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Pistachio Pudding Cake

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Pistachio Pudding Cake is a simple bundt cake to make any time of year. Made with a cake mix and pistachio pudding mix, this cake can be topped with a simple glaze or any number of frostings for a delicious crowd-pleasing dessert.

Sliced pistachio pudding cake on a white platter

St. Patrick’s Day is one of those strange holidays that always sneaks up on me.

Even though I’ve been blogging for well over a decade at this point, I still get to the beginning of March before I remember that readers are going to be looking for St. Patrick’s Day recipes.

Once I finally remember that it’s around the corner, I usually try to put something together for you guys. Some years it’s savory recipes like Irish Soda Bread, while other years it’s desserts using Irish cream, such as Baileys Cheesecake.

This year, I decided to lean into the green theme with this super easy pistachio bundt cake.

Ingredients for pistachio pudding cake arranged on a marble countertop

WHAT IS PISTACHIO PUDDING CAKE?

Don’t be confused by the name “Pistachio Pudding Cake” – this recipe is 100% cake, not pudding!

So why does it have the word “pudding” in the name? 

This recipe uses yellow cake mix combined with instant pistachio pudding mix as one of the dry ingredients. Adding the pudding mix helps keep the cake moist – just like with Chocolate Bundt Cake, Pistachio Pudding Linzer Cookies, and Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies – and adds great pistachio flavor throughout the cake.

The pudding mix also gives the cake a lovely green color, making it the perfect St. Patrick’s Day treat or seasonal spring dessert. 

Ingredients for pistachio pudding cake in a white mixing bowl on a marble countertop

HOW TO MAKE PISTACHIO CAKE WITH CAKE MIX

Because this recipe is a spin on my Doctored Cake Mix recipe, it is super easy to make.

Tools You’ll Need

The equipment needed for this cake is all very standard to most kitchens:

  • 10-cup or 12-cup bundt cake pan
  • Nonstick cooking or baking spray
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Electric mixer
  • Spatula
Spatula stirring chopped pistachios into pistachio cake batter in a white mixing bowl

Ingredients You’ll Need

The pistachio cake uses a few special, but still basic, ingredients to take the cake mix to the next level and really make it taste homemade:

  • 1 (15.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix 
  • 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup water 
  • ½ cup roughly chopped pistachios, plus extra for garnish
Pistachio pudding cake batter in a greased bundt pan

Making this Recipe

To make your Pistachio Pudding Cake, combine all of the cake ingredients except for the chopped pistachios in your large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat the ingredients together on medium speed for 2 minutes.

After the batter comes together, fold in the chopped pistachios. 

Pour the batter into the bundt cake pan sprayed with the nonstick spray. Bake the cake for about 45-50 minutes; you’ll know the cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Overhead view of baked pistachio pudding cake in the bundt pan

I like to let the cake cool in the pan for about 20 minutes before turning it out onto a cooling rack to cool completely. If the design of your bundt pan is especially intricate, you may need to let the cake cool for a bit longer before turning it out onto a wire rack.

Once the cake is completely cooled, you can glaze or frost the cake however you like.

Glazed pistachio pudding cake set on a white cake stand

HOW TO TOP THIS PISTACHIO BUNDT CAKE

My personal favorite way to finish this cake is with a simple glaze made from vanilla, powdered sugar, and milk. I sprinkle the top of the glazed cake with some chopped pistachios for some additional color, texture, and flavor.

But don’t let me stifle your imagination! This cake would be just as delicious topped with cream cheese frosting, a simple chocolate ganache, or – like with Whipping Cream Cake – even just a dusting of powdered sugar.

You could even pull out some thawed Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream and use those as a simple frosting! 

Cake server removing a slice of pistachio pudding bundt cake

STORAGE TIPS

Because of the pudding mix in the cake, Pistachio Pudding Cake is moist and delicious straight from the oven. It is almost better the next day, though! 

Store the cake covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Slice of pistachio pudding cake set on a white plate

Freezing Instructions

If you can’t eat all of the cake within a few days, you can freeze leftovers for longer-term storage. 

