This pistachio cake brings back so many memories from my childhood. My mother would make this cake on special occasions, mainly Easter and Christmas, and it's a family favorite for sure.
Are there any recipes that transport you back in time? For me, it's this pistachio cake. My mother would bake this cake on a few select holidays each year, but that wasn't enough for us. As we've gotten older, this pistachio cake recipe has also become THE birthday cake of choice. Since there are three kids in our family, that means we get to eat this cake a lot more often!
Sometimes my mom makes this without the chocolate chips, and while it's okay, the chocolate definitely makes it spectacular. You can also add crushed walnuts if you'd like for a little extra texture.
A bundt pan is my pan of choice for this recipe, because that's how my mama makes it. But, you can use any kind of pan you'd like. You could even make cupcakes.
I'm not sure which part of this cake I like more, the chocolate chips or the creamy, cool frosting. After you've frosted this beauty, keep her refrigerated because it's best when served cold. I really can't even describe how good this cake actually is.
When we were little, my mom would sprinkle coconut flakes and jelly beans on the top of the cake to make it more festive for Easter and that's a really cute touch if you have little ones at home.
Without further ado, here is the best pistachio cake recipe. Seriously, it's the best!
Pistachio Cake Recipe
Pistachio Cake
Ingredients
- Pistachio Cake:
- 1 pkg. yellow or white cake mix not the kind that uses butter
- 1 pkg. 4 serving jello instant pistachio pudding
- 4 eggs
- 1 ¼ cups of club soda
- ¼ cup of oil vegetable or canola
- ½ tsp. almond extract
- 7 drops of green food coloring
- Semi sweet chocolate chips - you decide how many to use
- Fluffy Pistachio Frosting:
- 8 oz whole milk
- 8 oz whipping cream or heavy cream
- 1 pkg pistachio instant pudding
- 7 drops of green food coloring
- Whip in your mixer until stiff and forms peaks then frost the cake once cooled.
Instructions
-
Combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, club soda, oil and extract in large mixer bowl.
-
Blend, then beat at medium speed of your mixer for 4 minutes.
-
Pour ⅓ of the batter in the a floured bundt pan first and spread evenly, then sprinkle the chocolate chips in a layer, then add the remaining ⅔ of the batter over the chips.
-
Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes until cake tester (any chopstick, toothpick, or fork will do!) inserted in the cake comes out clean, and cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan. Do not under bake!
-
Cool in the pan for about 15 minutes, then remove and cool on rack or plate. (I always put a plate over the cake pan and invert it, then put a plate over the bottom of the cake and invert it again so it sits upright on the plate. You don't need to do that with a bundt pan though.)
I hope you try this cake and love it as much as we do!
Be sure to check out our baking posts!
Amber Ludwig says
Oooh I think I just found my new most favorite cake!! Yummo!! Pistachio is my absolute favorite!! Can't wait to try this!!
Lisa Garland says
I have never had a pistachio cake, looks and sounds amazing!!
Linda Manns says
This sounds so good. Great recipe. I can't wait to give this a try. Thank you so much for sharing
Cathy Jarolin says
I definitely have to bake this Delicious Cake. Looks and sounds so Yummy!! I actually believe this is one of the most Delicious sounding cakes Ever! IT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR ALL THE UP COMING HOLIDAYS. I Pinned it! Thankyou for sharing your Wonderful Cake Recipe..
Victoria D. says
I'll have to try this! Love cake and love pistachio!
Estefany says
Looks so good!
Janet W. says
I've never made this kind of cake before. It looks so delicious! Definitely going to have to make it now!
mami2jcn says
The green frosting is so festive! It looks good for Christmas.
Dana Rodriguez says
I really want to try this recipe. That cake looks and sounds delicious!
Geri Sandoval says
Oh my gosh...my hubby going to love you, he love pistachios anything. I going to make this cake for his birthday now in Dec. Thank you!
Darcy Koch says
WAY too many ingredients. Plus, I do not care for Pistachios. I will pass.
kayla sheehan says
this sounds like something my husband would like
Linda Manns Linneman says
This recipe sounds so good and so moist. I love pistachios. I can't wait to give this a try. Thank you so much for sharing
Brianna Edwards says
I love pistachios, but have never tried a pistachio cake. It looks very delicious though! Thank you for the recipe!
Deb C says
I love pistachios! Can't wait to try this cake!
Kimberley Pettyjohn says
I've never heard or seen anything like it but it looks so good & is colorful too!
Sherry Fram says
Oh my, that sounds delicious! Will be trying this over the holidays!! Thanks for the post!
Michelle Elizondo says
I love nutty cakes.
Paige says
My S.O loves pistachios so I might be making this soon!!!
Sarh S says
Oh my goodness!! My mom's birthday is coming up in January and she absolutely LOVES Pistachio! I will definitely be bookmarking this for her b-day cake.
Sarita m says
I've never had pistachio cake but I LOVE pistachios and I very well to attempt to make this!
Jennifer Bellotti says
Looks good!
Courtney W says
I might have to try this- pistachio salad is one of my favorites, so this could be a good alternative as well!
Jennifer babich says
What a beautiful cake! The green frosting is striking and love the chocolate chips
Kristy Hurt says
I love pistachios but I've never tried them in a cake. Interesting.
Jennifer Lincoln says
I never try pistachios in my life. It's something I would give a try one day. I'll copied the recipe and give it a try one day. Hope I like it. Thank u for something new to try.
Deana Mooney says
That's a very festive cake for the holidays. I'm always looking for something new.
