Chocolate and Pistachio Cookies
This last week has made me reflect on the many happy accidents in my life. Starting, in fact, nine months before I was born.
I always thought it was cool that my sister and I were the same age for a month during the year. I liked it when I told people we were sisters, “same age but not twins”. I found it hilarious when they would give us this puzzled look. It only dawned on me one day, when I was around thirteen or fourteen, my family was having dinner at the house of some friends they had just met. The lady was introducing her four children.
“The eldest is James, he is sixteen, followed by Natasha, she is twelve.” She said.
“Then this is Raul, he is eight. Bea, my youngest, is also eight.” Then the lady patted her youngest daughter’s head and said as she smiled cheekily and said “She’s the accident of the family!”, to everyone’s amusement.
Everyone, except me, as I was shocked. If Bea and Raul were the same age and Bea was an accident… I started to think about the age gaps between all my other siblings – everyone was around two years apart except for me and my sister. I felt my face turning red. Could this mean I was an accident too?
It was only after the dinner that I confronted my Mom about this discovery.
“Am I an accident too?” I asked.
This is why my Mom is so fantastic.
“If you were, you’d be the best accident ever!” she said.
Chocolate and Pistachio Cookies
Which brings me to these Chocolate and Pistachio Cookies.
Last week I had some friends over who wanted to learn how to make macarons. I had prepared the almond meal, cocoa powder, icing sugar and caster sugar in little bowls so that all we needed to do was make the meringue and mix. I pointed to the almond meal, cocoa powder and icing sugar and told them to mix all of it. I turned my back to separate the eggs.
“Do you want me to add the sugar?” My friend asked.
“Yes please.” I told her.
As we started to make the meringue, I asked where the caster sugar was”
“It’s with the almond meal mixture!” They told me.
“What? We needed it for the meringue.” I said.
“But I asked you if I should add the sugar.” She said!
I just had to laugh. Of course I did tell her to add the sugar! So she added even the caster sugar. Silly silly me!
But that’s okay, because just when I thought that my Trissalicious World’s Best Pistachio cookies couldn’t get any better, I made this with that accidental supply of almond meal and sugar mixture. So here you have the the chocolate and pistachio version, gluten free, easy to make, and terribly delicious.
Serendipity!
Chocolate and Pistachio Cookies
Trissalicious Chocolate and Pistachio Cookies
- 180 grams Pistachios (raw, shelled)
- 225 grams almond meal
- 120 grams caster sugar
- 125 grams icing sugar
- 30 grams dutch processed cocoa powder
- 75 grams eggwhites (from around 2 to 3 eggs)
- Chop the pistachios roughly and set aside.
- In a bowl place the almond meal, sugars and egg whites. Mix well until you form a paste.
- Scoop the cookie batter and form into logs around 5 cm long, (at this point, if you find the batter too sticky add a little bit more almond meal to the paste) then roll them in the pistachios.
- Place them in a baking sheet, around 2 cm apart and bake for around 13 minutes at 150c (fan forced).
- Update on recipe: Dust with icing sugar when cool.
Trissalicious 
Thank you! I am adding this one to my Christmas cookie rotation, I love that I can use the food processor for pretty much the entire thing (except chopping the nuts. It chops them way too fine.) I start by adding the regular granulated sugar, run it for about 30 seconds to make it closer to caster sugar, then just add in all the rest of the ingredients – except for the chopped pistachios – and run it to blend them all together. I did add a bit more almond meal because it was still rather sticky – but was afraid to add too much so I worked with it even though it was still a bit sticky. I used a medium cookie scoop and dropped a scoop of dough into the bowl of chopped nuts and rolled it around coating with nuts and then placed on cookie sheet. Needless to say, my cookies were round and probably a bit larger than yours. I baked them at the specified temperature for about 20 minutes (same as a would my amaretti). This made about 18 cookies. Very nice cookie! Chocolate and pistachio – two of my husband’s favorites.
Icing sugar is powdered sugar right? What is caster sugar? Is it regular sugar?
