Classic Pistachio Cake Recipe
When I told my daughter I was making a pistachio cake, and that it would be green, she was extremely confused. Cake that tastes like pistachios? Green cake? Huh? I just told her it’s a retro kind of cake. People used to make pistachio cakes all the time, at least in my childhood memories there are lots of them, and since I had never made one, it was time to change that. This pistachio pudding cake is easy and infused with plenty of pistachio flavor. It’s super soft and moist thanks to a box of instant pistachio pudding that’s added to a box of yellow cake mix. I love shortcuts. Club soda is another secret weapon added to the batter that helps the cake stay light and moist. The creamy, fluffy frosting that I wanted to eat by the spoonful includes another box of pistachio pudding that’s mixed with whipped topping. And the glorious pistachios garnishing the cake. So good. If you don’t have pudding mix, cake mix, or whipped topping in your area or are opposed to using them, this probably isn’t the recipe for you because I can’t speak to the results if you don’t use them.
Pistachio Cake Ingredients
For this pistachio bundt cake, you’ll need:
Yellow cake mix Instant pistachio pudding mix Eggs Club soda Vegetable oil Almond extract
And for the pistachio frosting, you’ll need:
Instant pistachio pudding mix Cold milk Whipped topping Shelled pistachios
How to Make Pistachio Cake
This pistachio pudding cake couldn’t be easier to make if I tried! Simply mix together the pistachio cake ingredients until smooth and pour into a greased 12-cup bundt pan. Bake the cake until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Once the pistachio bundt cake is out of the oven and has been set on a wire rack to cool, make the pistachio frosting. Beat the cold milk and pudding mix until it begins to thicken, then mix in the whipped topping. Once the cake is completely cool, you can frost it and sprinkle with pistachios.
Can I Make This as a Layer Cake?
I’ve only ever made this recipe as a pistachio bundt cake, so I can’t say for sure if this can be made as a layer cake.
Can I Use Sparkling Water Instead of Club Soda?
No, club soda is more carbonated than sparkling water so they’re not interchangeable in this recipe. Same goes for tonic water and seltzer. Club soda is widely available at any grocery store, so it should be easy to find!
Tips for the Best Pistachio Cake
For the cake batter, don’t make the instant pudding like it says to on the box. You add it to the batter like you would any dry ingredient. Don’t try to squeeze the pistachio cake batter into a smaller bundt pan. If you do, your cake might overflow and make a mess all over your oven. And when making the frosting for this pistachio pudding cake, you must use cow’s milk. If you try to use a milk alternative (like soy or nut milk), the frosting won’t set up properly and will be runny.
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