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Grain-free Pistachio Cookies

Chewy Pistachio Cookies (Gluten-Free, Vegan)


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5 from 1 review

Description

Chewy, delicious pistachio cookies made mainly with pistachio meal and almond flour, and topped with chunks of pistachios. Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and grain-free.


Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Line: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Line a large cookie sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.
  2. Prepare Chia Egg: In a small bowl, combine the ground chia seeds and water and let it soak for 5 to 10 minutes.
  3. Process Pistachios into Meal: Place the 1 1/2 cups pistachios in the bowl of a high-speed blender of food processor and process until you get a coarse flour (approximately 1 minute).
  4. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the pistachio meal, almond flour, brown sugar, chia-water mixture, vanilla extract and coconut oil.
  5. Mix to Get Cookie Dough: Mix well until you get a homogeneous mixture. If dough is still a bit dry, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until you get a mixture that sticks together.
  6. Roll Dough into Balls: Scoop a heaping tablespoon of cookie dough and roll into a ball with both palms. Place on the prepared cookie sheet, leaving 1 inch of space between each cookie. Repeat until all cookie dough is used up (you should get between around 14-16 cookies).
  7. Flatten Dough Balls Slightly: Flatten each ball of cookie dough lightly with the palm of your hand.
  8. Top Dough Balls with Chopped Pistachios: Roughly chop up the 2 tablespoons of pistachios, and press a few chopped pistachio pieces on top of each flatted circle of cookie dough.
  9. Bake: Bake for 20 minutes.
  10. Cool Completely Before Eating: Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let the cookies cool completely before eating or serving (the cookies may be fragile before fully cooled and may break).
  11. Eat or Store: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Notes

Pistachios: I prefer buying shelled raw unsalted pistachios, but you can also buy whole unshelled pistachios and remove the shells. Alternatively, if you rather not process your own pistachio flour, you can also use 2 cups of store-bought pistachio flour directly.

Almond Flour: I prefer using blanched almond flour, but you can also use almond meal instead (here’s how to make your own homemade almond meal).

Sugar: I used light brown sugar, but you can also use white sugar, dark brown sugar or coconut sugar. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend using Lakanto monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 sugar substitute that is zero glycemic-index and will not raise your blood sugar).

Ground Chia Seeds: The ground chia seeds together with the filtered water form a chia egg (an egg substitute). You can either grind whole chia seeds in a coffee grinder or high-speed blender until you get a fine powder, or buy store-bought ground chia seeds. Alternatively, if you are not allergic to eggs, you can replace the ground chia seeds and water with 2 whole eggs instead.

Filtered Water: I prefer using filtered water, but you may also use potable tap water or mineral water.

Vanilla Extract: I like adding a bit of vanilla extract for extra taste. However, if you prefer not to, or don’t have vanilla extract on hand, you may leave it out.

Coconut Oil: I prefer using refined coconut oil (as it has a more neutral flavor) compared to extra virgin coconut oil (which has a stronger coconut smell and taste). You may also used melted vegan butter if you prefer. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, feel free to use normal melted butter instead.

Storing: To store, place the cookies in an airtight container and store up at room temperature for up to 1 week.

This recipe was originally published in 2016, but has been republished to include clearer step-by-step instructions as well as recipe notes and substitutions.

Recipe adapted from Helyn’s Healthy Kitchen

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Category: Cookies
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Western