This Pistachio Dessert is one of those tried and true, go-to potluck desserts because it's out of this world delicious, easy and you can make it ahead. It's a simple and delicious green dessert layered with whipped cream, cream cheese, pistachio pudding on a nutty shortbread crust!
This pistachio pudding dessert recipe is great anytime of the year for potlucks or family gatherings, but it's also perfect dessert when you need a green dessert for a holiday like St. Patrick's day!
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I have a love-hate relationship with potlucks. I love the social part of course, sampling new and interesting dishes, not having to cook that day and deciding on what I'm going to bring. Yet I hate deciding on what I'm going to bring. It's hard, so I often just fall back on the tried and true - this pistachio pudding recipe!
🥘 Ingredients
This layered dessert is naturally green, so you don't need to add food coloring. For this pistachio dessert recipe you'll need:
- instant pistachio pudding mix
- butter * I use unsalted
- ground pecans * you can use ground almonds as a substitute
- flour
- icing sugar - also known as 'powdered sugar' or 'confectioners sugar'
- vanilla
- cream cheese
- white chocolate *Baker's white chocolate baking squares, NOT white chocolate chips
- whipping cream * you can substitute whipped topping, but this will make it sweeter
- milk
👪Serving size
This layered pistachio dessert recipe serves 18, but you can cut it in half (use a smaller pan) or double it (you'll need 2 pans). Simply click on the blue serving size in the recipe card, choose the number of servings you'd like, and the recipe amounts will adjust accordingly.
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Topping: You can change it up! (use shaved toasted almonds, finely chopped pistachio nuts, another chopped nut or chocolate shavings) and bring it to any potluck any time of year!
- Make it gluten-free: use gluten-free flour!
- White Chocolate: I add white chocolate because it gives it a really nice flavor that melds perfectly with pistachio. However, you can skip it if you don't have any or prefer not to use it.
- Whipped Cream - you can substitute a layer of Cool Whip
🍽Equipment
You'll need a hand mixer and a 9X13 baking dish for this pistachio pudding dessert, as well as a food processor (affiliate links). I like to use a glass baking dish with a lid. (affiliate link). The glass allows you to see the layers, which looks appealing and you can throw the lid on for storing in the fridge or transport!
🌡️Storage
If you don't have a dish with a lid, cover in plastic wrap and store this green dessert for up to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.
🍀St. Patrick's Day Green Desserts
If this has ever happened to you, where it's the 11th hour and you're still not sure what you're bringing to the potluck, not to worry; I've got your six! If you are looking for St. Patrick's day green food, here is a beautiful and tasty creamy dessert, just in time for your potluck or dinner party. This retro potluck dish was a pretty popular one back 'in the day' - about 15 -20 years ago. I haven't seen it around for a while so I decided to resurrect it, with a few changes.
Looking for more St. Patrick's Day Dessert Recipes? Give my Shamrock Irish Cream Dessert Shots a try! They can be made with or without alcohol:
If you're looking for additional easy green desserts try my Watergate salad !
⭐ Reviews
Here's what others are saying about this Pistachio Pudding Dessert:
"I made this for my ladies' group this week and it was a huge hit! I made it gluten free by using my home-made GF flour mix for the crust. Everyone had seconds. Will definitely make this again. Might try using some GF ginger cookies for the base for some extra zing!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Happy Potlucking!
📋 Pistachio Dessert Recipe
Ingredients
Base:
- ½ cup butter * I use unsalted
- ⅓ cup ground pecans or can substitute ground almonds
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoon icing sugar *also known as 'powdered sugar' or 'confectioners sugar'
Layers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 250 g pkg cream cheese softened
- 1 & ⅔ cup icing/powdered sugar
- 3 oz melted white chocolate *Baker's white chocolate squares, NOT white chocolate chips
- 3 cups whipping cream if you really want to, you can substitute Cool whip
- 2 pkg. Pistachio Instant Pudding 4-serving size, 99 g each
- 3 cups cold milk
Garnish:
- green sparking sugar/sprinkles or toasted shaved almonds, ground pistachios or chocolate shavings
Instructions
- *Heads up: This recipe needs to be refrigerated for 3-4 hours or overnight
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 9X13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- For base: In a food processor, add ground pecans with butter, flour and 2 Tblsp icing sugar and blend until it clings together; press onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 12- 15 minutes or until lightly brown around edges; cool completely.
- In a large bowl, beat pudding mixes and milk with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to medium speed for 2 minutes. Set aside and let stand until thickened for 5 minutes.
- Beat cream cheese, vanilla and icing sugar in medium bowl with electric mixer until well blended. Spread cream cheese mixture gently over cooled crust.* If the crust cracks a little, don't worry it's not a big deal.
- Pour pudding over the cream cheese layer.
- Melt white chocolate in the microwave on ½ power for about 40 seconds or until melted. Put back in for 10 second intervals if not melted, stirring between.
