Can I use regular chocolate instead of white chocolate?

Yes, you can! Dark or milk chocolate chips both work well. Just know you’ll lose some of the creamy sweetness that makes white chocolate so special in this recipe.

Are these cookies gluten-free?

Not as written, but you can make them gluten-free using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking to help the structure hold.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely. Store it in the fridge for up to 48 hours. You can also freeze the dough in balls and bake straight from frozen—just add 1–2 minutes to the bake time.

Do I need to use salted pistachios?

Salted pistachios balance the sweetness perfectly, but you can use unsalted if preferred. Just add a pinch more salt to the dough.

How do I prevent cookies from spreading too much?

Make sure your butter isn’t too soft and don’t skip the step of spooning and leveling your flour. A quick 20-minute chill in the fridge also helps if your dough seems soft.

White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Cookies – Soft, Sweet & Festive

Name: White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Yield: 24 cookies
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened; ¾ cup packed brown sugar; ¼ cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons cornstarch; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; ¾ cup white chocolate morsels; ¾ cup dried cranberries; ½ cup salted pistachios, shelled

Stuffani Borjat

July 4, 2025

Stack of White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Cookies

Jump to Recipe

White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Cookies weren’t always in our family’s tin of holiday cookie recipes. But one winter, while helping my mom adapt our classic chewy chocolate chip cookies, I grabbed pistachios instead of walnuts—and magic happened.

The sweet from white chocolate, tart from cranberry, and salty crunch of pistachios? We never looked back. These days, I bake them not just for December, but for anyone who needs a hug in cookie form.

Table of Contents

White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Cookies Recipe Guide

Ingredients White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Cookies

Ingredients for White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Cookies

– ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
– ¾ cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
– ¼ cup granulated sugar
– 1 large egg
– 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
– 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
– 2 teaspoons cornstarch
– 1 teaspoon baking soda
– ½ teaspoon salt
– ¾ cup white chocolate morsels
– ¾ cup dried cranberries
– ½ cup salted pistachios, shelled

Instructions

Step 1: Get the oven ready
Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats—just like we do when prepping best cookies for Christmas ahead of time. Set them aside.

Step 2: Cream the butter and sugars
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy—about 2–3 minutes. This gives that chewy, bakery-style texture.

Creaming butter and sugars for White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Cookies

Step 3: Add the egg and vanilla
Beat in the egg and vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl. This is where the flavor starts to build.

Adding egg and vanilla to creamed butter and sugar for cookies

Step 4: Mix the dry ingredients
In a second bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.

Whisking flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt for cookie dough

Step 5: Bring the dough together
Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet. Don’t overmix—just blend until combined.

Mixing dry and wet ingredients together for cookie dough

Step 6: Fold in the good stuff
Gently stir in the white chocolate morsels, dried cranberries, and pistachios. This trio turns it into one of our favorite white chocolate dessert recipes.

Folding white chocolate, cranberries, and pistachios into cookie dough

Step 7: Scoop and space
Scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie. Roll into balls and place 2 inches apart on the baking sheets.

Scooped cookie dough balls on baking sheet ready to bake

Step 8: Bake to golden perfection
Bake for 10–12 minutes until edges are set and centers look just slightly underdone. That’s how you keep them soft.

White chocolate cranberry pistachio cookies baking to golden perfection

Step 9: Cool and enjoy
Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack. These cookies are also perfect in holiday tins—especially for easy cookie recipes for gifting.