Pistachio cookies recipe

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Our pistachio cookies use just eight ingredients and only take 25 minutes to make

pistachio cookies
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Makes10
SkillEasy
Preparation Time15 mins
Cooking Time10 mins
Total Time25 mins
Cost RangeMid
Nutrition Per PortionRDA
Calories248 Kcal12%
Sugars13.6 g15%
Saturated Fat6.8 g34%
Protein4.2 g8%
Fat13.1 g19%
Carbohydrates27.7 g11%

These easy pistachio cookies are the perfect balance of soft and crunchy and each one is under 250 calories. 

Our easy chocolate chip cookies are popular for a reason, but if you’re looking for an alternative bake to switch things up we think you’ll love these nutty cookies. Perfectly crumbly with big chunks of white chocolate, they are the perfect treat to enjoy with a warm cup of tea. 

Ingredients

  • 200g plain flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 100g soft butter
  • 100g caster sugar
  • 1 medium egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • Pinch of salt
  • 50g chopped pistachio nuts
  • 50g roughly chopped white chocolate

WEIGHT CONVERTER

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Method

  1. Heat your oven to 180C (160C fan, Gas 4). Cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla.
  2. Beat in the egg, followed by the flour, baking powder and salt.
  3. Mix till just combined so as not to overwork the dough. Stir through the nuts and chocolate.
  4. Roll into golf-ball size rounds and place on a baking tray. Flatten slightly with your hand. Remember to leave plenty of room between them as they will spread.
  5. Bake for 10 minutes until just slightly golden around the edges and still gooey in the middle. Cool on the baking tray until firm enough to lift onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Top tips for making pistachio cookies

Give the cookies an extra flavour dimension by adding a pinch of saffron or ground cardamom seeds to the dough.

What flavours go well with pistachio?

White chocolate and raspberries are classic flavour pairings with pistachios. You could add some freeze-dried raspberries to these cookies or whip up some buttercream and fold through some raspberry jam, then sandwich two cookies together for a more indulgent treat.  

Can pistachio cookies be frozen?

You could freeze the raw balls of dough and then bake from frozen as and when you have a cookie craving. You will need to add a couple of minutes to the cooking time and should use the cookies up within a month. 

How to store pistachio cookies?

These cookies can be kept for three to five days when stored at room temperature in an airtight container. 

Profile picture of Jessica Ransom
Jessica Ransom

“If you want to freeze the cookie dough, it’s best to first freeze the balls of dough in a single layer. So make sure your baking tray can fit into your freezer. Once the balls are solid, you can store them in a freezer bag or container which takes up less space!”

To avoid overcrowding you baking tray, consider baking the cookies across a couple of trays like these ones from Tala.

Tala Performance Baking Sheet - View at Amazon 

Tala Performance Baking Sheet - View at Amazon 

You can buy these non-stick trays in medium or large size. Although the large will fit more cookies on, it may not fit in most fridges or freezers. The raised edges make it easier to lift the tray in and out of the oven and the non-stick coating means there’s no need for baking paper. 

If you like this recipe you should try these Millie’s cookies next. Alternatively, our sugar cookies recipe is the perfect base for decorating and these vanilla cookies are cheap and easy to make with kids. 

Rosie Conroy
Food Writer

Rosie is an experienced food and drinks journalist who has spent over a decade writing about restaurants, cookery, and foodie products. Previously Content Editor at Goodto.com and Digital Food Editor on Woman&Home, Rosie is well used to covering everything from food news through to taste tests. Now, as well as heading up the team at SquareMeal - the UK's leading guide to restaurants and bars - she also runs a wedding floristry business in Scotland called Lavender and Rose.

With contributions from