Go Back
–+ servings
Close-up of pistachio cranberry cookies with white chocolate drizzle and bright red cranberries, surrounded by scattered pistachio pieces.
Print

Chewy Pistachio Cranberry Cookies

Soft, chewy, and full of festive flavor, these Pistachio Cranberry Cookies are a holiday must-bake! Each bite is filled with sweet white chocolate, buttery pistachios, and tart cranberries for the perfect balance of flavor and texture. They are easy to make, look stunning on a cookie platter, and are guaranteed to become a new family favorite!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Servings 14 cookies
Calories 274kcal
Author Tawnie Graham of Kroll's Korner

Ingredients

For the Cookies

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk room temperature
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour spooned & leveled
  • 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
  • 3/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. fine salt
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup chopped pistachios
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries

For Garnish (optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat and prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a few baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Make the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and glossy. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, whisking until well combined.
    1/2 cup unsalted butter, 3/4 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 large egg yolk, 1 tsp. vanilla extract
    Side-by-side photos showing the start of cookie dough preparation: melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a glass bowl on the left, and eggs and vanilla added to the creamed mixture on the right. Surrounding bowls hold flour, pistachios, and white chocolate chips.
  • Add Dry Ingredients: Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
    1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, 1 Tbsp. cornstarch, 3/4 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. fine salt
    Mixing bowl with partially combined wet ingredients and dry ingredients, including flour, baking soda, and salt, being whisked together to form cookie dough.
  • Mix-Ins: Stir in the white chocolate chips, chopped pistachios, and dried cranberries until evenly distributed throughout the dough. Feel free to add more of any mix-in if you want a little more throughout the cookie dough.
    1/2 cup white chocolate chips, 1/2 cup chopped pistachios, 1/2 cup dried cranberries
    Side-by-side images showing cookie dough being mixed with chopped pistachios, dried cranberries, and white chocolate chips, and the fully combined dough ready to scoop.
  • Scoop and Bake: Scoop about 3 tablespoons of dough per cookie and place on the prepared sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until edges are set and centers still look slightly soft. Do not overbake. Start Timer
    Three-panel collage showing cookie dough being scooped, placed on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and baked into golden brown cookies.
  • Cookie Scoot (Optional): Right out of the oven, use a round cookie cutter to gently swirl each cookie into a perfect circle for that bakery-style look.
  • Cool and Garnish: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Start Timer Once cooled, spoon some of the pistachio butter over each cookie, sprinkle with crushed pistachios and chopped dried cranberries for a festive touch and a drizzle of white chocolate.
    pistachio butter / pistachio cream, crushed pistachios, chopped dried cranberries, melted white chocolate
    Side-by-side photos showing cookies being frosted with green pistachio topping, drizzled with white chocolate, and garnished with chopped pistachios and cranberries. The second image shows a bitten cookie held up close to reveal its soft, chewy texture.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 258IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg