Description

Salted honey pistachio cookies are a sweet-and-salty twist on a classic treat. Made with golden honey, buttery pistachios, and finished with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, these cookies strike the perfect balance of chewy and crunchy. They’re simple enough for everyday baking but elegant enough for holidays, gifting, or adding to a dessert platter. With just a few pantry ingredients and some roasted pistachios, you’ll have a batch of cookies that taste as good as they look.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup salted butter (browned and cooled)
½ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ cup honey
1 large egg
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp coarse sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped roasted pistachios
1 cup white chocolate chips (optional)
Flaked sea salt for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Brown the butter and let it cool for 20–30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C); line baking sheet with parchment.
Mix butter, sugars, and honey until creamy. Add egg, vanilla, salt, and baking soda.
Stir in flour, then fold in pistachios and chocolate chips.
Scoop dough balls onto tray and bake for 8–10 minutes.
Cool on tray 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Garnish with flaked salt.

Notes

Pistachios: Use roasted unsalted pistachios for the best flavor balance. If using salted nuts, reduce added salt in the dough.
Honey Choice: Light clover honey makes a mild cookie, while wildflower or orange blossom honey adds more character. For a bold flavor, try manuka honey.
Texture Tips: For chewy cookies, slightly underbake and let them finish on the tray. For crispier cookies, flatten the dough balls before baking and extend bake time by 1–2 minutes.
Chilling the Dough: Refrigerating the dough for 30 minutes prevents cookies from spreading too thin.
Make Ahead: Dough balls freeze well for up to three months. Bake directly from frozen with a couple of extra minutes added to the baking time.
Variations: Add white chocolate chips, a sprinkle of orange zest, or a pinch of cardamom for extra flavor.
Serving Ideas: Perfect with tea, coffee, or as part of a holiday cookie tin.