Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
These pistachio shortbread cookies are buttery, melt-in-your-mouth crumbly cookies studded with finely chopped pistachio pieces! Their nutty sweet taste makes them perfect to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea.
I am a huge fan of shortbread cookies from my 3 ingredient shortbread cookies to more decadent chocolate shortbread cookies and even whipped chocolate chip shortbread cookies!
I had yet to make one with one of my favorite nuts, though, and now these pistachio shortbread cookies are a new favorite Christmas cookie. They have a crumbly texture like classic simple shortbread but are sweet and nutty like a pistachio cookie, you will love them!
Why I Love This Recipe
- Slice and bake shortbread with nuts: There is no rolling or cutting involved, unless you want to, and the cookie dough comes together in only 20 minutes.
- Sweet and flavorful: These shortbread pistachio cookies are crumbly with a light, sweet taste and nutty, slightly crunchy texture!
- Perfect for gifting: These would be perfect to add to holiday cookie trays and gift boxes with Italian Christmas cookies!
Ingredient Notes
- Flour: All-purpose flour is best.
- Butter: For the best buttery shortbread, I like to use a good quality salted butter softened to room temperature.
- Granulated sugar: Granulated white sugar adds a sweet taste while keeping the cookies crumbly in texture.
- Salt: Just a pinch but if using unsalted butter add ¼ teaspoon salt.
- Pistachios: Shelled unsalted pistachios that are roasted and coarsely or finely chopped.
How to Make Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
In a mixing bowl, stand mixer or even food processor, mix the butter, sugar and vanilla until creamy.
Sift the flour and salt into the bowl and combine on low speed.
Add the chopped pistachios and mix just to combine, do not over mix or your cookies will turn out dense.
Cover the bowl and chill, or you could form the dough into a log, wrap and chill.
Slice the log into ¼ inch slices or roll the dough and cut out with your favorite cookie cutters or roll into balls and lightly flatten with a fork (dipped in flour). Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets and chill while the oven is pre-heating.
Bake until cookies start to turn golden around the edges. Cool for on the baking sheets then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
baking tips
- If you only have raw pistachios, roast them in the oven at 350°F for 12 minutes. Cool then chop and use in this pistachio shortbread cookies recipe.
- After chilling the dough if it is too cold to slice through or roll out, rest at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes then slice.
- Shortbread cookies bake at a low temperature and can be hard to tell when they are done. They should appear more matte on top and change in color slightly. If you still aren’t sure, slide a spatula under one and check the bottom, it will be light brown in color.
- Out of the oven these cookies are very delicate. Let them cool then enjoy at room temperature!
Mix-In Ideas and Decorating the Cookies
- Sandwich cookies: Take some inspiration from my Italian sandwich cookies and sandwich two cookies with Nutella or your favorite jam.
- Chocolate pistachio shortbread cookies: These look so elegant half dipped in dark chocolate then sprinkled with sea salt! Use the same technique for dipping that I use in my chocolate hazelnut shortbread cookies.
- Flavoring: For more nutty flavor add some almond extract to the shortbread dough.
- Citrus zest: Fresh orange zest would pair well and add bright flavor to these pistachios shortbread cookies.
- Dried cranberries: For a cranberry pistachio shortbread cookie, fold in dried cranberries just like in my cranberry shortbread cookies.
- Chocolate chips: Unsweetened or milk chocolate chips would add even more texture and rich flavor.
Storage and Freezing
- Store: Store logs of dough in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Baked pistachio shortbread recipe can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3- 5 days. I think they actually taste better on day 3 than day 1!
- Freeze: You can also freeze the cookie dough logs for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then slice and bake cookies. You can freeze baked pistachio shortbread cookies
More Pistachio Recipes
- Italian Pistachio Biscotti
- Homemade Pistachio Cream
- Pistachio Ricotta Crostata
- Creamy Pistachio Liqueur
- Pistachio Tiramisu Recipe
These Pistachio Shortbread Cookies are a new favorite in our house. I hope they are in your house too! Enjoy!
Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter good quality (cubed & softened)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 pinch salt (if using unsalted butter add ¼ teaspoon salt)
- ½-1 cup pistachios (roasted and coarsely or finely chopped)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl or stand mixer beat the butter, sugar and vanilla until creamy approximately 2-3 minutes. Sift the flour and salt into the bowl and combine on low speed.
- When almost combined add the pistachios and mix to just to combine, do not over mix. Cover the bowl and chill 60 minutes, or you could form the dough into a log, wrap and chill.
- Either slice the log into ¼ inch slices or roll the dough and cut out with your favourite cookie cutters or roll into balls and lightly flatten with fork (dipped in flour). Place the cookies on parchment paper lined baking sheets and chill 15 minutes while the oven is pre-heating.
- Pre-heat the oven to 320F.
- Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on the baking sheets then move to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
I just made these for a cookie party tomorrow, and they’re fantastic. Easy, delicious, they won’t last long enough to need to freeze! Thanks so much ❤️
Hi Margaret, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed them. Take care! Merry Christmas.
Rosemary, this recipe is so easy to make and is so delicious!! I added mini chocolate chips to the dough, just enough to entice my family even more. Mille Grazie e Buon Natale!
Hi Barbara, thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it! Take care and Buon Natale!
I am a very good home baker. These cookies taste like flour. I just didn’t like them won’t make them again
Hi Deborah, these are a basic shortbread recipe so I think it could be your butter, for shortbread you should always use a very good quality butter and or your flour. 🙂
Hi this is Deborah Ives again I didn’t know how to redo my rating, it was something weird about the first batch but then they tasted so good they ended up being everyone’s favorite. So I take back my 3 star rating so sorry
Hi Deborah, thanks so much, and thank for changing your rating. Yes I think shortbread always tastes better then next day! Take care.