Pistachio and chocolate Leprechaun cookies are the perfect for St. Patrick’s Day cookies!

A close up of pistachio and chocolate chip cookies with green M&M\'s

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St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Cookies

I can’t believe St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! I love to celebrate the holiday because I love any excuse to throw a party. These leprechaun cookies were perfect to celebrate along with some of this pistachio bread recipe and a rainbow fruit platter.

While I love my pistachio cookies with cherries, these ones with chocolate chips, M&M’s and nuts can’t be beat.

They are my family’s favorite St. Patrick’s day cookies. They’re full of decadent dark chocolate chips, crunchy walnuts, green M&Ms and pistachio! I created these leprechaun cookies to have a hint of green (no pinching here!) as well as have irresistible in flavor.

Why I Love This Recipe

  • These St. Patrick Day cookies don’t take hours to make, in fact they’re ready within one hour so it’s the perfect after-school snack recipe!
  • 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!
  • Make a big ol’ batch for your family to enjoy during movie night along with a homemade shamrock shake for a festive St. Patrick’s Day sweet treat!

How to Make Pistachio and Leprechaun Cookies

Showing how to make pistachio cookies in a 4 step collage.
  • Cream butter and sugar. In a stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars in a large bowl. Add extracts and pudding mix then eggs one at a time. Beat for 1 minute.
  • Make cookie dough. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt then add to sugar mixture a little at a time, mixing thoroughly. Add a drop or two of green food coloring, if desired. Stir in chocolate chips, green M&Ms and chopped walnuts or pistachios.
  • Bake. Using a medium cookie scoop or Tablespoon, drop cookies on baking sheet. Bake at 375°F for 8-10 minutes or until edges are turning slightly golden.
  • Enjoy. Let cool on the pan a couple minutes then move to a cooling rack. Enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day cookies!

Mix-in’s for Cookies

A few notes on the mix-ins for these leprechaun cookies below!

  • Pudding: I include pistachio pudding because it gives a subtle pistachio flavor and hint of green, we use it in this pistachio pudding dessert, too! I use vanilla pudding in these chocolate chip pudding cookies, so that is an option as well.
  • Green food coloring: You can also add a drop or two of green food coloring to the batter for even more green coloring.
  • Nuts: 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.
  • Chocolate: 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 loves those!
A close up of pistachio and chocolate leprechaun cookies

Storage

  • Store: Store cookies at room room temperature up to 3 days.
  • Freeze: Freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. I love to make leprechaun cookies ahead of time for festive parties!
plate of pistachio chocolate chip cookies with green M&M\'s

More fun St. Patrick’s Day favorites include chocolate mint brownies, Irish soda bread and rainbow cupcakes.

More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

Pistachio and Chocolate Leprechaun Cookies for St. Patrick's Day

Pistachio Cookies

4.94 from 49 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 24
Whip up a batch of these Pistachio and Leprechaun Cookies full of pistachio and chocolate. Everyone loves these lucky St. Patricks’ Day cookies!
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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 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

Instructions

  • Cream wet ingredients. Preheat oven to 375° F. In an electric mixer with paddle attachment, cream 1 cup butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extracts 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, 3.4 ounce dry pudding mix and 2 eggs one at a time. Beat for 1 minute.
  • Dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon 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 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1/2 cup green M&Ms and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pistachios.
  • Bake. Using a medium cookie scoop or Tablespoon, drop cookies on baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are turning slightly golden.
  • Cool. Let cool on the pan a couple minutes then move to a cooling rack.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 223kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 34mg, Sodium: 209mg, Potassium: 60mg, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 265IU, Calcium: 29mg, Iron: 0.8mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Recipe Contributed by Courtney Whitmore from Pizzazzerie