A super easy pistachio pudding cookie that’s soft, chewy, and flavorful! It’s also inspired by The Grinch Who Stole Christmas!
We have to talk about something: pudding cookies. Why haven’t I tried these sooner? Why didn’t anybody tell me about them??! Were you guys aware that pudding cookies are really good??
Obviously, this is no one’s fault but my own because, hi, pudding cookies are EVERYWHERE. But I’m feeling pretty Grinch-y (no pun intended) today because I’m (still) way behind on my Christmas shopping, and I feel like blaming those around me. Forgiven?
I kept seeing them, and they’d pique my interest, but not enough to do anything about it, apparently. I would sort of shrug and think, eh, how good could they be?
I’m not afraid to admit to my mistakes (ahem, riiight), and I’ll confess that this one was colossal. Why I neglected pudding cookies for so long… who knows. No one to blame but myself. Maybe I can blame S.O. It would be a stretch, sure, and I’d really have to contrive a way to blame him for this, but I think I can make it work. I’ll figure that out later.
These cookies are absurdly easy, and you only need a handful of ingredients. I hereby declare these to be your default cookie when you’re in a true bind. You could probably complete an entire batch in under 30 minutes, start-to-finish.
They’re super soft, chewy, and very flavorful. Lots of pistachio-ness going on. I personally only got to eat about 4 cookies because S.O. did a ton of damage before I had the chance… as in, 2 dozen of them disappeared overnight between the hours of 10pm-7am. No exaggerating, and I know it wasn’t the cat, despite what he claims.
Anyway, the pudding cookie recipe is compliments of trusty ol’ Kraft. The Grinch cookie idea, which is adorable, is compliments of In Katrina’s Kitchen. In other words, there is absolutely nothing original in this post whatsoever, but I had to share these adorable cookies, recycled idea or not. Is this a cute idea, or is this a cute idea? Exactly.
My hope was maybe you hadn’t seen them yet? But if you’ve spent .02 seconds on Pinterest, you’ve probably been inundated. Oh well! Enjoy! 🙂
Grinch Cookies / Pistachio Pudding Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 c. flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 c. butter softened
- 1 c. packed brown sugar
- 1 3 oz. box instant pistachio pudding
- 2 eggs
- 3-4 drops green food coloring optional
- 1 small tube prepared red icing - NOT gel icing it doesn't seem to set
- recipe from Kraft
Instructions
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In a small bowl, combine flour and baking soda. Set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until well-combined.
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Add dry pudding mix and beat until well-blended.
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Add eggs and beat until well-blended.
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Mix in food coloring.
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Add flour mixture and beat until combined.
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Drop by tablespoonfuls on lightly greased baking sheets.
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Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until edges of cookies are lightly browned.
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Cool on baking sheet 1 minute before removing to wire rack.
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Allow to cool completely.
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Use red icing to pipe a small heart in the middle of the cookie. Enjoy!
Btw, have you entered the Christmas Shopping Spree Giveaway yet? Myself and some other blogger friends are giving away a $500 Visa gift card! Make sure to enter!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
December 11, 2014 at 1:24 pmAren’t pudding cookies the best?! Vanilla pudding mix is my secret ingredient in chocolate chip cookies…it makes them so soft and chewy! These grinch cookies are so adorable, Sarah! I love the tint of green and little heart on top. And you definitely can’t go wrong with pistachio flavor! Yum!
Sarah says
December 11, 2014 at 9:03 pmYes, I had no idea about pudding cookies! I kept seeing them pop up but I thought it was maybe a gimmick. I was way off! They really do make them so soft and chewy – it’s fabulous. Now I want to stuff pudding mix into all kinds of things. Haha! Aren’t the cookies clever? Saw them at In Katrina’s Kitchen and *had* to make them! 🙂
Amanda says
December 11, 2014 at 1:31 pmADORABLE! They are just so cute!!!
Sarah says
December 11, 2014 at 8:59 pmThank you! I thought so too. This was such a clever idea! I saw it at In Katrina’s Kitchen! 🙂
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
December 11, 2014 at 2:24 pmThese cookies are adorable, Sarah! I totally hear ya, I just tried making pudding cookies earlier this year and it was a life changing moment! These pistachio ones sound amazing and would make any Grinch’s heart grow three sizes bigger!
Sarah says
December 11, 2014 at 9:00 pmLOL!!! They made my heart grow, that’s for sure. I was really surprised by how good pudding cookies are! I don’t really know why I doubted, but I’m glad I finally tried them. Aren’t they a cute idea? Thanks, Kelly! 🙂
Annie @Maebells says
December 11, 2014 at 3:40 pmOh I love these! I cannot bake cookies often because I have NO self control. I always say “just one more…” haha!
Sarah says
December 11, 2014 at 9:02 pmHaha!! I have my moments, that’s for sure! I am that way with donuts mostly! Lol! 🙂
[email protected] says
December 12, 2014 at 9:00 amI still have yet to try pudding cookies but I think you just may have convinced me!! These are seriously SO cute and I just love their festive green color. Weekend baking project here I come! 🙂
Sarah says
December 13, 2014 at 9:43 pmHaha! Aren’t they cute?? You really should try pudding cookies! I was pleasantly surprised by them! I held out for a while too, but they were worth it. 🙂 Hope you’re having a great weekend, girl!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says
December 12, 2014 at 11:13 amUm, I think maybe I’ve been living under a rock, because I’ve never even heard of pudding cookies! That’s a thing? Evidently I need to try them! These are absolutely adorable, I love the Grinch theme!
Sarah says
December 13, 2014 at 9:47 pmHaha! That makes me feel better! I’d heard of them, but just kinda held out on trying them. I figured, can they be that good? Felt like a gimmick. They’re super soft and chewy! YUM.
Manali @ CookWithManali says
December 12, 2014 at 6:50 pmThese look amazing Sarah! Have not tried pudding cookies yet but now I need to! I love pistachio in desserts!
Sarah says
December 14, 2014 at 9:04 amI had not tried pudding cookies either, but I’m definitely glad I gave them a go! I love pistachio stuff too! 🙂
dina says
December 13, 2014 at 6:07 pmthese are such a cute idea!
Sarah says
December 14, 2014 at 9:14 amThank you, Dina! 🙂
Stephanie says
December 15, 2014 at 8:33 pmWow! I’ve never heard of using pudding mix, but these sound really easy. The little hearts are just too cute! Thanks for sharing!
Stephanie
Sarah says
December 15, 2014 at 9:09 pmI kept seeing pudding cookies and I kept putting off trying them – they’re delicious! So soft and chewy! 🙂
Stephanie says
December 20, 2014 at 3:15 pmNow I want to have a Grinch movie night with these cookies!!! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday!
natalie branchini says
November 28, 2017 at 7:20 pmJust made these for my Christmas cookie platters! Yum! EXCELLENT! Chewy and not ridiculously overly sweet! These will be made at least every Christmas!
Jennifer Syfert says
December 20, 2019 at 9:03 pmI made these today for a work cookie exchange. I made the following change: added 1/2 tsp vanilla and used 7 drops food coloring. These are amazing and absolutely cute. Thanks for the recipe.
Sarah says
December 22, 2019 at 7:58 amThanks for sharing your substitutions! Thanks so much for letting me know how they turned out for you. They’re pretty simple, and they do make such a nice, soft cookie. Happy Holidays to you and yours!!!