Pistachio Cake

What's not to love about Pistachio cake made from a mix created in the late 1960s?


This pistachio cake is terrific with coffee, tea, milk, cocoa.


Hearty pound cake that can be served plain with powdered sugar, fruit-topped, pistachio pudding frosting, or just whipped cream.


How much versatile of a quick easy delicious cake can this recipe get?


I have used yellow, white and lemon cake mixes, they are all fantastic!


Pistachio flavor is my very favorite and I love Pistachio Cookies, Amaretto Pistachio Fudge and even a Pistachio Pesto Pasta dish, just to name a few!


This is the perfect color cake for St. Patrick's Day or the Christmas holiday because it's green and yummy!


Scroll down to the recipe card to print this easy Pistachio cake recipe off!

Bundt Pans and More

This pistachio cake is like a pound cake and bakes perfectly in any kind of pan.


I usually use a bundt pan as mom used to bake it in but I have also used sheet pans, round pans, and square pans.


The cake is semi-homemade and not dense like a scratch cake because it starts off with a cake mix.


I have often used something other than what mom used in the 60s and 70s which was yellow cake mixes.


Lemon, white and even chocolate have all been delicious!


I also added more pistachios or sliced almonds in the batter at times.

Ingredients You Will Need To Make Pistachio Cake

scroll down to the printable recipe card for exact measurements

• yellow or white cake mix (or use a yellow funfetti cake mix for a pretty party cake or any flavor for a change IE lemon or chocolate)
• eggs
• water
• almond extract
• instant pistachio pudding
• oil (I use canola)
• pistachios 0r sliced almonds
• Optional: 4 drops green food coloring, 1/2 cup chopped pistachio.

Holiday and Festive Cakes!

Pistachio cake is a fabulous treat and I always look forward to a slice with my espresso every year for my birthday celebration or even perfect for Christmas or even St. Patrick's Day is green!



During the Christmas holiday, you can decorate the cake with maraschino cherries on top with the chopped green pistachios around in a circle making wreaths.



This pretty green cake can be a festive delicious centerpiece for any table.



I have even made this cake with a festive Christmas Sugar Cone Trees in the middle, it's a winter scene cake.

Fun Recipes Using Pistachios

I love pistachio anything, ice cream with hot fudge is another favorite of mine.



Here is my pistachio ice cream recipe.



I eat pistachio's plain for a snack. I can never get tired of eating them. I love my pistachio cookie biscotti, have you tried them?

Suggestions and Tips

1. Substitute lemon soda for water or lemon-lime.
2. Add more nuts like pistachios or almonds
3. Don't overbake this
4. Do heavily grease whatever pan you're using
5. Add sprinkles to the batter to make a fun children's party cake!
6. Add chocolate chip for different pistachio and chocolate chip cake

Great for a Picnic or Holiday!

Sometimes I bring this one for pot lucks and just dust it with powdered sugar, for food safety reasons.



I never bring anything with cream frostings or anything with mayonnaise in it, even if it's dairy-free.



I always am very conscious of food born illnesses.



You can also just sprinkle the top with chopped pistachios and funfetti for a festive look especially for Holidays like St. Patrick's Day or Christmas!



I love pistachio so much I even make this Pistachio Witches Fingers for Halloween!!!



I have a pretty shamrock cookie for St. Patrick's Day here also.




I also use pistachio pudding in my Pistachio Ambrosia Salad

Chocolate on Top Is Awesome!

I love two flavors together, pistachio and chocolate, it's also my favorite way to eat pistachio ice cream, hot fudge over pistachio are the best!



This cake is also great with adding mini chocolate chips to the batter.



Or you can add shaved chocolate or even warmed hot fudge over the top.



This pistachio cake with hot fudge is perfect with this whipped cream icing.

Pistachio Cake Has Been Around A Long Time

This vintage Pistachio cake recipe is so easy to make.



It has a bold pistachio flavor and the cake made with pistachio pudding is very light in texture, not heavy.



The whipped cream pistachio frosting is also light and fluffy.



This pistachio cake tastes great with or without the frosting, you really don't need anything else it's so good.



My memory of mom in the kitchen making this every year gives me a warm feeling, I will always cherish her making me this cake every year.

Don't Forget To Try Some Of My Other Pistachio Recipes!

Shamrock Cookies

Pistachio Ambrosia

Pistachio Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream

Pistachio Cake with Sugar Cone Christmas Trees

Halloween Pistachio Witches Fingers

Pistachio and Amaretto Fudge

Pistachio Cake Pin for later

pistachio cake made with cake mix, semi homemade cake mix pistachio cake, doctored cake mix, Pistachio recipes, pistachio cake recipe

cake

American

Yield: 10

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

Pistachio Cake

prep time: 5 Mcook time: 35 Mtotal time: 40 M

This is a delicious pistachio cake popular in the 60s and 1970s. It's been my favorite birthday cake ever since mom first made it.

ingredients:

• 1 package yellow or white cake mix (or use a yellow funfetti cake mix for a pretty party cake or any flavor for a change IE lemon or chocolate)
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 package instant pistachio pudding
• 1/4 cup oil (I use canola)
• Optional: 4 drops green food coloring, 1/2 cup chopped pistachio. (The pudding makes it light green.)
• Note: you can make your own funfetti cake without buying the mix. Just use whatever cake mix you like and add 1/4 cup mixed colored sprinkles to the batter
• chopped pistachios, shaved chocolate or sliced almonds for garnishing are optional

instructions:

How to cook Pistachio Cake

1. Place all in a bowl, using an electric mixer beat for 3 minutes.
2. Pour into a 13 x 9 greased pan or bundt pan.
3. Bake 350 degrees until the middle comes clean with a toothpick.
4. Around 30 to 45 minutes depending on the pan you use.
5. Frost or dust with powdered sugar.
6. Frosting:
7. 1 - 8-ounce tub of whipped topping or heavy cream sweetened and whipped
8. 1 box  pistachio instant pudding
9. 1/2 cup cold milk
10. Mix both pudding and milk together until blended evenly, fold thawed whipped topping or real whipped cream into the mixture. Spread on cooled cake. Refrigerate. I like to decorate the top of mine with whole pistachios and some chopped or shaved chocolate.

https://www.whatscookinitalianstylecuisine.com/2016/09/pistachio-funfetti-cake-recipe.html

Created using The Recipes Generator

Pistachio Cake Pin for later

Don't forget to try these favorite Pistachio Recipes:

Halloween Pistachio Witches Fingers


Pistachio and Amaretto Fudge


Pistachio Biscotti


Pistachio Ricotta Cookies

Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2016. It was edited and re-published in 2020.