Easy gluten-free pistachio pudding cookies with a dairy-free option. Lightly crunchy on the outside and chewy in the middle. If you love pistachio ice cream, you are going to love these cookies!
St. Patrick’s Day Traditions
I come from an Irish family, so St. Patrick’s Day was always a fun holiday to celebrate. We always wore green, ate green eggs and ham for breakfast and celebrated with a dinner of corn beef and cabbage.
Easy Gluten-Free Dessert
This year as St. Patrick’s Day approached I was trying to think of a fun new way to make a new green treat for my kids. My favorite flavor of ice cream is pistachio. I thought a new green cookie flavored like my favorite pistachio ice cream would be easy to make and a fun treat for my kids.
Pistachio Pudding
These gluten-free pistachio pudding cookies are super easy to make. The addition of the pistachio pudding gives the cookies just the right amount of pistachio flavor.
I topped them with white chocolate chips when they came out of the oven to give them that extra sweet and creamy flavor, just like ice cream.
These were a big hit with my kids! These would be a perfect treat to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!
Looking for another easy gluten-free cookie to make? Try my Gluten-Free Banana Bread Cookies.
Pistachio Pudding Cookies {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Option}
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour I like Pillsbury gluten-free
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum leave out if your flour already has it
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 box 3.5-ounce gluten-free pistachio instant pudding and pie filling mix I like Jell-O brand
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature. (Dairy-free use Earth Balance or Smart Balance butter)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg room temperature
- 2 tablespoons milk dairy-free use coconut, almond or cashew milk
- 1/2 teaspoons gluten-free almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon gluten-free green food coloring or all natural food coloring optional
- 1/4 - 1/2 cup chopped pistachios which all depends on how nutty you want them to be (optional)
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips (optional) gluten-free and/or dairy-free white chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl beat butter until creamy.
- Add the brown sugar and sugar to the butter and beat until creamy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- Beat in the pudding mix, egg, milk, and gluten-free almond extract and mix until fully combined.
- Add gluten-free green food coloring and mix until fully combined.
- In a medium bowl add gluten-free flour, salt, xanthan gum (leave out if your flour already has it), and baking soda and whisk together until fully combined.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until fully combined.
- Add chopped nuts and mix until fully combined. (optional)
- Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop a heaping tablespoon of the cookie dough and roll into a ball. (I use a small cookie scoop.)
- Place cookie balls onto lined cookie sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes. If you want softer cookies bake the cookies for 10 minutes, for a crunchier outside bake the for cookie 12 minutes.
- The cookies will not spread too much while baking.
- Once cookies are done, press down on the warm cookies to slightly flatten and form crinkles. I even stick a few white chocolate chips into the tops of the warm cookies.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for at least 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy!
- Stored in an air-tight container.
Notes
Nutrition
Porchy says
I looooooooove pistachio cake!! I cannot wait to try this recipe!!
Audrey says
Thank you so much Porchy! I love anything Pistachio. I hope you enjoy them.
Diane says
Hi! In the ingredient list it states almond extract but in the step by step directions it states vanilla extract, just wondering which I should use?
Audrey says
Hi Diane! The recipe uses gluten-free almond extract. I corrected the mistake. Sorry, about that. Thanks for bringing it to my attention! I hope you enjoy the cookies.
Kelly says
Has anyone tried something similar with butterscotch pudding or chocolate pudding?
Audrey says
Hi Kelly! I have not, but that sounds delicious.
Amanda says
How is this dairy free with the pudding?
Audrey says
Hi Amanda! The Jell-O pudding mix used in this recipe is dairy-free. You can use a dairy-free milk instead of regular milk to make dairy-free pudding. Always check the labels because some of the flavors are not always gluten-free.