different sizes and ended up with about 30 cookies – including the small stars. If I had stopped with only the larger cutters, I would have had less.

Cut Out Pistachio Cookies

Can these cookies be made ahead of time?

You bet. This cookie dough can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days prior to baking.

Make sure to cover tightly with plastic wrap so it doesn’t dry out. You do not need to let it sit out at room temperature before rolling and baking. Just proceed with the recipe as written when you are ready to bake.

You can also bake ahead of time – store the baked cookies in an airtight container and then decorate later on.

Christmas Pistachio Cookies

Ingredients for Decorating Pistachio Cookies

• high quality white chocolate or chocolate chips
• pistachio nuts – sliced
• sugar pearls

Can I use a sugar substitute?

I have not personally tried it, so I can’t say how that would turn out. But if you would like to try it, I suggest a product that offers a 1:1 swap. Please let me know how it turns out.

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How to Decorate Pistachio Cookies

1. Melt chocolate or chocolate chips as per package instructions.
2. Dip the top side of each cookie in melted chocolate, sprinkle with sliced pistachio and decorate with sugar pearls.
3. Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes or until the chocolate is set. Enjoy!

Pistachio Christmas Cookies

Can these baked cookies be frozen?

Yes – the baked cookies will keep when frozen for up to 3 months. Wrap each cookie individually with plastic wrap and then place them all in an airtight container before freezing.

pistachio cookies recipe

How do I properly measure the flour and cornstarch?

The official way is to spoon the flour or corn starch into the measuring cup & level off. This makes sure the light and fluffy ingredients aren’t packed tightly into your measuring cup, adding more than you need, as that will make your recipe too dry. make sure to spoon and level when measuring.

pistachio shortbread cookies

Can this recipe be made without a stand mixer?

I think you could possibly get away with using a hand mixer if you have firm beaters.

I don’t recommend using a whisk or even the whisk attachment on a stand mixer for this dough as a whisk isn’t strong enough for this dough.

pistachio recipes cookies

Do I really need to chill the dough?

Yes, Yes, Yes! Chilling the dough is important for a couple of reasons. First – while the dough is chilling the ingredients are coming together. It gives a better overall flavor to the cookie.

The second and probably even more important than the first – is that chilling helps the dough hold together during the baking process.

Without chilling, the dough would not only be too sticky to really it out and hold the shape once cut. But it would also spread way too much while baking – leaving flat and not very appealing cookies in the end. Please don’t skip the chilling process.

white chocolate pistachio cookies

Can this dough be rolled into balls like drop cookies?

I think that as long as the dough isn’t too large you can make them like drop cookies or rolled cookies. But rolling out with a rolling pin and using the cookie cutter makes them so much cuter.

pistachio butter cookies

Products I love when making pistachio cookies…

This pistachio cookie recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made cut out cookies before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love them. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this adorable cookie recipe.

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If you love this Easy Pistachio Cookie recipe, you’re going to love these other cookies too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

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