Gluten Free Pistachio Cookies Recipe
Updated Feb 15, 2021, Published Aug 22, 2010
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There are so many reasons I love this Gluten Free Pistachio Cookies recipe, it is hard to know where to start. So let’s start with the star of this show, pistachios.
Pistachios are positively addictive and yet it is an addiction one can indulge in guilt free. They are high in protein, have no trans fats and may actually help you reduce cholesterol. They also happen to contain the highest number of nuts per serving than any other nut, great news if you are on a diet.
The second reason I am so enamored with these cookies is they are simple to make and the food processor does all the work.
This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free and grain-free. These are cookies you can feel pretty darn good about eating but of course no matter how good for you something is, if it doesn’t taste great, who cares?
Which brings me to the final reason I love these cookies, they taste delicious; intense pistachio flavor, not overly sweet, crispy on the outside with a hint of chewiness inside. In fact I loved the flavor so much I decided to make them two ways, plain and with a layer of chocolate sandwiched between.
For the Pistachio Chocolate Sandwich Cookies I decided to add a pop of red by topping with a bit of dried cranberry. I know we are currently in the dog days of summer but I am already thinking these are going to make fantastic Christmas cookies!
Gluten Free Pistachio Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups roasted, - salted pistachios, use divided
- 1 cup granulated sugar plus more for sprinkling
- 2 large egg whites
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 drops green gluten free food coloring , - optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with Silpat mats or parchment paper.
- Roughly chop ¼ cup of the pistachios and reserve for garnish. Place the remaining 2 cups pistachios in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process the pistachios until they turn into a paste, this will take 2 or 3 minutes, scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times during the processing.
- Add 1 cup sugar to the pistachio paste and process in long pulses until combined. Add the egg whites, vanilla and food coloring if using and pulse to combine. You should have a thick batter. Using a small ice cream scoop or two teaspoons, drop the cookies onto the prepared pan, spacing two inches apart. Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with a little granulated sugar and the reserved chopped pistachios. Gently press the pistachios into the cookies.
- Bake for 12 – 14 minutes for chewy cookies, 15 – 17 minutes for crispy cookies. The cookies should be lightly browned around the edges. Let cool on the pan for 10 minutes then remove to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gluten Free Pistachio Chocolate Sandwich Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- Cookies
- Same ingredients as above +
- 6 dried cranberries or cherries, - halved
- Filling
- ½ cup dairy free dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Cookies
- Prepare the cookie batter as in the recipe above. Top half of the cookies with granulated sugar, chopped pistachios and a bit of dried cranberries. Leave the other half of the cookies plain. Bake and cool, as above.
Filling
- Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 1 – 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until just melted. Keep the chocolate in the warm bowl and stir in the vanilla. It may start to seize up a little, that’s ok, just keep stirring until smooth again and thickened. Let cool. The chocolate will thicken more as it cools.
- Spread some of the cooled chocolate on the flat side of the plain cookies. Top with a cookie that has the chopped pistachios and cranberries, flat side down.
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These look amazing! Thanks!
Look really yummy. I like the idea of 2 options!
Hi Carol! We linked back to this page on http://www.rollinoatstampa.com! Great recipe featuring a nutritional powerhouse of a nut!
Hello,I recently found your blog on a search for some gluten free recipes. I just made the pistachio cookies! They are melt in your mouth goodness! Thank you.
Hi Carol, I made your cookies yesterday and they were (stiil are,but only very few ;-) ) really delicious! I tried the chewy version with less baking and sandwiched some whipped cream / cream cheese mixture between them. YUM! I also added a little bit orange blossom water to the cookies for a little Eastern flavor. I posted my version on my blog and linked back to you. I hope it’s ok with you.
I just discovered your site yesterday when I was looking for pistachio cookies recipes, but I am already a big fan! You have a fantastic collection and amazing photos. And if all your recipes are as good as this one, I have to come back every day :-). Thanks so much!
Oh, thank you so much and of course I don’t mind. So happy you enjoyed the cookies!