Easy Italian Pistachio Cookies
These Quick and Easy Italian Pistachio Cookies are tasty and soft. With only 7 ingredients and no pudding mixes included, just a real pistachio flavor! A soft cookie perfect with a coffee or tea at snack time or Breakfast.
If it wasn’t for the Italian I probably would never have made any pistachio recipes from Pistachio Cream which I used to make a Pistachio Tiramisu to my latest Pistachio Ricotta Crostata. I discovered what an underrated and delicious nut it is to bake with.
Recipe Ingredients
- Flour – all purpose flour at least 11% protein
- Sugar – granulated sugar
- Baking powder
- Pistachios – chopped
- Salt – if you use unsalted butter then add a little more salt
- Butter – salted or unsalted butter
- Egg – large egg
There is no vanilla extract in this recipe although if you like you could add about 1/2 teaspoon for flavor.
How to chop pistachios
I was able to find finely chopped pistachios in the store, but if you can’t find them then you will have to chop them yourself. You can use either roasted and shelled salted or unsalted. Place the whole pistachios in a blender or food processor and chop until finely chopped, but not powder.
How to make a Pistachio Cookie Recipe
For this recipe you can use either a food processor, stand mixer or by hand. In the bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, chopped pistachios and salt add the butter and egg and pulse, beat with the flat beater or fork until combined. The dough should be soft but not sticky.
On a lightly floured flat surface, form the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Roll the dough into small golfball size balls, place on the prepared baking sheets and lightly flatten with a fork and sprinkle with some chopped pistachios.
While the oven is pre-heating chill the cookies, bake until golden around the edges, let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for approximately 15 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe FAQs
What is the best flour to use?
Be sure to use a higher protein flour, at least 11%, my flour is about 12.5%, a low protein flour will cause the cookies to spread, and you want these cookies to be higher rather than flatter.
Why chill the cookie dough?
Chilling the dough before forming and baking is another way to keep the cookies from spreading. Chilling will solidify the fat in the cookies. As the cookies bake, the fat in the chilled dough will take longer to melt than non chilled fat, which keeps your cookies from spreading.
What if the dough is too wet?
If the dough won’t come together because it is too wet, then just add a little more flour, start with a tablespoon at a time.
What if the dough is too dry?
If it is too dry then add a little more butter, 1/2-1 tablespoon at a time until it comes together to form a compact dough.
Are pistachios good for you?
Yes they are they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory traits. They can lower your chances for cardiovascular disease. They are full of fibre, minerals, and unsaturated fat that can help keep your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol in check.
How to store the cookies
The cookies should be stored in an airtight container in a single layer separated with parchment paper, they will keep at room temperature for up to 2-3 days, or in the fridge for 5-6 days. Be sure to bring them to room temperature before serving.
How to freeze the cookies
The cookies can either be frozen baked or unbaked. Freeze baked cookies in a freezer safe container separated with parchment paper, they will keep for up to 3 month in the freezer. The cookies can be thawed in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Can the dough be frozen?
You can also freeze the cookie dough or dough balls, freeze until firm on a cookie sheet then move to a freezer safe container, they will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. Thaw the frozen dough in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before baking.
I love making Italian cookies because tend to be a less sweet and always delicious, from Canestrelli Italian Cookies to Italian Lemon Cookies to everyones favorite Traditional Italian Breakfast Cookies.
If you like Pistachios and are looking for a way to make something not overly sweet, then why not give these Italian Pistachio Cookies a try and be sure to let me know how they turn out. They would also make the perfect addition to your Christmas Baking tray. Enjoy!
Easy Italian Pistachio Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour (140 grams total)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ cup pistachios (finely chopped) divided
- 1 pinch salt
- ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons butter (softened & cubed) (100 grams total)
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- For this recipe you can use either a food processor, stand mixer or by hand. In the bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, chopped pistachios (remove 1 tablespoon to sprinkle on the unbaked cookies set aside) and the salt, then add the butter and egg, pulse, beat with the flat beater or mix with a fork until combined.
