Pistachio Kiss Cookies- Pudding mix makes these Christmas cookies so soft and yummy. You’ll love them!

I had great plans to do an entire week of “Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen”.  The plan was to have the first post up yesterday, with all the others finished and scheduled. But then sick kids, broken cars, church callings, family events, a dead computer mouse, and life in general got in the way of my plans.  Instead I am flying by the seat of my pants just trying to get all my photos uploaded before Christmas is actually over! Ah life.

I like giving homemade treats to our neighbors every year. And I like to deliver them early to beat the sugar rush that comes when everyone else delivers goodies the two days before Christmas. I shoot for the first week of December, but clearly I am behind this year. I’m hoping we have no more surprises this week, and that I can get most of them done. Crossing my fingers!

These Christmas cookies were an experiment, and we were all pretty pleased with the yummy results. Pudding cookies are always a hit, and these were no exception. The pistachio pudding mix gives the cookies not only great flavor, but a pretty green color.

I loved the crunch and flavor of the chopped pecans on the outside, but you can roll them in sugar instead if you prefer. And of course that little Hershey kiss on top makes them irresistible to kids and adults alike! I like them best after they have cooled and the chocolate is set up, and I actually thought they were better the next day.

Pistachio Kiss Cookies

Yield: 3 dozen

Pistachio Kiss Cookies

Print

Soft pistachio cookies rolled in chopped pecans and topped with a Hershey kiss.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 tsp almond extract
• 1 (3.4oz) box pistachio pudding mix
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 1/2- 2 cups finely chopped pecans
• 1 bag Hershey kisses

Instructions

1. Cream butter and powdered sugar till smooth. Beat in egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
2. Combine pudding mix, flour, baking powder, and soda. Stir in with the chocolate chips.
3. Roll dough into 1″ balls, then roll in pecans. Place on silpat lined or lightly greased cookie sheets.
4. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes. Immediately press a Hershey kiss in the middle of each cookie. Remove cookies to cooling racks. Cool completely.

For delivery to our neighbors, I put a few cookies in a cellophane treat bag, and attached a tag with curling ribbon. Super simple, but  little cuter than cookies on a paper plate with plastic wrap, which is what I have done in many years past. 😉

I am including a free printable for the Christmas tags if you’d like to use them.
Just click the link below to download and print them out.
Printable Christmas Gift Tags