Pistachio Cookies Recipe
Delight in these buttery, tender Pistachio Cookies, perfectly balanced with a hint of almond and vanilla extracts. Finely ground pistachios add a subtle nutty flavor and a delightful texture, while a dusting of powdered sugar adds a charming finish. These cookies are easy to prepare, chilled to maintain their shape, and baked to golden perfection — a perfect treat for any occasion.
- Author: Caleb
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 57 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Additional Ingredients
- 1 cup shelled, unsalted pistachios, finely ground
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the Extracts: Incorporate the vanilla extract and almond extract into the creamed butter and sugars, mixing until just combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly blended.
- Grind the Pistachios: Using a food processor, pulse the shelled, unsalted pistachios until they are finely ground but not overly powdery.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Pistachios: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients on low speed, mixing just until combined. Then fold in the ground pistachios until evenly distributed in the dough.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours, to firm up and develop the flavors.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Shape the Cookies: Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator. Roll it into 1-inch balls with your hands and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Bake the Cookies: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
- Cool the Cookies: After baking, remove the sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to rest for a few minutes on the pan before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Dust with Powdered Sugar: Once fully cooled, generously dust the cookies with powdered sugar using a fine sieve or sifter for an elegant finish.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve these pistachio cookies immediately or store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Be sure not to overmix the dough once the flour is added to keep the cookies tender.
- If you don’t have a food processor, finely chop the pistachios with a sharp knife, but keep them roughly even for texture.
- For a crisper cookie, bake a couple of minutes longer, but watch closely to avoid burning.
- These cookies freeze well; store them in an airtight container, separated by parchment paper.
- The almond extract enhances the pistachio flavor but can be omitted if unavailable; increase the vanilla extract to 1 ½ teaspoons instead.
Keywords: Pistachio cookies, nutty cookies, almond extract cookies, buttery cookies, holiday cookies, easy cookie recipe