Pistachio Butter Cookies Recipes

THE ONLY BASIC PISTACHIO BUTTER RECIPE YOU'LL EVER NEED

Steps:

• Place pistachios, salt, and honey (if using) into a blender. Starting on lowest speed, blend mixture until crumbly, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Increase speed and blend about 3 to 4 minutes until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides with a rubber spatula as needed.
• Use the rubber spatula to scoop pistachio butter into an airtight container. Keep refrigerated.

PISTACHIO DROP COOKIES

Steps:

• Pulse pistachios in a food processor until small crumbs form. See photo above for a visual. You need 3/4 cup of very finely chopped pistachios. Set aside.
• Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter for 1 minute on medium speed until completely smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, and almond extract, then beat on medium-high speed until combined. Add the flour, 3/4 cup pistachio crumbs, and food coloring (if using) and beat on medium-high speed until combined. The dough may not come together at first, but keep mixing. The cookie dough will be thick.
• Cover the cookie dough tightly and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and up to 3 days. (If chilling for 2+ hours, let the cookie dough sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before rolling into balls. The cookie dough will be very stiff after being in the refrigerator that long.)
• prepare the brown butter icing (below) while cookie dough chills OR while cookies bake.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
• Roll the cookie dough into balls, about 1 Tablespoon of dough each, and place dough balls 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. If the cookie dough is too crumbly, keep rolling and working it with your hands. The warmth of your hands will help bring it together.
• Bake the cookies until lightly browned on the bottom edges and just barely browned on top, about 14-15 minutes.
• Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack. Make sure cookies are cool to the touch before dipping in icing.
• Slice the butter into pieces and place in a light-colored skillet. (Light colored helps you determine when the butter begins browning.) Melt the butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once melted, the butter will begin to foam. Keep stirring occasionally. After 5-6 minutes, the butter will begin browning and you'll notice lightly browned specks begin to form and a nutty aroma. Once browned, remove from heat immediately and allow to cool for 5 minutes. (The butter will eventually solidify, so don't let it sit too long.) After 5 minutes, whisk in the rest of the icing ingredients until smooth. Add more confectioners' sugar for a thicker texture, if desired. Likewise, add more milk to thin out if needed.
• Dip cookies in icing or drizzle on top. If coated lightly, the icing will set after 1-2 hours. Cover leftover iced cookies tightly and store at room temperature for 1 day or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Cookies without icing can sit covered at room temperature for up to 1 week.

PISTACHIO CARDAMOM BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Make the cookies:
• Cook butter and cardamom in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is golden brown and fragrant, 6-8 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes, then strain butter through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl. Freeze until just firm, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk flour, salt, and baking powder in a small bowl.
• Transfer butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; add sugar. Beat on medium-high speed until pale and well combined, about 2 minutes. Add egg and beat until combined, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add dry ingredients and pistachios and beat on low speed just until combined.
• Turn out dough onto a clean work surface. Divide in half. Place each half on a 9x13" sheet of parchment paper with the long end facing you. Roll dough into 2 logs about 1 1/2" in diameter. Wrap each in parchment paper, making sure to cover ends completely. Chill until firm, at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
• Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°F. Let dough stand at room temperature until soft enough to slice, about 15 minutes. Slice logs into 1/4"-thick rounds. Arrange rounds on 2 parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets about 1" apart. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until bottoms are lightly golden, 12-15 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cool.
• Make the glaze and assemble the cookies:
• Combine chocolate and oil in a small heatproof bowl. Heat in 10-second intervals in microwave, stirring, until melted and combined, 30-40 seconds total.
• Dip cookies halfway into melted chocolate and transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Sprinkle chocolate with pistachios. Chill until chocolate is set, about 10 minutes.
• Do ahead
• Dough can be made up to 2 weeks ahead; keep frozen. Let stand at room temperature until soft enough to slice, about 30 minutes.

PISTACHIO BROWN BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add bay leaves; heat until golden brown, 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Transfer to a large bowl; discard bay leaves. Cool completely until butter is solid., Add 1 cup confectioners' sugar to butter; cream until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg yolks and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Gradually beat flour into creamed mixture; stir in 1/2 cup pistachios. Cover and refrigerate until firm enough to roll, about 1 hour., Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut into 1-1/2-in. diamonds. Place 2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until edges just begin to brown, 12-15 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For glaze, mix water, remaining 2 cups confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla; stir until smooth. Dip cookies in glaze, allowing excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; sprinkle with sea salt and remaining pistachios. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.

PISTACHIO BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Pour 1/2 cup of the pistachios into a food processor and process until finely ground. With the motor running, start pouring in 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a thin stream through the food processor's opening, stopping when the ground pistachios turn into a paste, and adding more oil if needed. Scrape the pistachio butter into a bowl.
• Coarsely chop the remaining 1/4 cup of pistachios.
• With an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until incorporated. Beat on high spread until very smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. On medium speed, beat in the egg yolk and vanilla until well blended, scraping down the sides of the bowl if necessary. Beat in the pistachio butter until thoroughly blended.
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda. With the electric mixer on low speed, slowly add the dry ingredients to the pistachio butter mixture until there are no patches of flour. Add the chopped pistachios and mix until thoroughly combined.
• Divide the dough in two. Transfer half the cookie dough to a large sheet of plastic wrap on your work surface and form it into a 7-inch log, using the plastic wrap to help roll and shape it. Wrap it in plastic wrap, twist the ends, and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until firm. Repeat with the other half of the dough.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and position a rack in the middle of the oven.
• When the logs are firm, set them back on your work surface, and use a sharp knife to cut the dough into 1/2-inch pieces. (You should have about two dozen.) Set as many of the cookies as you intend to bake about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, rotating the baking sheet front to back halfway through cooking, until they are lightly golden and the edges have started to darken.
• Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a rack to finish cooling.
• Put the remaining cookies on a second baking sheet and transfer it to the freezer.
• Freeze the cookies for at least an hour, until they are hard. Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and put the cookies in a freezer-safe heavy-duty resealable plastic bag, rolling out the excess air before you seal it. Return to the freezer and store for up to 3 months. Bake the frozen cookies for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly golden.