Easy Pistachio Cake

Read 27 Reviews
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 40 minutes
Servings 12

This Pistachio Cake recipe is a super easy dessert made with just a few simple ingredients! Baked in a bundt pan or casserole dish, the end result is so moist and tender. It’s always a hit for a Sunday brunch or casual gathering with friends and family.

sliced Pistachio Cake on serving plate

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5 STAR REVIEW

It’s not easy being green – unless you’re this Pistachio Cake, and then it really is! This cake is wonderful anytime of year, but especially fun if you’re celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day.

This easy cake recipe starts with a box cake mix and then gets doctored up with other goodies. You can’t even tell this cake uses a box mix, but if you have a favorite from-scratch white cake mix recipe, by all means, use it!

5 from 27

Easy Pistachio Cake

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 12
This Pistachio Cake recipe is a super easy dessert made with just a few pantry items. The end result is moist, tender, and light like a cloud!

Ingredients 

  • 15.25 ounce box white cake mix
  • 3.4 ounce box pistachio instant pudding, (just the powder)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup 7up soda
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pistachios
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, , for dusting

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 10 or 12-inch fluted bundt pan. (See note below if you don't have a bundt pan.)
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the cake mix, instant pudding powder, eggs, 7up soda, vegetable oil, and almond extract; beat with an electric mixer or whisk vigorously for 2 minutes, until combined. Fold in the pistachios.
  • Pour evenly into the prepared pan.
  • Bake for approximately 40 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes, then run a dull knife along the edges to loosen. Then allow to cool completely.
  • Turn cake out onto a wire rack or plate; dust with powdered sugar.
  • Slice and serve!

Video

Notes

Using sugar-free ingredients. The cake does turn out using sugar free soda and pudding powder, if needed.
Replace the 7up. The carbonation make this cake so light and fluffy! But it can be replaced with club soda, milk, or water.
Use a different pudding and/or nut. This is a pistachio cake, but you can replace the instant pudding with a different flavor and swap out the chopped pistachios with walnuts or almonds.
Add in some coconut flakes. A cup of sweetened coconut flakes can be added to the batter for another delicious layer of flavor (do it!)
Frost it. Instead of dusting the cooled caked with powdered sugar, coat it with frosting, or drizzle with icing or chocolate ganache. Yum!
Don’t own a bundt pan? A fluted bundt pan makes this cake so pretty. But if you don’t have one, no worries. This cake can also be made in a greased 9×13 baking dish with the cooking time between 25-30 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 395mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 115IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

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Proper Storage

This cake will last about 1-2 days at normal room temperature. Anything longer, it will need to be refrigerated (for up to 5 days.) Either way, be sure to cover it with foil or plastic wrap so it doesn’t dry out. You an also freeze it for up to 2 months.

More Light and Fluffy Cake Recipes:

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTokInstagramFacebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!

a slice of Pistachio Cake on plate with fork

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About Amy Flanigan

Well, hey there! Amy here, founder and COO at BellyFull. If you’re looking for tried and true, fuss-free, budget-friendly, delicious, every day recipes, you’ve come to the right place.

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56 Comments

  1. Silvia says:

    5 stars
    I love this recipe! I always get compliments on it. I was wondering if you think using box mix funfetti would mess it up?

  2. Debbie Skinner says:

    Hi Amy, I am going to make this cake. My mom used to make it many years ago and everyone loved it. She and my dad and all my elder relatives were wonderful cooks. I know she is sending blessings from Heaven. Debbie

  3. FuntasticOne says:

    5 stars
    This is my go to cake. Mixes up fast. Taste delicious, and it is a light cake with just enough sweetness. Family and friends love this cake. I also use sugar free ginger ale. Enjoy

  4. Lourdes says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was a hit for this past St. Patty’s day. Moist and yummy. Thanks!

  5. Monica says:

    Hello: Do you use salted and roasted pistachios or nonsalted?

