Pistachio and Chocolate Leprechaun Cookies
Pistachio and chocolate Leprechaun cookies are just the thing to brighten up your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations!
St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Cookies
Can you believe St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner? I love any chance to gather and celebrate with treats and fun — these leprechaun cookies fit right in! I paired them with some homemade pistachio bread and a colorful rainbow fruit platter to make the day special.
Though I always adore my pistachio cookies with cherries, these cookies packed with chocolate chips, green M&Ms, and nuts are hands down a favorite in our family.
They’re bursting with rich dark chocolate chips, crunchy walnuts, festive green M&Ms, and of course, pistachio. I dreamed up these leprechaun cookies to bring a joyful touch of green (so no one gets pinched!) and an irresistible flavor combo that everyone loves.
Why I Love This Recipe
- These St. Patrick’s Day cookies come together quickly — you can have them ready in under an hour, making them an awesome after-school treat for busy days.
- They make thoughtful gifts too! Wrap up a batch with a cute black and white striped ribbon and a green shamrock tag — perfect for teachers, neighbors, or party favors.
- If you’re planning a fun family movie night, bake up a big batch of these cookies and serve with a homemade shamrock shake for a festive, crowd-pleasing dessert.
How to Make Pistachio and Leprechaun Cookies
- Cream the butter and sugars. In your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat together the softened butter and sugars until creamy. Then add vanilla and almond extracts along with the instant pistachio pudding mix. Next, add eggs one by one and beat it all for a minute to combine.
- Create the cookie dough. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this into the wet mixture, mixing well between additions. For an added fun pop of green, mix in a drop or two of green food coloring. Finally, stir in chocolate chips, green M&Ms, and your choice of chopped walnuts or pistachios.
- Bake your cookies. Use a medium cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop dollops of dough onto a baking sheet, spacing them a bit apart. Bake at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn golden.
- Cool and enjoy. Let the cookies rest on the pan for a couple of minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Then dig in and savor your festive St. Patrick’s Day treat!
Mix-in’s for Cookies
Let’s talk a bit about the mix-ins that make these leprechaun cookies extra special!
- Pudding: I add instant pistachio pudding mix to give a subtle pistachio flavor plus a soft green tint. It’s also the star in my pistachio pudding dessert! You could swap in vanilla pudding if you’d like, like I do in my chocolate chip pudding cookies.
- Green food coloring: Just a drop or two can brighten the dough with a stronger green hue, making those cookies feel the part for St. Patrick’s Day.
- Nuts: Chopped walnuts add a wonderful crunch, but you can skip them or swap in your favorite nuts like pistachios for a different twist.
- Chocolate: Dark chocolate chips balance the sweet and nutty flavors beautifully. However, milk or white chocolate chips also work well — don’t forget to toss in green chocolate candies for that leprechaun-approved pop of color!
Storage
- Store: Keep your cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days. This is great for keeping cookies soft and ready for snacking.
- Freeze:If you want to prep ahead, you can freeze these cookies in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. I love making a batch early to have on hand for parties or unexpected guests!
For even more St. Patrick’s Day fun in the kitchen, don’t miss out on my chocolate mint brownies, classic Irish soda bread, and bright rainbow cupcakes.
Festive St. Patrick’s Day pistachio and chocolate cookies with a combination of nuts, chocolate chips, and green M&Ms, flavored with pistachio pudding mix and extracts.
- Total Time: 23 to 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 3.4 ounces package instant pistachio pudding (dry mix)
- 2 eggs
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup green M&Ms
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pistachios
- Green food coloring, optional (a drop or two)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream together softened butter and both sugars until creamy and fluffy.
- Add vanilla extract, almond extract, and instant pistachio pudding mix, blend in.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in increments, mixing well after each addition.
- If desired, add a drop or two of green food coloring to achieve a bright green hue and mix in.
- Fold in semi-sweet chocolate chips, green M&Ms, and chopped walnuts or pistachios.
- Use a medium cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop dough onto prepared baking sheet, spacing cookies apart.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
- Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days., Cookies can be frozen in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 3 months., You can substitute walnuts with pistachios or omit nuts entirely if preferred., Adding green food coloring is optional but enhances the festive appearance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 to 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 223 kcal
- Fat: 11 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Protein: 2 g
