Pistachio and Chocolate Leprechaun Cookies -perfect for Saint Patrick’s Day!
I can’t believe St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! It’s one of my favorite holidays to celebrate because (a) excuse to throw a party (b) green is my favorite color and (c) leprechaun cookies! What are leprechaun cookies you ask? They are my family’s favorite St. Patrick’s day treat. They’re full of decadent dark chocolate chips, crunchy walnuts, green M&Ms and pistachio! I created these to have a hint of green (no pinching here!) as well as be absolutely irresistible in flavor.
A few notes on the mix-ins! I include pistachio pudding because it gives a subtle pistachio flavor and hint of green. You can also add a drop or two of green food coloring to the batter for even more green coloring. Up to you! I love the crunch that the chopped walnuts give to these cookies but of course they can be left out or swapped for another favorite. Dark chocolate chips really contrast the sweet pistachio flavor but milk or white chips would be fabulous as well. Just be sure to include green chocolate candies, the leprechaun really loves those !
These cookies don’t take hours to make, in fact they’re ready within one hour so it’s the perfect after-school snack too! Consider packaging these up with a fun black and white striped bow and green shamrock gift tag to give as teacher’s gifts, neighbor’s gifts, party favors, etc! Or just make a big ol’ batch for your family to enjoy during movie night for St. Patrick’s Day! However you enjoy these leprechaun cookies, they are a real treat.
For more St. Patrick’s Day ideas, try these Hidden Pot of Gold Brownie Cups and Free St. Patrick’s Day Art Prints!
You’ll love these Saint Patrick’s Day ideas too:
- Clover rice krispie treats
- Thin mint shamrock milkshake
- 50 Saint Patrick’s Day crafts and recipes
- Saint Patrick’s Day breakfast ideas
Pistachio and Chocolate Leprechaun Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 3.4 ounces package instant pistachio pudding (dry mix)
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/4 cups cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup green M&Ms
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- green food coloring *optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In an electric mixer with paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars. Add extracts and pudding mix and eggs one at a time. Beat for 1 minute.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to sugar mixture one a little at a time, mixing thoroughly between each addition. Add a drop or two of green food coloring at this point if you want a stronger green color. Stir in chocolate chips, green M&Ms, chopped walnuts, and any other mix-ins you like!
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are turning slightly golden. Let cool and enjoy!
These cookies are delicious!! We’re just finishing eating my first batch,xwhich is a week old, and they’re still soft and so tasty. I am going to use vanilla pudding and 1 cup of dark chocolate chips. This recipe will now be our favorite soft chocolate chip cookie recipe, in addition to St. Patrick’s Day!
I’m so happy to hear this, Judy! So glad your family enjoyed them so much :)
These cookies are delicious and so pretty with the green M&Ms. Glad I added the food color at the start batter is very heavy to add near the end.
I’m so glad you loved them! Thanks for your comment, Ila!
Making this today Do you grease the baking sheet?
I like to line mine with parchment paper or a baking mat :)
These are great, remind me of the cookies I used to beg for at Shaw’s when I was younger! I skipped the chocolate (I didn’t want them to be super sweet) and they were very good. Only comment, and not bad, is 24 cookies isn’t accurate unless you’re making HUGE cookies. I made 24 with rounded tablespoonfuls and still had plenty of dough to freeze for another time.
Thanks so much for the comment! I usually use a large cookie scoop to scoop the cookies, which is about 3 Tablespoons. So the cookies are on the larger size :)
Can mint chocolate m&m’s be used? Can’t find green ones unless buying in bulk.
I think that would taste delicious!
Awsome
What type of green food coloring would you recommend?
I like Wilton or Americolor food gel :)
What if you don’t have a mixer with a paddle attachment?
An electric hand mixer will work too :)
Just made these today doubled the recipe because we have cookie monsters in this house, made over 100 cookies! They are a keeper and will be adding them to the Christmas cookie tray!
Love it! I’m so glad the cookies were a hit with your family, Jessica!