Description
These Christmas Pistachio Cookies are a delightful festive treat combining buttery sweetness with crunchy pistachios and tangy dried cranberries. Perfect for holiday celebrations, they offer a chewy texture with a festive burst of flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shelled pistachios, chopped
- 1 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it is at the right temperature for baking the cookies evenly and consistently.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, mixing until everything is well combined and smooth.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agents and salt throughout the dough.
- Mix dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently to incorporate without overworking the dough, which can make cookies tough.
- Fold in nuts and cranberries: Carefully fold in the chopped pistachios and dried cranberries, distributing them evenly through the cookie dough for bursts of flavor and texture.
- Form and bake cookies: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing them adequately to prevent sticking. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies turn lightly golden on the edges.
- Cool: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on wire racks completely before serving to allow them to set properly.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature butter to ensure proper creaming with the sugars.
- Do not overmix the dough after adding the flour to keep the cookies tender.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week for maximum freshness.
- Optionally, you can toast the pistachios slightly to enhance their flavor before folding into the dough.
- These cookies freeze well both as dough balls and baked cookies, making them perfect for preparing in advance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cookies, pistachio cookies, holiday baking, festive cookies, cranberry pistachio cookies
