This pistachio bread is soft, moist and simple with yellow cake mix, pistachio pudding mix and a nutty glaze. We love this pistachio quick bread for a sweet breakfast or dessert!
Pistachio Quick Bread Recipe
Just like my cake mix banana bread, this pistachio bread is one of the easiest quick bread recipes that guarantees smiles.
Whether it’s a lazy Sunday morning, a Christmas treat or a family get-together for St. Patrick’s Day, this pistachio quick bread has become our go-to treat. And the best part? It’s so easy to make.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Effortless: It combines the ease of a cake mix with the flavor of pistachios. The festive green color is so fun like my pistachio cookies and pistachio dessert.
- Holiday favorite. Serve with pistachio and chocolate leprechaun cookies for St. Patrick’s Day or at the holidays with watergate salad! My kids call it ‘Grinch bread’!
Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Yellow cake mix: This is the base of the pistachio bread and provides structure and sweetness. It’s a versatile ingredient that pairs well with the pistachio flavor.
- Instant pistachio pudding mix: This is key for giving pistachio flavor and color to the bread. It also adds moisture, ensuring a soft texture.
- Wet ingredients: Use melted butter to add richness or use vegetable oil for a lighter texture. You’ll also need water and eggs.
- Sour cream: Plain yogurt is a good substitute if sour cream is unavailable.
- Powdered sugar glaze (optional): Powdered sugar, heavy cream or milk, salted butter, vanilla extract, and some chopped pistachios for sprinkling on top. For an almond glaze, use almond extract.
- Cinnamon sugar: Adds a sweet and spicy crust to the bread. If you don’t have pre-mixed cinnamon sugar, it’s easy to make your own by mixing 1 tablespoon of sugar with 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. You can also omit this if you’d like.
How to Make Pistachio Bread
Preheat your oven, grease a loaf pan, and sprinkle the bottom with cinnamon sugar if desired. This adds a delightful sugary crust to the bread.
Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl until combined, being careful not to overmix to ensure light and fluffy bread.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If it starts to brown on tops, tent with aluminum foil.
Allow pistachio bread recipe to cool completely. For the glaze, whisk together the ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled bread and sprinkle with chopped pistachios.
Tips and Variations
- Green food coloring. For a more vibrant green, add a few drops of green food coloring.
- Decorative toppings: In addition to chopped pistachios, top glazed bread with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, festive Christmas sprinkles or mini chocolate chips.
- Make muffins or mini loaves: If you’re baking for a special occasion, try making muffin versions or mini loaves of this pistachio bread. Perfect for sharing and gifts!
- Vegetable oil: A great alternative to butter for a lighter bread texture.
- Cranberries: Make it festive by adding dried cranberries. A great addition to your favorite Christmas recipes!
- Mix ins: Mix chocolate chips in for a chocolatey twist or crushed pistachios for crunchy texture.
Storage
- Store: Keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, keep it in the fridge for up to a week.
- Freeze: The bread also freezes beautifully – wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and drizzle with the glaze just before serving
More quick bread recipes include cranberry banana bread, pumpkin chocolate chip bread and banana nut bread!
More Quick Bread Recipes
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Pistachio Bread Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Pistachio Bread
- 15 ounce box of yellow cake mix
- 3.4 ounce box instant pistachio pudding mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup melted butter , or vegetable oil
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon sugar , (optional) see notes
- green food coloring , optional
Glaze (optional):
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 Tablespoons heavy cream or milk , more as needed
- 1 Tablespoon salted butter , melted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla or almond extract , more to taste
- ½ cup chopped pistachios
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan (or 2 8×4 pans for smaller loaves). Sprinkle the bottom with cinnamon sugar if desired and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix (dry), 3 eggs, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup melted butter or oil and 1/4 cup sour cream. If you want it a brighter green, add in a few drops of food coloring.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Baking times may vary, so start checking for doneness around 40 minutes and adjust accordingly. If it's browning too fast, place a piece of foil over the top.
- Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove it from the pan and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the glaze, whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar, 2-3 Tablespoons heavy cream, 1 Tablespoon butter and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a small bowl. Add more milk if needed to thin.
- Once bread has cooled, drizzle the glaze over top. Then sprinkle pistachios over top. Slice it into 12 servings and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Bread, Breakfast, Christmas, Desserts, Easter, Freezer-Friendly, Kid-Friendly, Quick Bread, Reader Favorites, Snacks, Sweet Breakfast
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I have had this recipe saved for a while and finally made it today. It was delicious and beautiful! I’m not usually a fan of using a cake mix as a shortcut, but I don’t think most people would know. I would definitely make it again.
This is SO tasty and easy to make! I loved it!
I made 10 batches of this bread in different size bread pans to give to neighbors, friends and family for St Patrick’s day. All of it turned out perfectly, thank goodness! The glaze on top of the bread with the pistachios was delectable. Yum! All who received a loaf loved the bread. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
This is one of our favorite breads to make!! Love that pistachio flavor & the crunch from the nuts! It’s always a crowd-favorite!
This is so yummy! I love pistachio flavor and the green is so festive, especially for March. Going to be making this again soon.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe Andie!
Very good! Love the icing on top. A little lighter/fluffier than most bread recipes (more cake-like as one would expect when using cake mix).