Pistachio Cookies

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch

Makes

about 6-1/2 dozen

Updated: Dec. 25, 2023
This wonderful pistachio cookie recipe is fun to make and everyone will be impressed with how pretty the green coloring is. They're one of my favorite holiday cookies. —Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas
Pistachio Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 to 3 drops green food coloring
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant pistachio pudding mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped pistachios or pecans
  • 1/2 cup green colored sugar

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, beat the butter, oil and confectioners' sugar until blended (mixture will clump together). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extract and food coloring.
  2. Combine the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, cream of tarter and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375°.
  3. Shape into 1-in. balls; roll in colored sugar. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 7-9 minutes or until cookies are set. Cool for 1 minute before removing to wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

Pistachio Cookie Tips

How should you store pistachio cookies?

Like other cookie recipes, you can store these pistachio cookies for up to three days at room temperature in an airtight container.

Should you use salted or unsalted pistachios in this pistachio cookie recipe?

You can use either salted or unsalted pistachios for this recipe! Keep in mind that if you use salted pistachios your cookies will be a mix of sweet, and well, salty.

What other toppings or mix-ins can I add to these pistachio cookies?

You can swap the chopped pistachios for pecans. Or try adding cranberries, orange zest or a frosting glaze similar to this orange pistachio cookies recipe or these pistachio brown butter cookies.

—Christina Herbst, Taste of Home Assistant Digital Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 54 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 44mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.