A play on a classic linzer cookie, these Pistachio Wreath Cookies are the perfect treat to make for your Christmas cookie plate!
One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is cookie baking. And although it is hard to top eating cookies, I absolutely love giving my cookies away as gifts. Nothing beats a homemade gift. I especially love giving away festive cookies that you might only make this time of year, and my Pistachio Wreath Cookies couldn’t be more seasonal – the red jam, the green pistachios, the wreath shape – these are basically Christmas in cookie form!
Recently, I participated in a cookie exchange with some of my blog friends. We all made Christmas cookies using Diamond nuts, and it was so much fun to see what everyone created! I mean look at this cookie spread:
I think Santa would be one happy guy if this was waiting for him on Christmas eve! Here are all the delicious recipes in our cookie swap:
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies from Show Me The Yummy
Oatmeal Pecan Cookies from Chelsea’s Messy Apron
Dark Chocolate Shortbread Cookies with Pistachios from The Blonde Chef
My pistachio wreath cookies are a play on a traditional linzer cookie, but with a few twists. Instead of putting nuts in the dough, I decided to put them on top of the cookie and just used a classic sugar cookie dough. I spread the cooked cookie base with strawberry jam for the nice red color. The wreath part of the wreath cookies is made with chopped pistachios. I love the bags of shelled pistachios from Diamond – they are absolutely perfect for recipes. The fresh flavor is incredible, and the nice green color make them a perfect choice for all your Christmas recipes. I pressed some pistachios into the tops of each cookie before baking them, and that created the lid for my sandwich cookie. The pistachios get nice and toasted in the oven, which brings out their flavor even more.
A play on a classic linzer cookie, these Pistachio Wreath Cookies are the perfect treat to make for your Christmas cookie plate!
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 3/4 cup pistachios, chopped
- 1/2 cup jam, strawberry or raspberry
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg, and then the yolk, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts. Add the flour mixture, and stir until just combined.
- Divide the dough into two pieces, and form each into a flat disc. Wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm - overnight is best.
- Take dough out to soften a bit and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/8 inch thickness. Using a linzer cookie cutter (like this one) cut out an even number of round bottom cookies and the matching tops. Place the dough on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle the cookie tops with chopped pistachios, and gently press so that they stick into the dough. Bake for about 8 minutes, until pale golden brown around the edges. Allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Roll out the remaining dough and repeat.
- Once the cookies are cool, spread the bottom of each cookie with about a teaspoon or so of jam. Place a pistachio studded lid on top of each cookie.
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More Christmas cookies!
Chocolate Saltine Toffee aka Christmas Crack
Chocolate Hazelnut Linzer Cookies
Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookies
Note: This post was sponsored by Diamond Nuts, however all opinions are my own.
These are so pretty and festive! Pinned!
These are so pretty and I love the added crunch- and salty from the pistachios.
These are so pretty and festive! I love Linzer cookies. I think Santa will just be fine and happy with these waiting for him!
Oh my goodness, your Pistachio Wreath Cookies are absolutely beautiful! I believe you are right that Santa will be very happy to have these yummy cookies waiting for him. Thanks for sharing!
Oh my gosh, Cate! These are absolutely adorable! I love them! I almost attempted Linzers this year, but I chickened out, haha. Hopefully next year!
What a gorgeous cookie! So perfect for Christmas.
What a gorgeous new Christmas cookie! Love it!
These are GORGEOUS! So lovely for Christmas!
So cute! And so perfect for my Christmas dessert table!
I love Linzer cookies and I love what you’ve done with these! They’re so pretty and festive!