Pistachio Shortbread Cookies – Buttery, Nutty, and Melt-in-Your-Mouth Recipe
These Pistachio Shortbread Cookies are buttery, nutty, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, perfectly balancing the rich flavor of pistachios with a tender, crumbly texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 3 minutes
- Yield: Makes about 20–24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 cup (115 g) raw, unsalted pistachios
- 1 cup (226 g) salted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (90 g) powdered sugar
- 1½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- ¼ teaspoon coarse salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Pistachios Place the pistachios in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. The texture should resemble coarse flour, with a few small pieces remaining for flavor and texture.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with the powdered sugar until smooth, light, and creamy. Add the vanilla extract and almond extract, and mix until well combined.
- Make the Dough Add the ground pistachios to the butter mixture. Gently mix in the flour and salt, stirring just until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Shape and Chill Transfer the dough onto plastic wrap and shape it into a firm log about 2 inches in diameter. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 30–60 minutes, or until firm.
- Slice and Bake Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and slice into rounds about ¼–½ inch thick. Arrange the cookies on the baking sheet, leaving space between each one. Bake for 15–18 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden but the tops remain pale.
- Cool Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Use raw pistachios for the best color and flavor
- Powdered sugar creates a softer, melt-in-the-mouth texture
- Chilling the dough helps the cookies keep their shape
- For extra elegance, drizzle with melted dark chocolate after cooling