This Pistachio Pudding Cake is the perfect dessert for St. Patrick’s Day or Christmas! Its soft, nutty flavor and vibrant green hue make it a festive treat for any holiday table. Topped with a sweet vanilla glaze and crunchy pistachios, it’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
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Whether you’re celebrating with a St. Paddy’s Day feast or looking for a unique holiday dessert, this cake is sure to impress. It’s easy to make with simple ingredients and bakes up moist and flavorful every time.
If you’re looking for more festive treats for St. Patrick’s Day or the holidays, there’s plenty to choose from! Try a Bailey’s Cupcake Cake for a boozy, decadent dessert, or sip on a Homemade Shamrock Shake for a cool and creamy classic. Warm up with a mug of Mint Hot Chocolate on chilly nights, or go all out with a rich and chocolatey Grasshopper Pie. Whether you’re celebrating with family or hosting a holiday gathering, these fun and festive recipes are sure to be a hit!
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Does Pudding Mix Make a Difference in Baking?
Instant pudding mix enhances a cake’s texture, making it extra moist and soft while also adding flavor. It helps the cake retain moisture for days, so it stays fresh longer.
But did you know that pudding mix isn’t just for cakes? You can also use it to make soft, chewy, and flavorful cookies!
If you love the rich texture pudding mix adds to this cake, you’ll want to try my Pistachio Pudding Cookies, which are packed with pistachio flavor and have a soft, bakery-style chew. Or, if you're a chocolate lover, check out my Triple Chocolate Pudding Cookies—they’re irresistibly fudgy with a rich chocolate flavor enhanced by the pudding mix.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Festive and perfect for holidays – This vibrant green cake isn’t just great for St. Patrick’s Day—it’s also a fun choice for Christmas! Its cheerful color and rich, nutty flavor make it a festive addition to any holiday gathering. If you love colorful, crowd-pleasing treats, you might also enjoy my St. Patrick’s Day Sugar Cookie Cake Bars—another fun and delicious option!
- Super moist and fluffy – The secret to this cake’s incredible texture is the instant pudding mix, which keeps every bite soft, moist, and loaded with flavor. No dry cake here—just a perfectly tender crumb that melts in your mouth!
- Simple yet impressive – With minimal effort, you get a cake that looks and tastes like it came from a bakery. Whether you're making it for a casual get-together or a special occasion, it’s guaranteed to impress.
- Lightly nutty and perfectly sweet – The pistachio flavor is subtle yet delicious, balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. Even if you're not a huge pistachio fan, you'll love how this cake delivers a smooth, buttery taste with a hint of crunch from optional chopped nuts.
- Great make-ahead dessert – This cake stays moist and delicious for days, making it a fantastic option for prepping in advance. Perfect for stress-free entertaining!
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make this moist pistachio cake!
- White cake mix - Use your favorite brand of cake mix for the best flavor.
- Instant pistachio pudding mix - This helps keep the cake moist and fluffy, as well as giving it the perfect hint of nutty, pistachio flavor.
- Sour cream - Adds even more moisture and richness to the cake
- Vegetable oil - Helps make the cake extra soft and fluffy
- Eggs - Lightly beaten before adding to the mix, they help with the texture and structure of the cake.
- Vanilla extract - Sweet and subtle vanilla flavor enhances the pistachio flavor and makes this cake perfectly sweet in every bite.
- Roasted, unsalted pistachios - Roughly chopped to add an amazing crunch and more pistachio flavor throughout the cake.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- For the Chocolate Lovers - Add chocolate chips into your cake mix or drizzle your cake in melted milk or white chocolate.
- More Cake Mix Options - You can use yellow cake mix instead of white cake mix if you prefer! The color or sweetness of the cake may change slightly depending on what cake mix you choose.
- Sour Cream Substitution - You can use greek yogurt in place of sour cream.
- Extra Nutty Flavor - Add almond extract to enhance the nutty flavor even more!
- Extra Festive Touch – Make this cake even more fun for St. Patrick’s Day by adding shamrock or green sprinkles, or boosting the color with a few drops of green food coloring. For another festive treat, try my Bailey’s Cupcake Cake—a delicious, boozy dessert shaped like a shamrock!
- Add a Crunchy Topping – Sprinkle crushed pistachios or toasted coconut over the frosting for extra texture and visual appeal.