- On a lightly floured flat surface, form the dough into a ball, the dough should be soft but not sticky. Wrap it in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and roll the dough into small golfball size balls, approximately 21, place the cookies on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet, lightly flatten (but not too much) each ball with the tongs of a fork and sprinkle with the remaining chopped pistachios.
- Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C).
- While the oven is pre-heating chill the cookies for about 15-20 minutes, then bake for approximately 10-12 minutes or until golden around the edges (the bottom of the cookies should be lightly browned), let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for approximately 15 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Used my food processor to make the easiest cookies, I’ve ever made. Also since everything just got put into the processor, there was very little to clean. The dough was perfect as were the cookies. Thank you so much.
Hi Abbie, thanks so, so glad you enjoyed them. Take care!
Was looking for something new to make that would take much time and these fit the bill, thank you. They are so tasty and I will take half the batch and dip in chocolate (on the bottoms) just for something even more different.
Hi Alison, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them, great idea with the chocolate. Take care and have a great week!
I had some Italian pistachio spread that I wanted to use up and was looking for a simple pistachio cookie recipe. This one fit the bill. I replaced 2 tablespoons of butter with the spread and creamed the sugar with the butter and the spread in a stand mixer before adding the rest of the ingredients.
I shaped the dough into a log before wrapping and popping it into the fridge. Then sliced and baked.
The cookies were so delicious. They got even better when dipped in melted white chocolate. My family loved them too…Hubby says we should add these to our Christmas cookie list. Thanks so much for this yummy and easily adaptable recipe!
Hi Julie, thanks so much, so glad everyone enjoyed them. Take care and have a great week!
Loved these cookies & everyone I shared them with loved them to. THANKS
Hi Phyllis, thanks so much, so glad everyone enjoyed them. Take care and have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks so much for this recipe! These were so yummy and easy to make!
For half the batch I added some dark choc chips – they were also yum.
Keen to make it again (maybe a batch just for myself 😂)
Hi Ashleigh, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them. Great idea adding the chocolate chips. Take care!
I recently made the pistachio cookies.
Great recipe!
They were easy and so delicious!
I will be making them again.
Thank you.
Hi Judy, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them. Take care and have a wonderful Sunday!
Just saw this recipe on Pinterest and it looks like it would be delicious. Great reviews also. Was also glad to see that this recipe can be doubled or tripled. In my life I have never made just 21 cookies, cause I could probably eat half of that myself. Recipe looks perfect. I will be doing the triple for sure. Just wanted to thank you for sharing. **
Hi Judy, thanks and you’re welcome. I hope you like them. Haha I usually make smaller amounts because my husband and I eat them all! Take care.
Very easy recipe and delicious cookies.
Thank you for sharing
Hi Ermajo, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it. Take care and have a great weekend!
I noticed your recipe does not have any extracts in it. Are they flavorful without it?? I am interested in making them but I feel a little almond extract might be needed. Thanks
Hi June, for us they were flavourful but you can definitely add some almond extract if you wish. That would actually be very good I think. Take care!
Love this recipe, Our family does a cookie backing for the holidays and I have been looking for a good recipe and this hits the mark. Thank you for sharing, however I can’t say I will HAHAHA.
Hi Ron, thanks so much, haha yes my husband won’t share these either. Take care! Happy Baking.
These are so good.
Thank you also for the gram equivalent of the cup measurements!
Hi Anne, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them. Take care!
Great recipe! I love it! Thanks.
Hi NAJCH, thanks so much, glad you like the recipe. Take care. Have a great week.
These cooikes are excellent. I did bake them a bit longer because we like things well done. My husband loves pistacios and these were a real hit. Thank you for sharing the recipe
Hi Dianna, thanks so much, my husband loves anything pistachios also! Glad you enjoyed them. Take care.
Another successful, delicious recipe I plan to make again! Beyond easy in the food processor as well.
Hi Joanna, thanks so much, and yes I love my food processor. Happy Holidays.
Hello Rosemary. Would you have any objections to using bread flour? The AP flour I use has 11.7% protein and the bread flow I use is 12.7%. Thanks for sharing your talent, life experiences and recipes. Take care
Hi Jeanette, yes the bread flour should work just fine. Let me know how it goes. Have a great weekend.