This next recipe is one my mom tried out long ago. It’s one we’ve made different variations of since I was little. The reason we keep making it is because it’s easy and so delicious (plus, it’s the hubby’s FAV)! With him being such a huge pistachio and Shortbread Cookies fan, he was bound to love this recipe. And who can blame? With a shortbread cookie crust, cream cheese layer, pistachio pudding layer, and a topping of whipped cream, this pistachio cake is absolutely AMAZING!! It’s a cool treat so it’s great for summer, but we love to enjoy this recipe all year long! We’ve shared other similar recipes like this Lemon Lasagna and White Chocolate lasagna, so if you love today’s recipe you’ll also love these ones.
You can crush the Sandies as much as you want. I like mine with a few chunks, but if you want it very fine, throw them in the food processor. 😉
MY OTHER RECIPES
My mom used the mini Baking M&Ms for for the top but you can use sprinkles, crumbs or anything else you like. 🙂
We really hope you enjoy this pistachio pudding cake. It’s been one of our go-to recipes in our home and we think you’ll love it just as much as we did.
For more layered desserts, check out:
Pistachio Cake VIDEO:
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- 1 13 oz pkg shortbread cookies
- 3 TB butter, melted
- 2 boxes (3.4 oz) instant pistachio pudding
- 2¾ cup whole milk
- 1 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 small cartons cool whip, divided
- M&M's
- Smash shortbread cookies in a ziploc bag, till fine. Put crumbs in melted butter and press into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes in the oven until golden. Let cool.
- Smooth together cream cheese, sugar and 2 cups of your cool whip. Pour an even layer over crushed cookie crust.
- Mix the milk and pudding mix together till it thick. Pour over the cream cheese layer.
- Spread your remaining cool whip over the top and refrigerate.
Adapted from HERE.Â
Mique
I love love love love pistachios and shortbread. This sounds DREAMY. Can’t wait to make it!! Lorin’s got great taste!
Lil' Luna
LOL. He likes to think so too. 😉 Thx for stopping by, Miq! XO
Aaliyah Laine
Oh these look soooo good!!! The Frosted Holiday Mint M&M Brownies as well!! Def wanna try these when I visit my grandma’s again cause she’s the one with the oven lol. thanks for sharing your recipes!!
Lil' Luna
You’re welcome!! Let me know if you give them a try. 🙂 Merry Christmas!!
jen @ Tatertots & Jello
That looks so good. I’m excited to try it!!
xoxo
Lil' Luna
Thanks, Jen!! If you love pistachio and shortbread you’ll definitely LOVE this recipe. 🙂
[email protected]
This looks delicious! So festive too! Perfect for Christmas!
Lil' Luna
Totally agree – yummy and festive = perfect for Christmas!! 😀
Crystal
Yummy!! I love pistachios. Thanks for the great recipe!!
Lil' Luna
You’re welcome, Crystal!! We love pistachios too. 🙂
Ruth
Tried to make this but I was wondering if the measurements are right for the shortbread crust. Followed exactly what it called for, but the crust did not bake together and I was left with crumbs. When I tried to smooth on the cream cheese layer, the crumbs ended up completely mixed in with this layer. I’m sure it will still be yummy, but it definitely doesn’t have a nice crust.
Tiffany
The exact same thing happened to me… Totally bummed it didn’t work and now I have to come up with a back up dessert pronto!
gomoco
Do you think the recipe will work if I use skim milk?
Lil' Luna
Skim milk will work, but that pudding layer will look less creamy.
theresa
make one like this with red jello
Chisa Jarvis
I’m excited to try this. I found you from the Crazy for Christmas Pinterest Party! Looks fabulous!
Lil' Luna
Hope you like it. It’s a favorite of ours. 😉
Patricia
I always wanted to have a kitchen aid mixer but couldn’t afford one.I would love to see how good it works
Brooke
What kind of short bread cookies is everyone using? I don’t know what to buy. Please don’t reply any brand will do please give me some examples. Thanks
Natasha
Keebler sandies simply shortbread cookies & I used 6TBS of melted butter & baked my crust for 15 minutes comes out great!
