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Easy and delicious Pistachio Bread is especially sweet. The best part is it’s glazed and involves no yeast!!
Although it’s an uncommon flavor, we love pistachio around here! If you do too, try Pistachio Salad and our layered Pistachio Dessert.
Pistachio Quick Bread
My husband loves Pistachios! His favorite pudding is pistachio. His favorite nuts are pistachios. If it has Pistachios, he LOVES it!!
Today’s bread recipe also includes pistachios—both a sweet pistachio flavor for the base, as well as crushed up pistachios on top.
We really can’t call this a bread since it’s more like a cake (a cake mix is used as a shortcut for this recipe). But for kicks and giggles, let’s call it bread since it’s made in a bread pan. 😉
Because of the green color of the bread, we actually like to serve this for St. Patrick’s Day, but trust me, it’s perfect for any holiday or time of year!
We have a feeling you will love this delicious sweet, quick bread.
how to make Pistachio Bread
MIX. In a large bowl, whisk cake mix, pistachio pudding mix, eggs, oil, water, and sour cream together until well combined. Set aside.
BAKE. Grease 2 regular size loaf pans and sprinkle some cinnamon sugar (I use 2 TB sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon) on the inside. Pour half the batter into each pan. Bake in the oven at 350 for 45 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
GLAZE. Combine 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 TB melted butter, 1 tsp. almond extract, and 1 tsp. vanilla to make a glaze. Add a few tablespoons of milk, until it’s the consistency that you like.
ENJOY! Drizzle glaze over bread and sprinkle with chopped pistachios. Serve and enjoy!
RECIPE TIPS
Of course we love this bread any day of the year, but it is especially fun to serve for Christmas or St. Patrick’s Day! Here are a few tips to make it extra special:
- Add a few drops of green food coloring to the batter to make the bread even more green. Even the Grinch himself would approve!
- Add some crushed up pistachios to the batter if you’d like for some extra crunch.
- Loaves of this bread would make perfect gifts for friends and neighbors! Simply bake them in disposable foil pans, cover with plastic wrap when cooled and finish off with a festive bow.
- Make mini-loaves of bread make sure to fill your pans no more than ½ way full and check on them every 5 min after 25 min of cooking. Insert a toothpick into the bread and if it comes out clean you are good to go.
FAQ
Can this bread be made ahead of time? Yes. This bread can be made ahead and stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How to store? To store, make sure to cool the loaf first, then wrap tightly with plastic wrap and cover with some aluminum foil or pop the wrapped bread into a Ziploc freezer bag.
How to freeze? To freeze, wait to add the glaze to the top of the bread after it has defrosted.
For more Quick bread recipes, check out:
- Snickerdoodle Bread
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Glazed Lemon Zucchini Bread
- Blueberry Bread
- Banana Bread
- Almond Poppy Seed Bread
Pistachio Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow cake mix
- 2 (3.4-ounce) boxes instant pistachio pudding mix
- 4 eggs
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ⅛ cup water
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tablspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½-1 cup chopped pistachios
Glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, mix the dry cake mix, dry pudding mix, eggs, oil, water, and sour cream until well combined. Set aside.
- In a small bowl mix the sugar and cinnamon. Grease 2 regular-size loaf pans and sprinkle the suagr mixture evenly on the bottom and sides of the pans.
- Pour half the batter into each pan. Bake for 45 minutes. Let cool.
- Combine powdered sugar, melted butter, almond extract, and vanilla. Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it's the consistency that you like.
- Drizzle glaze over bread and sprinkle with chopped pistachios. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe adapted from HERE.
If looking to do this in a lemon flavor instead, would you still recommend the sugar and cinnamon on the bottom ? Or just sugar ? Looking to use lemon cake mix and pudding and lemon juice instead of water . ( And lemon extract instead of almond for glaze). Any thoughts or suggestions? Any other flavor substitutions suggestions?
I made this on Saturday for my sister’s birthday party and they LOVE it! I honestly can not say how it tasted because it was all gone before I had a chance to get a slice😫🤷🏾♀️ They asked when do I plan on making another one. I will make this again soon. Thank you so much for the recipe.
Have you ever made this in a Bundt pan instead of 2 loaf pans? If so, any idea how long to bake it? Looking forward to trying it next week for St. Patrick’s Day. Thanks!
Yes, you can absolutely do it in a bundt pan. I would probably start checking for doneness around 40 minutes. When a toothpick comes out clean or with a few crumbs, you know it’s done.
I tried this recipe using a Bundt pan, as Michelle had suggested. I baked it about 45 minutes, after checking with a toothpick every minute after 40 minutes. At 45 minutes, the toothpick came out clean. I guess it just depends on your oven. I put the pistachios at the bottom of the pan so that they would be on top when you flipped it over. It looked beautiful when it came out. Then I just poured the glaze all over the top of the cake while it was still hot. It looked wonderful and it was so delicious! Thanks for the excellent recipe!!
Thanks for sharing how you made the recipe!! Sounds like it looked and tasted delicious! Thanks for giving it a try.
LOVERLY WAY TO USE PISTACHIO AND BREAD
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!
I have used this recipe now for 2 years and everyone I have made it for loves it and cherish it! It so rewarding when people ask you to make it and are happy! Thank you for a great recipe!!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that this recipe has become a staple!
Hi! Has anyone ever omitted the sour cream? I forgot to buy it 🫨
I wouldn’t recommend omitting. The sour cream adds moisture and fat to the recipe so it will change the texture and the moistness of the cake if you leave it out. If you have plain greek yogurt, that would work great too!
What is the measurements of a regular bread pan? I’ve never made any type of bread! Thank you!
9×5 and 8½x4½ inches are your typical bread pan sizes. Either size will work for this recipe.
Could this be made with sugar free pudding mix and Splenda (instead of regular pudding & sugar)?
I’m sure it could! I haven’t tried those substitutions but I imagine they would work. You’ll have to let us know how they turn out if you do.
Absolutely Delicious! I had to use a Pineapple Supreme cake mix because that is all I had!
Icing was also perfect for the 2 loafs! Very moist bread and I will make over and over!
Simple and delicious! My kids loved it.