Cut the cake into slices and wrap each slice in plastic wrap. Place the wrapped slices in a zip-top freezer bag and freeze for up to a month.

Overhead view of sliced pistachio pudding cake on a marble countertop

To enjoy, let the cake thaw on the counter for a couple of hours or unwrap it and pop it into the microwave for 30-60 seconds to thaw it and warm it through. 

Whether you choose to make this Pistachio Pudding Cake for St. Patrick’s Day or on a random weeknight, this moist and delicious cake is sure to be a recipe you’ll come back to again and again.

Slice of pistachio pudding cake set next to a fork on white plate, with more slices of cake in the background
Overhead view of sliced pistachio pudding cake on a marble countertop

Pistachio Pudding Cake

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Pistachio Pudding Cake is a simple bundt cake to make any time of year. Made with a cake mix and pistachio pudding mix, this cake can be topped with a simple glaze or any number of frostings for a delicious crowd-pleasing dessert.

Ingredients

  • 1 (15.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
  • 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup water
  • ½ cup roughly chopped pistachios, plus extra for garnish

For the glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 10- or 12-cup bundt cake pan with baking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, add the cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and water. Beat on medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Fold in the chopped pistachios. 
  3. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  4. Whisk together the glaze ingredients. Drizzle over the cooled cake and top with additional chopped pistachios. 

Notes

    • I like to let the cake cool in the pan for about 20 minutes before turning it out onto a cooling rack to cool completely. If the design of your bundt pan is especially intricate, you may need to let the cake cool for a bit longer before turning it out onto a wire rack.
    • Because of the pudding mix in the cake, Pistachio Pudding Cake is moist and delicious straight from the oven. It is almost better the next day, though! 
    • Store the cake covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you can’t eat all of the cake within a few days, you can freeze leftovers for longer-term storage by wrapping slices in plastic wrap and storing in a zip-top freezer bag for up to a month.

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Nutrition Information
Yield 12 Serving Size 1 slice
Amount Per Serving Calories 413Total Fat 22gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 16gCholesterol 55mgSodium 379mgCarbohydrates 50gFiber 1gSugar 31gProtein 5g

Did you make this recipe?

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Jacqui

Tuesday 21st of February 2023

What type of pistachios do you use?! Salted, unsalted, roasted, raw?

Jamie

Tuesday 21st of February 2023

Roasted and unsalted are best, but I've made it with salted in a pinch and it turned out fine. Hope this helps! Happy baking – Jamie

Beverly

Tuesday 13th of December 2022

Can I use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream? If so, will it change the flavour?

Jamie

Wednesday 14th of December 2022

Hi Beverly – I haven't tried this recipe with that substitution, so I can't attest to the final result. It should bake up fine, but I don't know if the flavor would change. If you give it a try, I'd love to hear how it worked out for you. Happy baking! Jamie

Stacey

Thursday 24th of November 2022

I had my dad over for dinner a few weeks ago and made this for dessert, as his favorite flavor is pistachio and he loved it! It was absolutely delicious!! It was tender and moist and fluffy and yummy!! I am making it again right now! Thank you for such a wonderful recipe!!

Jamie

Monday 5th of December 2022

So glad your dad enjoyed this recipe, Stacey! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback. Happy baking!

Scott

Monday 5th of September 2022

I made this cake yesterday. For my Nordic ware pan, I used Crisco to grease it and granulated sugar as you recommended, which worked great. The cake was soooo moist.

Jamie

Wednesday 7th of September 2022

So glad you enjoyed the cake, Scott! Thanks for stopping by to share your feedback. Happy baking! Jamie

Rayleen Povijua

Thursday 5th of May 2022

Can I use a sheet pan instead, if possible how long should I bake and what temp?

Jamie

Tuesday 10th of May 2022

Hello! I haven’t attempted this recipe with this adjustment, so I am not sure of the result. If you happen to give it a try, I’d love to know how it turned out. Thanks so much for stopping by. -Jamie

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