Heather Eavers says
This looks easy and tasty. Thanks for the recipe
Dandi D says
My family's favorite cake when I was growing up had pistachio pudding frosting on top, so this looks really yummy to me!
LeAnn says
This cake looks amazing!
Deborah D says
This looks so yummy . I think I will make thisv for Christmas.
Gloria Walshver says
Always liked pistacchio ice cream never imagined they had pistacchio cake how weird is that.
Natalie says
I have never tried pistachio cake before but I am curious now!
Linda Manns Linneman says
This sounds so great. It looks yummy. I can't wait to make this family for my family. Thank you so much for sharing this great recipe
Kami J says
I am making a bundt cake for Christmas and I haven't decided what kind and this is now added to the list. I love pistachio anything!
Claiborne Snyder says
I have a similar recipe we all love, but it doesn't have FROSTING! May have to steal this. We also sometimes use mini loaf or bundt pans for gifts. It looks pretty w cranberry bread (red/green).
Elisa says
I had never heard of pistachio cake! It looks delicious.
Megan Hall says
I remember having a cheesecake like this years ago and it was so yummy. I would love to try to make this! Thank you for sharing!
April Monty says
I'm Italian and we make a cake similar to this for special occasions
Stephanie F says
Oh my hubby likes pistacio... gotta give this a try! Thanks for sharing!
Ashley Chassereau Parks says
I don't think I've ever tried anything like this, so its going on my must try list! My hubby loves pistachios, so I think he might like this too!
Jennifer babich says
The green frosting is a great touch!
Ani W says
I've never even heard of a pistachio cake but it looks great! I'll have to try it!
Trisha pool says
Pistachio is my boyfriends favorite. I will be making it!!
DENISE LOW says
Thank you for sharing. This looks delicious.
Jessica Lodge says
I've never had or heard of pistachio cake. I love the ice cream so I bet this is delicious.
francheska churchill says
can i replace the pistachio lol
Sue E says
I've had pistachio ice cream before, but not pistachio cake. Well, there is a first time for everything!
I pinned this recipe so I can make this delicious sounding cake myself - yum!
Nicole Heppner says
Pistachios are delicious! Great recipe!
Michelle Elizondo says
So good.
Sue E says
I have already pinned and commented on this fantastic recipe. Very yummy!
Cynthia R says
I love the bright green icing. I have never attempted to try and include pistachio in a baking recipe. I always felt intimidated by it but I might try this one!
Edye says
This looks amazing! Love the color frosting 🙂
Coryrie Gentry says
Pistachio is my Mother's favorite cake. She passed away last year and i am glad i came across this post because now i think i will start a christmas tradition in her honor and have pistachio cake every christmas time. Thank you so much for this post!
rhonda miotke says
I received my moms hand me down bundt pan and never made anything in it, so now is the time, this looks yummy.
Jerry Marquardt says
Because the The Best Pistachio Cake Recipe looks as delicious as it does, I can't wait to try this special recipe out. I only hope I will be able do as good as you did in the heartwarming photos.
Ashley Chassereau Parks says
I told my hubby about this recipe and he wants to try something like this for when his family comes to visit for Christmas!
Linda Manns Linneman says
This recipe is so good. My family loved it. Also pretty easy to make. Thank you so much for sharing
Brigid OHara Koshko says
This looks delicious! I have never served pistachios in my house os this would be a real treat. I am going to add this recipe to my Christmas menu and surprise my family.
Kimberly Flickinger says
This looks and sounds delicious. My family loves pistachios .Definitely going to make this for them. Thank you for sharing.
Linda Szymoniak says
Oh, this looks delicious! I'm a sucker for pistachios and am always looking for delicious recipes that use them.
Lisa Garland says
I have never had a pistachio cake. I do love pistachios!! Would definitely love to try one!
ellen beck says
This looks really good.. We both love pistachios, but hubby cant have them much anymore since he had teeth removed for cancer treatments. I think he would really like this. He could have his pistachios again!
Julie says
This looks delicious. I love the pretty green color of it!
Lisa Weeks says
Holy cow this looks amazeballs! This is getting baked here tomorrow!
Rosie says
We love everything pistachio - oh wow, what a cake! And I love it uses pudding and shhh a mix! I want to try it!
Mia says
This looks so wonderful. My mom had several desserts that she made using pistachio pudding but never a cake like this. Looks yummy and rich.
Sapana V says
This pistachio cake looks delicious. I would love to give it a try. Thanks for the recipe.
gloria patterson says
I can remember a cake my aunt would make ever time I would come to visit her. It was a prune cake so moist so rich I can still taste it in my mind. I had never heard of pistachio cake before and my sister was telling me about some pistachio muffins she bought. I am hooked on pistachio so I will be trying this cake
Sandra Watts says
I have never made or had pistachio cake. Looks so good. My family would probably enjoy it. I should give it a try.
Hannah C says
This looks really good!
Kimberly Flickinger says
This cake looks and sounds delicious, will definitely try it.
Mary Dailey says
This looks so awesome! I am definitely going to have to try this!
G K says
I've never had pistachio cake before, but anything with chocolate has to be good.
Karen D says
Looks so yummy! Going to make this!
Lauryn R says
Wow, this cake sounds amazing! I love pistachios but the only thing sweet that I've had is pistachio ice cream. I will definitely be making this asap, thanks for sharing the recipe! 🙂
Christina A. says
That looks so amazing! I *LOVE* pistachio desserts!
Amy D says
I have never had pistachio cake, and this looks amazing. I will need to make this for my mom who loves pistachio ice cream.