Orange Salted Pistachio Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Chewy salted pistachio chocolate chunk cookies infused with fresh orange zest.These cookies are packed with flavor and take less than 45 minutes to prepare!
I’m having a moment with these cookies. A major cookie moment.
This is saying a lot, because while I love a good cookie (ex: homemade Tim Tams), I’m generally more of a pie and pastry kinda gal, especially during the holiday season.
That being said, today’s salted pistachio chocolate chunk cookies are making me reconsider my position. The original recipe is from my friend Laurie’s brand new cookbook Simply Scratch: 120 Wholesome Homemade Recipes Made Easy.
I love this book, because it is all about celebrating whole-food ingredients and scratch cooking, two subjects that I’m extremely passionate about!
Since I can’t leave well enough alone, I made a few small changes to the original recipe: I halved the recipe (which yields the perfect amount for a household of two!), added fresh orange zest (a cookie game-changer) and some extra chocolate chunks (life rule).
Let’s talk cookies though.
These cookies are incredibly chewy (chewy cookies are a must for me!), have great texture from the chopped pistachios, are loaded with dark chocolate chunks (the original recipe called for chopped dark chocolate, but I used Trader Joe’s semi-sweet chocolate chunks with no issues!), and can be prepared in less than 45 minutes.
I’m 99.99% sure that almost all cookie baking stems from cookie cravings, and this is the perfect amount of time to turn a cookie craving into an actual cookie. No need to let the batter rest or free up space in your fridge.
You simply prepare the cookie batter, scoop it out, place it on a sheet pan, and start baking. The sprinkling of Maldon sea salt on top of each cookie seals the deal!
Salty-sweet perfection right here.
If you’re looking for a new cookie recipe for the holiday season or for future holiday swaps, add this recipe to your list!
If you’re a fan of chocolate and orange together, you will love these even more. They were so fragrant and flavorful. To make them extra festive, you could even add dried cranberries to the batter!
Pistachios and cranberries with a little burst of fresh orange flavor?
Doesn’t get prettier or tastier than that.
I can’t wait to prepare more recipes from this cookbook over the coming months!
There are so many dishes that I can’t wait to make, and Laurie’s signature stories and instructions (as demonstrated on her blog!) guides you through each one with ease.
The book includes everything from homemade staples (think condiments, sauces, dressings, and seasoning blends!) to breakfast and brunch recipes, salads, soups, sides, main courses, and desserts. So many ideas and approachable recipes for all occasions.
It is a comprehensive and approachable cookbook that I can see turning to time and time again over the years! Exactly what made with fall in love with Laurie’s blog years ago.
Orange Salted Pistachio Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Chewy salted pistachio chocolate chunk cookies infused with fresh orange zest.These cookies are packed with flavor and take less than 45 minutes to prepare!
Ingredients
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons (135 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 tsp + 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 tsp + 1/8 teaspoon kosher sea salt
- 4 tablespoons (60 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup (67 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
- 1 large whole egg
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 ounces dark chocolate, chopped (I used Trader Joe’s semi-sweet chocolate chunks)
- heaping 1/3 cup coarsely chopped pistachios
- 1.5 teaspoons flaky sea salt (such as Maldon) or more to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mat (Silpat).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, both sugars, and the orange zest on medium-low speed for 2 to 3 minutes or until fluffy. Add the egg and mix until evenly incorporated. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add the vanilla and blend until combined.
- With the mixer running on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture and mix until the flour is incorporated. Add the dark chocolate chunks and chopped pistachios to the batter. Mix on low until combined, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl one last time.
- Using a spoon, scoop out the cookie dough (roughly 2.5 – 3 tablespoons per cookie) onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the scoops an inch or so apart. Sprinkle the top of each cookie with a small pinch of sea salt.
- Bake the cookies at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes (I baked mine for exactly 8 minutes), rotating the baking sheet halfway through. Let the cookies cool on the pan on a rack for 5 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
To make these cookies extra festive for the holiday season, try adding dried unsweetened (or sweetened, your choice!) cranberries to the batter.
Recipe adapted slightly and printed with permission from Simply Scratch: 120 Wholesome Homemade Recipes Made Easy by Laurie McNamara (Avery Books, 2015).
