Pistachio Cookies

Featured in Indulgent Dessert Recipes to Satisfy Any Sweet Tooth.

These festive treats are soft and loaded with pistachio flavor, thanks to pudding mix, real pistachios, and white chocolate chunks. Their natural green color makes them ideal for special occasions!

A man wearing a white shirt and suspenders holding a piece of paper.
Updated on Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:53:11 GMT
Three softly green cookies studded with crushed pistachios and white chocolate pieces rest on parchment paper. Pin it
Three softly green cookies studded with crushed pistachios and white chocolate pieces rest on parchment paper. | chefmelt.com

I found this Pistachio Cookie creation while trying new things in my kitchen and now it's my go-to bake. These cookies hit all the right notes - they're soft, chewy and packed with amazing pistachio taste. White chocolate chips create sweet surprises throughout, and their natural green hue makes them great for special occasions, though I honestly bake them all year because we love them too much.

What Makes These Treats Irresistible

The beauty of these cookies lies in how easy they are to whip up, yet they taste like something you'd pay good money for. The game-changer is the pistachio pudding mix that delivers incredible flavor and keeps them wonderfully soft for several days. They're tough enough to package and give as gifts, but you'll probably eat them all before you get the chance.

What You'll Need for Pistachio Cookies

  • Pistachios: Chop them roughly so you get big chunks for a nice bite.
  • White Chocolate Chips: These create delicious creamy spots throughout.
  • Pistachio Pudding Mix: Our secret weapon for both taste and softness.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Be exact with this one, I always spoon and level for best results.
  • Butter: Leave it out until it feels just right to touch.
  • Eggs: They work to hold everything in place.
  • Vanilla Extract: This brings all the flavors together.
  • Baking Soda & Salt: Small amounts that make a big difference.
  • Granulated and Brown Sugar: Working together, they create that wonderful chewy texture.

Making Your Cookies Step by Step

Get Your Wet Mix Ready
First beat the butter and sugars till they look fluffy and light, around 3 minutes. Add your eggs and vanilla, mixing until everything looks smooth.
Mix Your Dry Stuff
In a separate bowl stir together your flour, pudding mix, baking soda and salt. Slowly add this to your wet mixture, being careful not to mix too much.
Add Your Special Bits
Here comes the good part, gently mix in your chopped pistachios and white chocolate chips so they spread evenly throughout.
Ready for the Oven
Scoop the dough onto your lined cookie sheets, leaving room between each one. Push them down a little and bake at 350°F for about 12-14 minutes until you see golden edges.

Secrets to Cookie Success

  • Get the Butter Just Right: If it's at perfect room temp your cookies won't flatten too much.
  • Fancy Them Up: I always stick extra pistachios and chips on top before they go in the oven for a pretty finish.
  • Watch the Baking Time: Take them out when the edges turn golden but centers still look soft, they'll firm up while cooling.
  • Switch the Pans Around: If you're cooking multiple batches, move them between racks halfway through for even results.
A close-up of a freshly baked cookie with white chocolate chips and chopped pistachios, featuring a bite taken out of it. Pin it
A close-up of a freshly baked cookie with white chocolate chips and chopped pistachios, featuring a bite taken out of it. | chefmelt.com

Keeping Your Cookies Fresh

These tasty treats will stay good in a sealed container for up to a week, assuming they don't get eaten first. Want to save some for later? Let them cool all the way, wrap them up good and pop them in the freezer for up to three months. Just let them come to room temp when you're ready to munch.

Tweak It Your Way

  • Try Different Chocolate: Dark chocolate chips can give them a more intense flavor.
  • Make Them Seasonal: Throw in some dried cranberries for a holiday touch.
  • Bump Up the Color: A tiny bit of green food coloring makes them stand out more.
  • Can't Do Nuts: Skip the pistachios completely and add extra chocolate or try using almonds instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I try another type of chocolate?

Of course! Dark or milk chocolate chips work just as well.

→ What’s the purpose of the pudding mix?

It helps make the cookies softer and boosts the pistachio flavor.

→ How can I make the green color brighter?

You can add a few drops of green food coloring for a more vivid color.

→ What other mix-ins could I use?

Dried fruits like cranberries can add something special, especially for festive moments!

→ Why flatten the dough before baking?

It lets the dough spread consistently in the oven for even-sized cookies.

Pistachio Cookies

Tender cookies made with pistachio pudding mix, white chocolate chunks, and finely chopped pistachios.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
13 Minutes
Total Time
28 Minutes

Category: Dessert Recipes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 36 Servings (36)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 85 grams of softened unsalted butter (about 3/4 cup).
02 100 grams of white sugar (about 1/2 cup).
03 100 grams of light brown sugar (about 1/2 cup).
04 Two big eggs.
05 One teaspoon of vanilla extract.
06 2 and 1/4 cups of regular wheat flour.
07 96 grams of instant pistachio pudding mix (found in France as 'Mélange pour Crème Pistache').
08 A teaspoon of baking soda.
09 Half a teaspoon of sea salt.
10 A half cup of white chocolate chips.
11 A half cup of chopped pistachio nuts.

Instructions

Step 01

Set the oven to preheat at 175°C (350°F), keeping the rack in the middle, and line your baking trays with parchment paper.

Step 02

Use an electric whisk to mix the softened butter with both sugars until the combination is light and airy. This usually takes 2 or 3 minutes.

Step 03

Crack in the eggs and pour in the vanilla extract, then continue mixing until it's silky smooth and all mixed up.

Step 04

In another bowl, stir together the flour, pistachio pudding mix, baking soda, and salt so it's evenly mixed up.

Step 05

Pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture gradually and mix until they just come together—don’t overdo it!

Step 06

Carefully stir in the chopped pistachios and the white chocolate chips until they’re spread out evenly in the dough.

Step 07

Scoop out tablespoon-sized dough portions and roll them up into even little balls.

Step 08

Set each dough ball on the baking trays, giving them about 5 cm (2 inches) of space since they’ll spread while baking.

Step 09

Push each dough ball down a little to help them flatten out when inside the oven.

Step 10

If you’re feeling fancy, add some extra chips or nuts on top for a good look.

Step 11

Bake the cookies for about 12 to 14 minutes, until you see the edges turn golden while the center stays soft.

Step 12

If the baking doesn’t look even, turn the trays halfway through.

Step 13

Take the cookies out, then let them rest on the trays for 2 or 3 minutes.

Step 14

Move the cookies to a cooling rack and let them cool completely before eating.

Step 15

After cooling, keep the cookies fresh in an airtight box.

Notes

  1. Perfect for festive moments.
  2. Naturally tinted green dough.
  3. Lots of mix-in options.
  4. Great for preparing ahead of time.

Tools You'll Need

  • A stand or handheld mixer.
  • Cookie trays.
  • Baking parchment.
  • A scooper for dough.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Includes dairy (butter, chocolate).
  • Includes eggs.
  • Contains wheat (flour).
  • Contains tree nuts (pistachios).

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 122
  • Total Fat: 6 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 16 g
  • Protein: 2 g