Hi! Icing sugar is powdered sugar – you are right. Caster sugar is a finer version of regular sugar but you can substitute regular for it without any problems.
I dont see the cocoa in the recipe itself (just ingredients). Do you mix it in with the almond meal and sugar? Also, is the icing sugar for cookies or just dusting? Thanks!
What about cocoa powder? do you mix it in with the almond meal? it is listed in the ingredients but not in the recipe. Also, do you take extra icing sugar for dusting? The recipe calls for 125 gr or is it all for dusting? thanks!
there is no better combo (in my twisted opinion) than choco & pistachios
These look so yum…and frankly there was the potential for them to look otherwise it would seem! hahaha.
Gorgeous! I love pistachios, they never seem to last long when I buy some…
awww… that’s such a sweet thing of your mom to say.
That is so like you to make a kitchen accident into something entirely delicious of it’s own! I love the look of those cookies!!
Love the story – but couldn’t quite relate… Seems like you have a tactful Asian mother! A rarity! 🙂
I love that you were able to take a possible mishap and turn it into a success, that’s a wonderful quality to possess. The cookies look wonderful!
Chocolate and pistachio. That looks so good.
So sweet your stories…love the chocolate pistachio cookies as well 🙂
Lol what a funny story, Trissa! Your mom is such a sweetheart, too. Love these cookies — wish I’d have such delicious and pretty “accidents,” too!
Well, this is the quintessential serendipitous moment! I have not forgotten the other cookies – and these, better?
OH MY!
I love errors like that!
🙂
valerie
lol!! Sooo funny Trissa and so you!
Very sweet story with your mum-she sounds great.
i wish all accidents could yield such tasty and glorious results! 🙂
What a story. You are so funny but I love it. I never had the problem with being an accident. I am the only one 🙂 Accident or not, they have to love me… hahahaaa
Oh, I love that first story of yours! And the second story equally as much, because pistachios are my favourite nuts and, well, this recipe without meringue means its even quicker and easier 😀
I love happy accidents and your cookies look delicious.
I love delicious happy accidents.
Its times like these I hate living with a man who is seriously allergic to nuts. I think I’m going to have to go over to a friends house purely to make these away from his delicate self.
My brother, the youngest of the three of us was an accident (or, as my mother says, a “surprise”!). She says she had to get my father drunk before she could tell him he was going to have three children under the age of three and he accused her, in his beery state of wanting to be “some kind of earth mother”! They were married for twelve years before they had children and then they popped out three in 26 months!
Accidents are not always negative. Good lesson. And a yummy lesson! 😀
I always wanted a twin sister and I imagine your situation would have been the next best thing. 🙂
I have a hard time imagining that these beautiful cookies were an accident. They look like they were always meant to be this way. Chocolate and pistachio together–that’s hard to beat. 🙂
this is delicious!
btw, thanks for the cookbook..
My accidental bundle of joy…..very talented, pretty and kind hearted…..
Your stories are so wonderful! Happy accidents, especially baking ones, are the best kind!
These chocolate and pistachio cookies are the best accident ever TOO, lol ! Bookmarked it !
LOL! Your stories are the best! Always bring a smile to my face! And I love your latest accident in the kitchen…I wish mine turned that good! The chocolate and pistachio cookies turned out great!
Well then I found something else we have in common. I was an accident too Trissa. In fact my mum didn’t know she was pregnant with me until she was 6 months along. That’s right 6 months. My dad always tells me that he has always wanted a little girl and he got it. Even if I was an accident ehehehe. These cookies look delicious. Accidents in cooking are always the best. This will be a recipe that I will be making soon. If my mum ask where I got the recipe from, I’ll tel her that I got it from a fellow accident ehehehe…
This is just lovely… both the recipe and your description….. beautiful..
Reva
So cute. My husband and his brother are 11 months apart too. In this part of the world, they call that “Irish twins.” My younger brother is five years from me, and he is the “accident.” At least that is what his mean older sister always told him, b/c she was mad she got usurped from youngest status. 🙂 Lovely story!
Most great things happen in a serendipitous way! 🙂