Tis the season to be merry and do lots of baking, right? When I was growing up, this time of year was always filled with helping my mom get Christmas candy and sweet treats ready for friends and family. A lot of fudge, homemade caramels, divinity, pecan pies, and more were cranked out of our kitchen. And apologies in advance to my mom, but aside from the pecan pie, those treats aren’t what I crave. (Although I’m sure she already knows this.) I love soft, ooey gooey cookies like peanut butter kiss cookies and chocolate chip cookies and chocolate…lots of chocolate. So when I found this recipe for Pistachio Cranberry Cookies it sounded like a total homerun.
Pinterest highlighted this recipe from Quick and Easy Recipes, and it screamed to be made for the holidays. Now the twist comes from the fact that these are actually chocolate chip cookies that are what I’ve deemed Christmas-a-fied. First off we have the colors…green and red. (The cookies are actually more green than the pictures indicate.) So the green comes from pistachio pudding and the red from dried cranberries. Second, one of my favorite things to cook and bake with in the fall and winter are cranberries…dried or fresh…I’m always game!
Let’s talk about these flavor-packed cookies a bit…we have melty chocolate, the tang of cranberries to balance the sweet chocolate, and we need to discuss the pistachio flavor. I’m a big fan of adding a packet of pudding to chocolate chip cookies, so this isn’t a first for me. My standard chocolate chip cookie recipe has vanilla pudding in it, which helps make the cookies fabulously chewy. But I’m LOVING the pistachio pudding…it adds some bits of pistachio nuts plus a subtle nutty flavor.
Now due to the storm earlier this week that hit the Midwest, I couldn’t get my hands on fresh eggs so I used egg substitute instead, which worked great. And there are a few kitchen items you’ll find make your life easier for these cookies. A Kitchen Aid or stand mixer help you go get all of the ingredients incorporated really well. And a Silpat sheet to bake the cookies on help ensure the cookies don’t stick and look perfect after baking! I’m hoping you have a Silpat now, since I mention it so much, but if not, add it to your Christmas list, and it makes an awesome stocking stuffer too for all of your foodie friends and family!
Don’t let the green scare you. I grew up with a great pistachio cake that leaves everyone who eats it with a giant smile on your face. So just trust that these cookies are perfect for your cookie exchanges this time of year or to add to your holiday platter when you’re being neighborly and sharing the Christmas spirit.
You’ll love the sweet, tangy nuttiness of these cookies, so click here for the recipe and step by step directions!
A look back:
One year ago: Avocados + Spicy Peppers = One Crazy Good Enchilada Dish
Two years ago: Honey Oatmeal Bread – Oh Yeah!
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