    1. Amy@BellyFull says:

      I typically used roasted unsalted

  6. Erica says:

    Please explain why 7-up can milk or water be used instead of 7-up

    1. Amy@BellyFull says:

      Hi Erica – I explain this in the recipe card, thanks!

  7. Joan says:

    5 stars
    I would use a spray oil to grease the pan instead of butter, it would get into the grooves better. My cake had a piece that stuck in the pan. The cake is easy & delicious.

  8. Nancy Rice says:

    5 stars
    Made this for my son’s birthday as he loves pistachios. It was a big hit with everyone including myself. Would definitely make it again many times. Delicious

  9. Pinky says:

    5 stars
    A big hit!

  10. Crystal says:

    5 stars
    My family loves this cake. Thank you for a fantastic recipe!

  11. Linda Gaukel says:

    5 stars
    This cake was delicious! Light in texture, will definitely make again

  12. Debbie says:

    5 stars
    This was SO delicious!! I actually used sugar free ginger ale instead of 7Up just because that’s what I had, and it was still to die for. When measuring the almond extract I accidentally over poured… probably used more like 3/4-1 teaspoon-ish but I think I’ll do that every time. It tasted so good! We put some whipped cream on top and devoured it. We loved this cake so much! Thank you for such an easy, tasty recipe!

  13. Cathy says:

    5 stars
    Easy, moist, light, and delicious! Pistachio pudding is hard to find at my stores sometimes, so when I spotted it I grabbed a bunch so I could make this cake again and again.

  14. Jenny says:

    Could I make cupcakes instead? Wondering how it would turn out

  15. Julie says:

    Can I use a sugar free cake mix and sugar free instant pudding?

    1. Lori says:

      5 stars
      I do. It turns out great!

  16. ZH says:

    Excited to try out this recipe. Will a 12 cup bundt pan work for this cake?

  17. Pat says:

    Can you use regular pudding instead of instant

    1. Amy @Belly Full says:

      Since it’s only the powder being used, it should be fine, but note that we have not actually tested it with the cook-and-serve pudding mix.

  18. Phyllis says:

    5 stars
    absolutely love it so easy to make ty ty ty

  19. Jolene says:

    5 stars
    I will use this recipe from now on! Adding the pinch of almond extract pumped up the flavor. I frosted it rather than powdered sugar just to give it some soft texture. It’s a fabulous recipe, thank you!!

  20. Mary R says:

    5 stars
    Love this recipe and have made it many times. Quick ? If I were to miniaturize it – and make mini Bundt cakes, would it be the same time or half the time to bake?

    1. Amy @Belly Full says:

      Hi Mary! This recipe has only been tested as written, so I couldn’t say for sure. I would just test them at the halfway mark and keep testing every 5 minutes, if needed, until a toothpick comes out clean.

  21. Linda Soucy says:

    5 stars
    Had a recipe from Mr. Food yrs ago but always thought it was a bit dry. Going to try your recipe…BUT…add his out of this world frosting: Beat 1 cup heavy cream with 1 cup of milk and a box of pistachio pudding mix till thickened. Sprinkle w/coconut if desired. Lovely for Easter!

    1. Cindy Worth says:

      5 stars
      What size box of pistachio pudding mix should I use? I can’t wait to make this!

  22. Bronco Grisham says:

    5 stars
    First time making this recipe and it was absolutely delightful. So light and fluffy. Definitely making this again. Haven’t decided if I should use icing or powdered sugar on top.

  23. J. Hali Steele says:

    5 stars
    Made this and loved it! Light, not too sweet and just darn delicious!

  24. Donna says:

    can I substitute applesauce for the oil in the recipe??

    1. Amy @Belly Full says:

      Hi Donna – this recipe hasn’t been tested with that substitution, so we can’t vouch for the results.

  25. Kim toombs says:

    Can you use yellow cake mix?

