Countdown To Christmas
Join me all week for my Christmas Eve must-haves...
I love the traditional dinner we have on Christmas Day. But I think I love even more the traditional goodies and feasting that we have every year for Christmas Eve! This week I will be sharing with you my family's favorite recipes that we consider absolute must-haves for our Christmas Eve festivities. I begin today with our favorite Christmas cookie...
I love pistachios. They are tied with cashews as my favorite nut. And I think that must be what makes these cookies so incredibly addictive. For the past decade, this has been an absolute must on my Christmas cookie tray. In fact, if I could only make one cookie for Christmas, it would be this one... with my Sour Cream Cookies coming in as a very, very close second.
This moist cookie is dense with a tender texture, and the vanilla filling complements the pistachio cookie very well. As a variation, you could fill these with a chocolate ganache, or add a chocolate drizzle over the vanilla filling. Regardless of your choice, it's best to reserve a few for yourself before taking a tray of these anywhere because you'll be coming home with an empty plate.
I love pistachios. They are tied with cashews as my favorite nut. And I think that must be what makes these cookies so incredibly addictive. For the past decade, this has been an absolute must on my Christmas cookie tray. In fact, if I could only make one cookie for Christmas, it would be this one... with my Sour Cream Cookies coming in as a very, very close second.
This moist cookie is dense with a tender texture, and the vanilla filling complements the pistachio cookie very well. As a variation, you could fill these with a chocolate ganache, or add a chocolate drizzle over the vanilla filling. Regardless of your choice, it's best to reserve a few for yourself before taking a tray of these anywhere because you'll be coming home with an empty plate.
Pistachio Thumbprint Cookies
Cookies:
1 cup butter,
softened
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups flour
1 (3.4-ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups flour
1 (3.4-ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix
1/2 cup chocolate chips, coarsely chopped
Filling:
2 tablespoon butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
Filling:
2 tablespoon butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth. Add egg and extracts; mix well. Combine flour and pudding mix; add to the creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets; make a thumbprint in the center of each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. You do NOT want these to look browned. They should still be fairly close to the color of the dough. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
For filling,
cream butter, sugar, vanilla and milk. Spoon into center of cooled cookies. Allow to set.
These look wonderful. I too love pistachios lots.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited that you're going to share all your Christmas favorites with us! Those cookies look and sound fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThese sound great April!! Very pretty too! I'm so glad you are going to be sharing Christmas goodies all week!
ReplyDeleteJanice
baking soda?
ReplyDeleteThere is no baking soda in this recipe. It's a dense cookie... and excellent!
ReplyDeleteApril,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! Recently, we remodeled our kitchen and I'm missing some recipes that weren't filed carefully. This recipe was posted in a newspaper that my grandmother had cut out of the Greensburg Tribune or Pittsburgh Press when I was a little girl, back in the early 70's. Took a chance and all I can say is Thank YOU and God bless you!!