- Beat whipped cream to soft peaks, then add melted white chocolate and beat to stiff peaks.
- Cover pudding layer with whipped cream by spreading gently, ensuring you keep the layers separate. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight.
Garnish
- Add sprinkles or nuts to the top of the dessert.
Notes
Nutrition
📋More Pistachio Recipes
- Pistachio Frappuccino (Starbucks Copycat) (with pistachio pudding)
- Pistachio Fluff (with pistachio pudding)
- Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti
- White Chocolate Pistachio Cake with pistachio pudding filling
Sue Slaght
Oh the dreaded pot luck! Happy to be following your Pinterest board so the pressure is off!
Food Meanderings
🙂 well, I hope that you find lots of easy and quick recipes there, Sue!
Food Meanderings
🙂 well, I hope that you find lots of easy and quick recipes there, Sue!
foodinbooks
No doubt that would go down well with a large Guinness. Thank you for sharing. Yum!
Food Meanderings
totally agree! sounds like a perfect pairing 🙂
Food Meanderings
totally agree! sounds like a perfect pairing 🙂
jo&sue.blogspot.com (@joandsue)
One of my all time favorites! Pinned and Tweeted! 🙂
Food Meanderings
Thanks! Yes, it's and oldie but a goodie 🙂
Food Meanderings
Thanks! Yes, it's and oldie but a goodie 🙂
Ayngelina (@Ayngelina)
I think potlucks are made for fun dishes, especially retro dishes as everyone loves them.
Food Meanderings
I agree!
Food Meanderings
I agree!
Pauline S.
Whip the cream cheese before doing the pudding!
Food Meanderings
Sure-whatever works for you, Pauline!
Food Meanderings
Sure-whatever works for you, Pauline!
Clara Ma
My whip cream layer flopped. I melted the white chocolate chips in microwave, it did not mix in with the whip cream at all. Thick and clumpy and parts were watery. Ended up melting more chocolate,then mixed that in with the cream cheese mixture. Went out to get more whipped cream and whipped it plain with powdered sugar and vanilla. Very disappointing!
Food Meanderings
Clara Ma: Sorry it didn't work out for you. I see you used "white chocolate chips" and those are different than the white chocolate that the recipe called for. White chocolate is tricky to begin with and if you don't melt it slow and low it tends to seize. But "white chocolate chips" don't cooperate at all when it comes to melting - they don't melt on a double boiler and seize in the microwave for some reason. That's why I only use them in things like cookies, where they don't need to melt.
In the future, if you have any other questions re: ingredients, please don't hesitate to contact me! I would like to save you the trouble of making something that doesn't turn out - I know how frustrating that can be!
Julie @ Back To My Southern Roots
Saw this on The Country Cook! This looks so fun and delicious!
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Julie! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Mother of 3
My mom used to make a dessert just like this (though I think we used walnuts in the crust instead of pecans) and I just LOVED it. I haven't had it in year though. Pinning to try!
Terri Gilson
Hi Joanne. I hope that it is just like you remember! Enjoy... 🙂
Rae
I have never seen pistachio pudding in shops in Australia
Terri Gilson
Oh that is too bad, Rae! If you can't find it online (if you click on the ingredient link for the pistachio pudding in my recipe it will lead you to amazon, where you can purchase) then alternatively, you could try vanilla pudding with some green food coloring and pistachio flavoring (if you can find the flavoring - I know you can buy that online too). Let me know how it turns out if you try that route!
Sandra
Have my cake in rig for St.Patrick's Day dinner with my husbands family. I'm sure it will be a hit.
Terri Gilson
Thanks, Sandra! I hope you all enjoy it!
Sandra Miller
I see the recipe calls for 3 c. whipping cream - is this the liquid before it is whipped or after it is whipped? Thanks!
Terri Gilson
Hi Sandra,
It's the liquid, prior to being whipped. You need to whip it to soft peaks, then add the melted white chocolate, then continue whipping to stiff peaks.
Thanks! Terri
Sandra Miller
I made it! The baking chocolate got a bit lumpy but that is ok. I did add more powered sugar, salt (pinch) and vanilla to the whipping cream since I like it sweeter. While making it I was like a kid licking spoons, beaters - good thing no one was here to see me do it! Looks nice and I am sure it will be a hit. Am taking it to a funeral meal tomorrow. Thanks!
Terri Gilson
Glad it worked for you, Sandra! Too bad about the chocolate getting lumpy- I've never had that happen 🙂
Colleen
I made this for my ladies' group this week and it was a huge hit! I made it gluten free by using my home-made GF flour mix for the crust. Everyone had seconds. Will definitely make this again. Might try using some GF ginger cookies for the base for some extra zing.
Terri Gilson
Hi Colleen - that's great~! Glad you were able to make it gluten-free and you all enjoyed it!