    1. Amy @Belly Full says:

      The cake, in terms of texture and method, will still come out using yellow cake mix, but it will taste a little different and the bright green color will be more muddy. I would recommend waiting to get your hands on some white cake mix for optimal results.

  26. Ann says:

    Would diet 7 Up work in this recipe.

    1. Amy @Belly Full says:

      Yes, absolutely!

  27. Summer says:

    5 stars
    This looks amazing! I want to make it for New Years! Would salted pistachios work, or should I use unsalted?

    1. Amy @Belly Full says:

      Hi Sumer – either are fine. Roasted and lightly salted is what I use.

  28. Angela says:

    5 stars
    So yummy and easy.

  29. Cathy says:

    Been making Pistachio cake for 40 years and my mother in law years before that. Always a family and friend favorite.

  30. Anel says:

    5 stars
    During quarantine I discovered a love for baking! I am planing it to turn this new found hobby into a small home business. I started with box cake recipe for trial and error but really wanted to do everything from scratch. So I chose this recpie for my first from scratch cake. This turned out delicious! Literally did everything as the recpie said even the white mix cake recipe which was a total game changer and I am damn proud I was able to pull it off. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. This beautiful cake is definitely going on my menu. GOD BLESS !

  31. Serena says:

    Is this cake too soft and fluffy to make a layered cake? With ganache on top.

    1. Amy @Belly Full says:

      Hi Serena – Hm. That’s a great question. This cake is definitely light and fluffy, so yes and no. If you use a very fluffy frosting in between the cake layers that spreads easily, you should be fine. But if the frosting is dense, then no, it will rip the cake apart. I love your idea, though – would be delicious!

      1. Laura says:

        5 stars
        Did a trial run of this cake for Easter. Loved it and will definitely be making it again.

  32. Ana says:

    5 stars
    This is the most amazing pistachio cake I have ever had in my life!!! Addicting!!!!

  33. Beth says:

    5 stars
    Excellent. I used Sprite soda because that’s what I had.

  34. Chris says:

    Grew up having this cake, my Grandma on my mother’s side made it in the summer. She also made icing using Dream Whip with pistachio pudding mix added. Trust me, It’s so delicious and creamy. It adds a light cream on top of this lightly sweet cake.
    I haven’t had it with coconut, definitely trying that!

  35. Sandra says:

    5 stars
    Made this cake to share Easter dessert with my neighbors. The cake was moist and tasty. The smiles on my neighbor’s faces was all I needed to know I had brightened their day!

  36. J Reyna says:

    5 stars
    So easy to make and quick delicious cake

  37. Ann says:

    5 stars
    This super duper easy dessert is absolutely fab! I believe it’s sooo moist and tender! I’m saving this for later. I’ll probably make the cake for my grandma who’s coming to visit us so soon. Thank u so much for sharing!

  38. S Hall says:

    Could you use ginger ale in place of 7 up?

    1. Amy @Belly Full says:

      The carbonation in the ginger ale will still make it light and fluffy, but I personally wouldn’t recommended the taste it will lend in combination with the other flavors. But you can certainly try it!

    2. Annette Harrison says:

      Can this cake be made into cupcakes or mini cupcakes

      1. Amy @Belly Full says:

        I can’t see why not, although I haven’t personally tried it. I think the general rule for most cake to cupcakes conversion is 24 cupcakes for a 9×13 cake and bake for 40-50% of the time. So if you want to try cupcakes with this recipe, I would say fill liners with the batter 3/4 full and bake for 20 minutes (but use a tester at 15 minutes.) Let me know if you try it!

  39. Leah says:

    This cake looks delicious, but pistachio pudding is not available here, what can I use in place of it?

    1. Kim says:

      I’ve seen the Pistachio pudding (Jello brand and Royal brand) at Big Lots, 99 Cent store, Walmart, Ralph’s, Albertson’s, and Stater Bros. You can always find it on Walmart.com.
      Good luck!

    2. JoAnne Woolever says:

      You can order it from Amazon!