Pistachio Cookies are made with simple ingredients like, sour cream, and pistachio pudding mix for extra flavor and softness. Loaded with white chocolate chips and crunchy pistachios, every bite is rich, nutty, and OH SO delicious.
This recipe works perfectly for St. Patrick’s Day! Check out this excellent collection of Fun & Festive St. Patrick’s Day Recipes!
These chocolate chip pistachio cookies have just the right amount of crunch and plenty of flavor without being overly strong. The instant pistachio pudding mix not only gives the dough its pretty green color, but also adds that subtle pistachio taste while helping the cookies bake up soft and tender. My family loves these cookies, they never last long once they come out of the oven.
They’re also perfect for St. Patrick’s Day! If you want something festive that isn’t another mint dessert, these cookies are a fun change of pace and a great treat to bring to any holiday gathering.
Recipe Highlights
- Perfect Pistachio Flavor – The instant pistachio pudding mix gives these cookies a delicious pistachio taste that’s flavorful but not overpowering, making them enjoyable even for people who prefer a more subtle nut flavor.
- White Chocolate + Pistachio Combination – White chocolate chips pair perfectly with the slightly nutty pistachios, giving these cookies a rich flavor and a great mix of creamy and crunchy textures.
- Naturally Festive Green Color – The pistachio pudding mix gives the dough a soft green color, making these cookies a fun and easy treat for St. Patrick’s Day or any time you want something a little different.

Chewy Pistachio Cookies Ingredients
Sugar – Sugar sweetens the cookies and helps create lightly crisp edges while keeping the centers tender.
Butter – Butter adds rich flavor and gives the cookies their soft, buttery texture.
Egg – The egg helps bind the ingredients together while adding structure and moisture to the cookies.
Sour Cream – Sour cream adds extra moisture and richness, helping create a softer cookie.
Milk – Milk helps loosen the dough slightly and contributes to the soft texture.
Instant Pistachio Pudding Mix – The pudding mix adds pistachio flavor, gives the dough its light green color, and helps keep the cookies soft.
Salt – Salt balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of the cookies.
Baking Soda – Baking soda helps the cookies rise and spread slightly while baking.
All-Purpose Flour – Flour provides the structure and base for the cookie dough.
White Chocolate Chips – White chocolate chips add sweetness and creamy bursts of flavor throughout the cookies.
Shelled Pistachios – Chopped pistachios add a mild nutty flavor and a light crunch that complements the soft cookie texture.
Tips for making Perfectly Chewy Pistachio Pudding Cookies
- Use Instant Pistachio Pudding Mix (Not Cook & Serve) – Instant pudding mix is essential for the texture and flavor of these cookies; cook-and-serve pudding will not give the same softness or consistency in the dough.
- Roughly Chop the Pistachios – Chopping the pistachios into small pieces helps distribute the nutty flavor throughout the cookies so you get a little crunch in every bite.
- Don’t Overbake the Cookies – These cookies should look slightly soft in the center when you take them out of the oven. They will continue to set as they cool, which keeps them tender instead of dry.
How do I store Chocolate Chip Pistachio Cookies?
Once the pistachio cookies have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container or a gallon-sized Ziploc bag at room temperature for up to two weeks, though they always taste best when enjoyed fresh.
These cookies also freeze very well, making it easy to save some for later—just let the frozen cookies thaw at room temperature for a few minutes before eating so they soften up nicely.

Chewy Pistachio Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter softened (1 stick)
- 1 egg
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup milk
- 3.4 oz box instant pistachio pudding mix
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
- ½ cup shelled pistachios chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, set them aside.
- Cream together the sugar and butter in a large bowl. Add the egg, sour cream, milk, and pudding mix. Stir until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt & baking soda. Incorporate flour mixture into the pudding mixture and mix until combined.
- Add in white chocolate chips and chopped pistachios. Mix again.
- Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Serve & enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Should I Use Salted or Unsalted Pistachios?
Use unsalted pistachios unless you want a noticeably salty cookie. Shelled pistachios make prep easier, but if you can only find salted ones, rinsing and drying them can help remove excess salt.
Can I Use A Different Type Of Chocolate Chip?
Of course you can! While white chocolate chips pair really well with these pistachio cream cookies, a dark chocolate could help to give it a luxurious twist. Choose any chocolate you want and see which one you like best! Let me know in the comments if you tried a different chocolate and how it turns out (I’m curious to know!)
Can I use regular pudding instead of instant pudding mix?
No, instant pudding is key for the soft texture, subtle pistachio flavor, and green color. Cook-and-serve pudding will change the dough consistency.
Can I make these cookies dairy-free?
You could try substituting dairy-free butter, milk, and sour cream, but the texture may be slightly different—softness and flavor might be affected.
Here are more of our favorite cookie recipes you’ve got to try!
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- These Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookies take a classic favorite to the next level with fresh raspberries baked right in. Sweet, juicy, and perfectly chocolatey!
- All the flavor of banana cream pie in a bite-sized cookie! These Banana Cream Pie Cookies are creamy, dreamy, and perfect for parties—no pie crust required.
- Copycat Swig Sugar Cookies hit the sweet spot between sugar cookie and shortbread, topped with a little frosting for extra goodness. No chilling or rolling required—just bake and enjoy!
- Sweet, tangy, and buttery—these Lemon Butter Cookies take classic butter cookies to the next level with a bright, zesty lemon flavor!
You’re going to love these Pistachio Cookies made with pudding mix—they’re soft, flavorful, and perfectly chewy! Everything a cookie should be, baked into one delicious treat.












Shandi says
Yumm