Soft pistachio healthy cookies that are crispy form the outside, and gooey from the inside! They are vegan friendly, gluten free, and oil free! Full of fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats!
In Arabic language, pistachio called “fosto’ halabi” which literally means peanut from Halab (A famous Syrian city). Pistachio is very old nut, and you can eat it raw not only dried, which tastes totally different. Until this day, pistachio is an expensive nut, and not very affordable. let’s talk about the ingredients:
Pistachio
It’s a very healthy nut, and here why you should eat it:
- Has good amounts of protein, fiber, vitamin E. and B6. Also, healthy fats that are of unsaturated type.
- The different colors of green and purple in pistachio are due to antioxidants content like polyphenols.
- They may make you live longer. and improve the lipid profile.
This is an update version of pistachio cookies I’ve made before. I thought those cookies have some room for improvements. And now they have intense flavor of pistachio, with better texture thanks to using a ready made oat flour (expensive but worth it! , I used Bob’s Red Mills, which I highly recommend), and the use of avocado. I’m obsessed with avocado these days, they are creamy, healthy, and fit savory and sweet dishes as well! Moreover, they are a great substitute for oil!
Avocado
These cookies have no oil in them! Avocado has healthy fats that add creaminess to the cookies. Also works like magic in whipping the batter. These cookies are not very crispy, but rather chewy and soft which I like my cookies to be, such as these chai cookies I made before.
- It’s a fruits that has protein, good amount of fiber, and low sugar. Also it’s high in vitamins like K and folate, and minerals like potassium.
- Although its high in fat, but its the monounsaturated type, that good for the heart.
- It can lower cholesterol, reduce risk of metabolic syndrome , and a study suggested that its extract can be part of treatment in esophageal , and colon cancers.
- And it’s good for your skin and hair, and do reduce wrinkles.
White chocolate in these cookies, are totally optional. You can use dark one instead. Remember to put cookies in the middle rack in the oven, I put some in the bottom and the cookies bottoms were completely burned!
Now let’s get to the recipe!
Soft Pistachio Cookies {Oil Free, Gluten Free}
Ingredients
- 1 medium avocado
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp rose water (optional)
- 8 Tb oat flour
- 4 Tb honey
- 100 g crushed pistachio
- 6 cardamom pods (seeds) or 1 tsp ground cardamom
- Optional for garnishing:
- 2 oz white or dark chocolate
- 1 Tb crushed pistachio
Instructions
- Crush pistachio using a food processor on pulses or a grinder. I just did it myself, it takes longer but gives you better results.
- Mash the avocado by a fork in a large bowl, then gradually add the oat flour and keep mixing. Add the seeds of the cardamom pods, rose water, honey, sea salt, baking powder and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hr.
- Pre heat the oven at 350f
- On a non-stick baking sheet, put your cookies, and put the sheet in the oven for 14 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown and still soft in the middle.
- Let them cool completely.
- In a microwave bowl or in a water bath, melt your chocolate. Dip the cookies and line them on a parchment paper on a sheet, and again let them cool completely, until the chocolate hardens.
- Enjoy, and refrigerate the leftovers if any!
Notes
You can substitute honey with agave nectar or maple syrup for a vegan version.
The oat flour is naturally gluten free, however it's usually manufactured in a facility that may have wheat or wheat products. Look for the gluten free certified version if you are celiac or strictly gluten free