- Glaze Consistency - For a thinner glaze, add more milk, and for a thicker glaze, add more powdered sugar. Experiment until you’re happy with the consistency!
How to Make a Pistachio Pudding Cake
Once you've gathered all your ingredients, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 10- or 12-cup bundt cake pan by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray and follow the steps below to make this pistachio bundt cake made from cake mix.
- Step 1: In a large bowl, add the cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and water. Beat until uniform and smooth.
- Step 2: Add the pistachios and fold them into the batter.
- Step 3: Transfer the batter into your prepared cake pan.
- Step 4: Bake for 45-50 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean, cool in the pan for 20 minutes before transferring to a wire rack, then whisk the glaze ingredients, drizzle over the cooled cake, and top with chopped pistachios.
Helpful Tips
- Make it Greener – If you want an even stronger green color, add a few drops of green food coloring to your cake mix.
- Cake Variations – This recipe can easily be made into a layered or sheet cake if you prefer! Adjust your bake time as needed.
- Room Temperature Ingredients – Letting your sour cream, eggs, and water come to room temperature before mixing can help with the ease of combining your ingredients.
- Check for Doneness – Every oven is different, so it’s good practice to start checking your cake a few minutes before the recommended bake time. Simply poke a toothpick into your cake and check for batter residue. If it comes out clean, your cake is ready!
- Enhance the Flavor – For an even richer pistachio flavor, try adding a teaspoon of almond extract or folding in some finely chopped pistachios into the batter.
- Let it Cool Completely – Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. This prevents it from breaking apart and ensures the texture sets properly.
- Dust with Powdered Sugar – If you’re skipping the glaze, a light dusting of powdered sugar can add an elegant touch without extra sweetness.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! While white cake mix is used in this recipe, yellow cake mix also works well. If you want a deeper flavor, try a butter or French vanilla cake mix.
Absolutely! You can bake this cake as a bundt, sheet cake, or even cupcakes. Just adjust the baking time accordingly—cupcakes typically take about 18-22 minutes, and sheet cakes bake in around 30-35 minutes.
The pudding mix is essential for flavor and texture, but if you can't find pistachio pudding, you can substitute vanilla pudding and add a teaspoon of almond extract plus finely chopped pistachios for a similar taste.
Yes, absolutely! Letting the cake sit for a day can actually make it taste even better, as the flavors have had more time to meld together. Just store the cake in an airtight container up to a day in advance and add the glaze right before serving!
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Storage Instructions
To store any leftover pistachio pudding cake, keep it covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. An unglazed cake can be kept at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Freezing Instructions
To freeze any leftover cake you have for longer term storage, you can cut it into slices, wrap them in plastic wrap, and then keep in a freezer safe container for up to one month. Then, let thaw at room temperature and enjoy!
More Pistachio Recipes You'll Love
Looking for other easy pistachio recipes like this? Try these:
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Pistachio Pudding Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 15.25 ounce white cake mix
- 3.4 ounces instant pistachio pudding mix
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs (lightly beaten)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup pistachios (unsalted and roasted, roughly chopped)
For the Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Prepare a 10 or 12 cup bundt cake pan by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and water. Beat until uniform and smooth.
- Add pistachios and fold them into the batter.
- Transfer the batter into your prepared cake pan.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- To prepare glaze, whisk powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk together. Drizzle over the cooled cake and top with additional chopped pistachios.
Notes
- Make it Greener – If you want an even stronger green color, add a few drops of green food coloring to your cake mix.
- Cake Variations – This recipe can easily be made into a layered or sheet cake if you prefer! Adjust your bake time as needed.
- Room Temperature Ingredients – Letting your sour cream, eggs, and water come to room temperature before mixing can help with the ease of combining your ingredients.
- Check for Doneness – Every oven is different, so it’s good practice to start checking your cake a few minutes before the recommended bake time. Simply poke a toothpick into your cake and check for batter residue. If it comes out clean, your cake is ready!
- Enhance the Flavor – For an even richer pistachio flavor, try adding a teaspoon of almond extract or folding in some finely chopped pistachios into the batter.
- Let it Cool Completely – Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. This prevents it from breaking apart and ensures the texture sets properly.
- Dust with Powdered Sugar – If you’re skipping frosting, a light dusting of powdered sugar can add an elegant touch without extra sweetness.
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