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 160Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 344mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 1gSugar: 16gProtein: 2g
This is my first ever Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving isn’t an Australian holiday) and although Pumpkin Pie or Pumpkin muffins (anything pumpkin really) is what seems to ‘traditionally’ be Thanksgiving fare, we’re having chocolate and strawberry pastries that I’ll be making while the turkey is cooking *insert grin at being ok with an oven on in late November*.
Having seen this recipe though, I’ve decided that these cookies, with the addition of cranberries (which sounds DIVINE) will also be gracing the table, maybe even snacking on a few while prepping all the other goodies.
God, these look like the perfectly balanced cookie – I’ll be sure to be making a tin of these to take into the office.
Though, you’ve reminded me that because I no longer live in America I can no longer get Trader Joe’s Semi-sweet Chips. Best chocolate chips/ chunks ever.
I have a hard time resisting a good shortbread.
these cookies look incredible! I can’t wait to try them!!
Oh, and my favorite holiday dessert is a hard question to answer…probably chocolate pie on Thanksgiving or a handful of assorted cookies at Christmas.
Oh I could no sooner choose a favorite star in the heavens. LOL [Completely stole that from Ever After.] But I guess I’d have to choose either Chocolate Meringue or Coconut Pie. Cannot turn them down!
I so love your recipes and this one will be one that I make over the Thanksgiving Holiday. I appreciate all the work you put into you blog and recipes so that I may enjoy food again!
I love your fun twist on these, Laura… not to mention they look beautiful! Thank you so much for reviewing the book and hosting a giveaway, means the world to me! XO!
I’ve never tried orange salted anything before! I really want to try it now! These cookies look lovely!
I love when my mom makes magic cookie bars.
These cookies look INCREDIBLE! And I seriously love the combination of orange, chocolate, and pistachios. The perfect holiday cookie!!
I love making–and eating–homemade caramels.
Anything pumpkin!
My favorite holiday treat is biscotti! Being Italian, I make them every holiday for a nice crunchy dessert after a big meal like Thanksgiving. Also, I love nuts and always have nuts in my biscotti (pistachio dust on chocolate dipped biscotti, anyone?) so I love the sound of this cookie!
I love the idea of swapping out the chocolate for cranberries, that sounds delicious! Cookie season is coming soon!
I actually would keep the chocolate in there too! 🙂
I’ve never been a cookie person, until I got knocked up, and now, I can’t get enough of them! Especially when they’re fancy like these…..
I love peppermint cookies and apple caramels! 🙂
I’ve been baking up a ton of new cookies recipes (but all for the blog!) Haha! My favorite cookie for the holidays though is any chewy gingerbread!
Peanut butter blossoms with the Hershey Kisses are my all time favorites.
My favorite Holiday Dessert is English Trifle that my 91 year old mom has made for the last 61 years !
Ginger cookies!
peppermint bark!
My favorite is buche de noel, or maybe it’s apple pie at thanksgiving. Or even panettone!
Yum, anything with pistachios makes me happy! My favorite holiday dessert is pumpkin trifle and chocolate peppermint cookies with a white russian for an adult pairing.
My favorite holiday dessert is homemade stollen from my family recipe.
i love making gingerbread cut outs!
I love chocolate cream pie at the holidays!
My favorite holiday treats are definitely all the different cookies that I like to make. I will be adding this one to the file. Thanks.!
Saw on IG and couldn’t wait for the full post. And that flaked sea salt!!!
Yesssss! So excited for Laurie and her new cookbook. Seriously, these cookies? I die.
I love cheesecake!
Christmas cookies!! (Sugar cookies with sprinkles)
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I absolutely love sugar cookies!!!
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My mother’s pumpkin pie!
We love to make a number of holiday items but I think one of the favorites is eggnog cheesecake chocolate chip bars.
My favorite holiday dessert is sweet potato pie!!
Soft baked sugar cookies with green-tinted frosting and holiday sprinkles!
There’s no leaving well enough alone in my kitchen. I am the queen of tweaking. Love these cookies to pieces.
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Made these tonight and they were delicious! Look forward to making your Guinness Stout Cake with Bailey’s Cream Cheese Frosting next. Thanks!
I have been baking for 51 years, many of those professionally. This may be my new favourite recipe. I added Trader Joe’s orange flavoured cranberries, and doubled the recipe. Used Maldon sea salt. Flattened cookie scoops a tad, increased baking time based on my oven. Insane. Just insanely good.