My Favorite Pistachio Cookies (video recipe)
These pistachio cookies are your classic vanilla cookies loaded with lots of pistachios and a hint of rose extract for that Middle-Eastern flavor. These have crisp edges with toasted pistachios and soft chewy centers.
About these pistachio cookies
This is a basic cookie dough recipe with butter, sugar, flour, and eggs. What takes it to the next level, are the pistachio nuts and rose extract. If you don't have rose extract, you can also use vanilla or almond extract.
The recipe is fairly simple and easy to make. The dough is quite soft, so you need to let it chill for at least 30 to 60 minutes. Otherwise, the cookies will spread too much.
Useful tools and tips
- I prefer to weigh my ingredients with a kitchen scale for accurate measurements. Also, when appropriate, I use my measuring cups and spoons. Read - how to measure ingredients correctly when baking.
- I'm not a slave to mixers. And yet, when you need some good creaming, I highly recommend you use the Kenwood or Kitchen Aid mixers.
- A good baking tray is always important. So, try using a light-colored baking tray. Another option is to line the baking tray with parchment paper.
- If you aren't going to fill or decorate cookies, a regular rolling pin will work just fine. I like to use my cookie rolling-pin that has the side spacers that will also help you with rolling. So all your cookies are leveled and bake evenly.
- Also, it is really important to cool cookies completely on all sides. So, after 10 mins take them off the baking tray to prevent them from cooking further. Place them on a cooling rack so air circulates on all sides. This prevents steam from going back into the cookie, thus, keeping them crispy not soggy.
- Most cookies usually bake between 10 to 12 minutes. Since cookies bake quickly they can also get over-baked. This is due to our tendency to get distracted at the last minute. Hence, my solution is a kitchen timer that is always set to 10 minutes. I turn it on as soon as I place the cookies in the oven. This has saved me many cookies since my kids always keep me busy.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Unsalted butter - I like to use unsalted butter in all my baking, so I can control the amount of salt. And yet, if you must use salted butter omit the salt in the recipe.
- All-purpose flour - I always use all-purpose flour with great success. You do not need any other flour.
- Pistachios - I'm using pistachios and I know that they can be pricy sometimes. But, you can also use any other nuts you like, such as almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, etc.
- Sugar - I'm using white sugar so I can keep that pretty green color from the pistachios. But, if you want, you can certainly use half brown for a slightly softer textured cookie.
- Rose extract - Pistachio cookies go well with rose extract. And yet, you can also use almond or vanilla extract.
How to make pistachio cookies (save/pin)
Pistachios
- Pulse the pistachios in a food processor until you have almost close to breadcrumb consistency (see video for consistency).
- You want a mixture of some finely ground and some coarsely crushed pistachios.
- Save 50 grams (1/2 cup) for coating the cookies.
- Use the rest in the cookie dough.
Dough
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and egg yolk, one at a time.
- Then, add the vanilla, followed by the flour and salt.
- Finally, add the pulsed pistachios and combine well.
- Chill the cookie dough in the fridge for 30 to 60 minutes or until firm enough to roll into a ball.
Bake
- Preheat the oven at 180 C/ 360 F.
- Take a marble size dough (about 2 tbsp) - roll into a ball.
- Coat in the crushed pistachios (that you set aside earlier).
- Place cookies on a baking tray.
- Bake on the center rack for 9 to 10 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden.
- Cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes then on a wire rack before storing in an air-tight container.
Storage
- These cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to 10 days.
- You can freeze the dough for up to a month or freeze the cookies for up to three months.
Description
Ingredients
- 170 grams (0.75 cups) Butter unsalted, room temperature
- 100 grams (0.5 cups) Sugar fine grain
- 1 Egg large
- 1 Egg yolk
- 256 grams (2 cups) All-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Extract rose or vanilla
- 1 1/2 cup (180 g) Pistachio (6 oz) divided
Instructions
Pistachios
- Pulse the pistachios in a food processor until you have almost close to breadcrumb consistency (see video for consistency).
- You want a mixture of some finely ground and some coarsely crushed pistachios.
- Save 50 grams (1/2 cup) for coating the cookies.
- Use the rest in the cookie dough.
Dough
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and egg yolk, one at a time.
- Then add the vanilla, followed by the flour and salt.
- Finally, add the pulsed pistachios and combine well.
- Chill the cookie dough in the fridge for 30 to 60 minutes or until firm enough to roll into a ball.
Bake
- Preheat the oven at 180 C/ 360 F.
- Take a marble size dough (about 2 tbsp) - roll into a ball.
- Coat in the crushed pistachios (that you set aside earlier).
- Place cookies on a baking tray.
- Bake on the center rack for 9 to 10 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden.
- Cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes then on a wire rack before storing in an air-tight container.
Recipe Notes
Storage
- These cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to 10 days.
- You can freeze the dough for up to a month or
- Freeze the cookies for up to three months.
Equipment
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Frequently asked questions
These pistachio cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to 10 days. You can freeze the dough for up to a month or freeze the cookies for up to three months.
These cookies are supposed to spread some, not too much.
However, too much butter or sugar in the recipe can lead to cookies spreading. Too much baking powder or baking soda can also make cookies spread too much.
Place cookies on a cold, not hot baking pan.
And make sure the oven is at the right temperature.
It is always a good practice to refrigerate cookies while the oven is preheating. Chilling cookie dough helps solidify the butter in the cookies. This helps when baking by preventing them from spreading since chilled dough takes longer to melt compared to room temperature fat.
You can add 1/2 tsp cinnamon, cardamom, ground ginger or nutmeg if you want to these pistachio cookies.
These cookies have a good shelf life as a dough as well as cookies.
The dough will stay in the fridge for 3 to 4 days before baking. (wrapped well)
The cookie dough can be frozen for up to a month in the freezer.
You can also place the unbaked cookie dough balls in the freezer for up to a month. Bake from frozen. They will take about 14 to 18 minutes to bake from frozen.
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Lisa Huff
I have rose water sitting in my kitchen that I never use. Thank you for the inspiration! These Pistachio Cookies are perfect for it!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Lisa.
Jeannette
I love pistachios and any nut cookie, so this pistachio cookie is PERFECT. Adding rose extract is also such a fantastic idea!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Jeannette. I hope you try this soon.
Dannii
I love anything with pistachios, so these cookings get a big thumbs up from me.
Veena Azmanov
Me too. THanks Dannii.
Courtney | Love & Good Stuff
My family is full of pistachio lovers so I knew we had to try these cookies. They were great! Thank you for sharing!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much Courtney for the lovely feedback. So happy you enjoyed it.
Kathryn Donangelo
These pistachio are so good! I love the flavor and I had one with my coffee this morning:)
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Kathryn. So happy you enjoyed them
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli
Love how straightforward this recipe is! And the cookies look delicious! Will give them a try and cannot wait!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Nicoletta