Lil' Luna
We also use the Keebler Sandies. 😉
Jackie
TOTAL FAIL. 2 3/4 cups of milk for the pudding????? I’m now stuck with half a recipe that’s turned to crap because the pudding is SOUP. You don’t do 2 cups of milk for the regular pudding. So much for following a blog recipe. Have you ever even made this before? or just mistype your Mother-in-laws recipe?
Thanks but no thanks.
Lil' Luna
I’m sorry, but you are wrong. ONE box of pudding calls for 2 cups of milk. This recipe calls for 2 boxes of pudding, so 2 3/4 cup of milk is LESS than what the pudding would usually call for. You mix the milk and pudding until it thickens up, which takes a few minutes, and then pour it over the cream cheese layer. You must not have followed the direction properly.
Jackie
I want to apologize in public. It was my fault. I most definitely did read it wrong. Since I live 25 minutes from a grocery store, running and grabbing another box isn’t an option, so I folded in some extra whipped cream. It still turned out yummy. I apologize for my rant, I don’t mind admitting when I’m most definitely in the wrong. 😀 If you want to delete my comment please do so, but if only for you. I made myself look like an idiot and what happens on the internet, stays on the internet. 😉 Good luck to you! It was a yummy dessert after all!
Dawn
Do you use store bought Shortbread cookies? Like Keebler? Or shortbread cookie dough?
Lil' Luna
Yes, we use Keebler Shortbread cookies. 🙂
Nancy
looks yummy. If I want to serve this Christmas Eve, how far in advance can I make this.
Lil' Luna
Personally, I never make a recipe more than 24 hours in advance just so it’s fresh. Also, I would definitely wait to add sprinkles or candies on top until right before serving so they don’t discolor the cool whip on top. 😉
KAte
So I learned my lesson. Print the recipe out before you make it. I was so excited to make it because my mom use to make it and I would devour it. So I ran to the store and grabbed the ingredients, what I thought were the ingredients. I was looking at my phone. When I got home and started to make it I discovered I needed 2 pudding boxes and my whipped cream topping was frozen. It was too late to go back so I had to wait to the next day. Then I realized I forgot to put in the powdered sugar. Then when I wwnt to go make the second box of pudding I added the 2 cups of milk and it turned to soup. I also needed more whipped topping than a whole tub for the top. It turned out fine but I’m going to make it again sometime in a smaller dish. Ill be keeping this and your other recipes. Glad I found this on Pinterest!
Lil' Luna
So sorry you had some problems with this! Glad it still tasted yummy. 🙂
coleen
Making today yum
Brindy Adams
I’m excited to make these! My hubby went and got the ingredients for me, but couldn’t find a 13oz package keebler Sandie’s cookies, the package is 11.2 oz. He bought two packages… Should I use some from the other package to equal 13 oz? I just don’t want the crust to not turn out. Thanks!
Lil' Luna
I would definitely use some from the other package, but it’s up to you how much. If you want more of a crust I would add half of the other package and then add 1-2 more TB of butter. 😉
Cheryl
could skim milk be used? I never buy whole milk. Making this for Xmas eve. Thanks!
Lil' Luna
Skim milk can be used but it won’t look as creamy. 😉
KIM SHARP
These receipes look so yummy and easy, cant wait to try them.
Cari Zobrist
We make this recipe all the time but our crust is different instead of cookies we use flour butter and chopped nuts. It’s my favorite dessert!!!!
Kelli
We make our own shortbread for the crust for this type of dessert too. We also make several different flavor variations using the same method.
Pat Henry
Can I use real whipped cream instead of cool whip?
mary
The second layer of cool whip is just plain cool whip?
Lise Harding
if you dont have shortbread cookies is it ok to use graham crackers instead?
Lil' Luna
Of course!! You could do your favorite crust 🙂 Hope that helps! Thank you!