I envisioned days, even weeks, stretched out in front of me, leisurely perusing Pinterest, looking for that perfect recipe (or even coming up with my own). Then the next thing I know, it's closing in on me, only a few days away. Funny, when I first heard about the potluck, it felt like ages away.
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 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!
Jump to:
Take this weekend for instance...
I have a Valentine's Day potluck coming up at work on Tuesday. It's now Friday. And in between the invite and life happening, a stomach bug has infiltrated my abode, taken down my entire family and left me bracing to be its next victim. I have tons to do this weekend, along with kids' activities and I still haven't an inkling of what I'm bringing to the potluck.
In my world, the potluck contribution bar is set pretty high. I already feel a ton of pressure to make something particularly awesome, to the point that it paralyzes me with indecision. Ugh! Now there goes ¾ of the ideas I pinned when I thought I had a lots of time. And there is certainly no way in hell a new fabulous recipe is going to happen before then.
My bar has just been lowered.
🥘 Ingredients
For this pistachio dessert recipe you'll need:
- instant pistachio pudding
- 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 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.
💭 Top tip
You can make these pistachio dessert bars in less than 30 minutes, although it's best to sit overnight in the fridge. If you have less time than that, 3-4 hours will do it.
📖 Variations
This Pistachio dessert square is also versatile:
- Change up the topping: (use shaved toasted almonds, finely chopped pistachios, 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.
🍀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 green 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 green or St. Patrick's Day Dessert Recipes? Give my Shamrock Irish Cream Dessert Shots a try! They can be made with or without alcohol:
And if you love pistachio, give my Spumoni Trifle a try! It can be made for Halloween or without the eyeballs and worms!
⭐ 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 Pudding Dessert Recipe
Ingredients
Base:
- ½ cup butter * I use unsalted
- ