Pistachio Cranberry Wreath Cookies – Festive, Buttery & Beautifully Chewy-Crisp

🎉 Introduction

These Pistachio Cranberry Wreath Cookies are one of the most stunning and festive holiday cookies you can bake — buttery, delicately crisp on the edges, soft inside, and filled with pops of green pistachios and ruby-red cranberries.

Each cookie is shaped into a mini wreath, rolled in sparkling sugar, and finished with a simple glaze or a decorative ribbon of icing to mimic a Christmas garland. They’re elegant enough for holiday parties and cookie boxes but easy enough for everyday seasonal baking.

If you want a cookie that tastes incredible and looks like it belongs in a gourmet bakery window, this is it.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Mixing bowls
• Hand or stand mixer
• Parchment-lined baking sheets
• Rolling pin (optional)
• Cooling rack
• Small piping bag or zip bag (optional for decorating)

🛒 Ingredients

Cookie Dough

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup finely chopped pistachios
• ½ cup finely chopped dried cranberries

Optional Coating

• ½ cup sparkling sanding sugar
• or crushed pistachios for rolling

Simple Icing (Optional for Decor)

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla or almond extract

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Cream Butter & Sugar

Beat softened butter and sugar for 2–3 minutes until pale, light, and creamy.

Add:

• egg
• vanilla
• almond extract

Mix until smooth.

Step 2: Add Dry Ingredients

Whisk together:

• flour
• baking powder
• salt

Add dry mixture to wet ingredients, mixing on low until combined and soft dough forms.

Fold in:

• chopped pistachios
• chopped cranberries

Dough should be firm but workable.

Chill 20–30 minutes for easier shaping.

Step 3: Shape the Wreaths

Scoop 1 tbsp portions of dough and roll into small ropes about 6 inches long.

Bring ends together to form a circle.
Twist edges gently to create a wreath-like look.

Optional: roll or sprinkle with:

• sanding sugar
• crushed pistachios
• or a mix of both

Place on parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step 4: Bake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Bake 10–12 minutes, until edges are lightly golden but centers remain soft.

Cool cookies completely before decorating.

Step 5: Decorate (Optional)

Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and extract to make a thin icing.

Use a piping bag or zip bag with a tiny corner snipped.

Add:

• little bows
• garland zigzags
• dotted ornaments
• drizzle snow-like icing

You can also add tiny dried cranberry bits or chopped pistachio “berries.”

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Makes: 22–26 wreath cookies
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Chill Time: 20 minutes
• Bake Time: 10–12 minutes
• Total Time: ~45 minutes

🧊 Storage & Freezing

Room Temp: 5–7 days in airtight tin
Freeze (baked): up to 2 months
Freeze (shaped dough): 3 months (bake straight from frozen)

Perfect for cookie boxes — they hold shape beautifully.

🥄 Variations

1. White Chocolate Pistachio Wreaths
   Drizzle with melted white chocolate.
2. Cranberry Orange Wreaths
   Add orange zest + orange icing.
3. Pistachio Matcha Wreaths
   Add 1 tsp matcha to dough.
4. Almond Wreath Cookies
   Add extra almond extract + slivered almonds.
5. Vegan Version
   Use vegan butter + plant milk.
6. Gluten-Free Version
   Use 1:1 gluten-free flour.
7. Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread Wreaths
   Make dough without baking powder for more shortbread crunch.
8. Chocolate-Dipped Wreaths
   Dip bottoms in dark chocolate.
9. Fruity Jewels Version
   Add chopped dried apricots or cherries.
10. Sprinkle Wreaths
    Roll edges in Christmas sprinkles.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Why is my dough cracking when shaping?
   Dough is too cold — warm with hands for a few seconds.
2. Can I make the dough ahead?
   Yes — refrigerate up to 48 hours.
3. Do they spread?
   Only slightly, so wreath shapes hold nicely.
4. Can I use salted pistachios?
   Yes — but reduce salt by ¼ tsp.
5. Can I use fresh cranberries?
   No — they add too much moisture.
6. Can I shape them into bigger wreaths?
   Yes — bake +2 minutes.
7. Can I skip decorating?
   Absolutely — they’re beautiful even plain.
8. Can I add food coloring?
   Yes — tint dough green or icing red.
9. Why almond extract?
   It enhances pistachio flavor and gives a classic holiday aroma.
10. Can kids help with shaping?
    Yes — easy and fun for little hands.

🏁 Conclusion

These Pistachio Cranberry Wreath Cookies are as gorgeous as they are delicious — buttery, festive, chewy-crisp, and loaded with holiday flavors. With colorful cranberries and green pistachios tucked into every bite, they bring instant Christmas magic to any cookie box, party platter, or gift tin.

They’re simple to make, stunning to display, and guaranteed to become a yearly favorite.

Pistachio Cranberry Wreath Cookies – Festive, Buttery & Beautifully Chewy-Crisp

These Pistachio Cranberry Wreath Cookies are one of the most stunning and festive holiday cookies you can bake — buttery, delicately crisp on the edges, soft inside, and filled with pops of green pistachios and ruby-red cranberries. Each cookie is shaped into a mini wreath, rolled in sparkling sugar, and finished with a simple glaze or a decorative ribbon of icing to mimic a Christmas garland. They’re elegant enough for holiday parties and cookie boxes but easy enough for everyday seasonal baking. If you want a cookie that tastes incredible and looks like it belongs in a gourmet bakery window, this is it.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 20 Cookies

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

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Ingredients

  

Cookie Dough

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup finely chopped pistachios
• ½ cup finely chopped dried cranberries

Optional Coating

• ½ cup sparkling sanding sugar
• or crushed pistachios for rolling
• Simple Icing Optional for Decor
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 –2 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla or almond extract

Get Our Best App for Daily Great Recipes 🍽️

Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Coming Soon

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Hand or stand mixer
• Parchment-lined baking sheets
• Rolling pin (optional)
• Cooling rack
• Small piping bag or zip bag (optional for decorating)

Method

 

Step 1: Cream Butter & Sugar

1. Beat softened butter and sugar for 2–3 minutes until pale, light, and creamy.
2. Add:
3. egg
4. vanilla
5. almond extract
6. Mix until smooth.

Step 2: Add Dry Ingredients

1. Whisk together:
2. flour
3. baking powder
4. salt
5. Add dry mixture to wet ingredients, mixing on low until combined and soft dough forms.
6. Fold in:
7. chopped pistachios
8. chopped cranberries
9. Dough should be firm but workable.
10. Chill 20–30 minutes for easier shaping.

Step 3: Shape the Wreaths

1. Scoop 1 tbsp portions of dough and roll into small ropes about 6 inches long.
2. Bring ends together to form a circle.
3. Twist edges gently to create a wreath-like look.
4. Optional: roll or sprinkle with:
5. sanding sugar
6. crushed pistachios
7. or a mix of both
8. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step 4: Bake

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Bake 10–12 minutes, until edges are lightly golden but centers remain soft.
3. Cool cookies completely before decorating.

Step 5: Decorate (Optional)

1. Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and extract to make a thin icing.
2. Use a piping bag or zip bag with a tiny corner snipped.
3. Add:
4. little bows
5. garland zigzags
6. dotted ornaments
7. drizzle snow-like icing
8. You can also add tiny dried cranberry bits or chopped pistachio “berries.”

Notes

🧊 Storage & Freezing

Room Temp: 5–7 days in airtight tin
Freeze (baked): up to 2 months
Freeze (shaped dough): 3 months (bake straight from frozen)

Perfect for cookie boxes — they hold shape beautifully.

🥄 Variations

White Chocolate Pistachio Wreaths
Drizzle with melted white chocolate.

Cranberry Orange Wreaths
Add orange zest + orange icing.

Pistachio Matcha Wreaths
Add 1 tsp matcha to dough.

Almond Wreath Cookies
Add extra almond extract + slivered almonds.

Vegan Version
Use vegan butter + plant milk.

Gluten-Free Version
Use 1:1 gluten-free flour.

Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread Wreaths
Make dough without baking powder for more shortbread crunch.

Chocolate-Dipped Wreaths
Dip bottoms in dark chocolate.

Fruity Jewels Version
Add chopped dried apricots or cherries.

Sprinkle Wreaths
Roll edges in Christmas sprinkles.

❓ 10 FAQs

Why is my dough cracking when shaping?
Dough is too cold — warm with hands for a few seconds.

Can I make the dough ahead?
Yes — refrigerate up to 48 hours.

Do they spread?
Only slightly, so wreath shapes hold nicely.

Can I use salted pistachios?
Yes — but reduce salt by ¼ tsp.

Can I use fresh cranberries?
No — they add too much moisture.

Can I shape them into bigger wreaths?
Yes — bake +2 minutes.

Can I skip decorating?
Absolutely — they’re beautiful even plain.

Can I add food coloring?
Yes — tint dough green or icing red.

Why almond extract?
It enhances pistachio flavor and gives a classic holiday aroma.

Can kids help with shaping?
Yes — easy and fun for little hands.

🏁 Conclusion

These Pistachio Cranberry Wreath Cookies are as gorgeous as they are delicious — buttery, festive, chewy-crisp, and loaded with holiday flavors. With colorful cranberries and green pistachios tucked into every bite, they bring instant Christmas magic to any cookie box, party platter, or gift tin.

They’re simple to make, stunning to display, and guaranteed to become a yearly favorite.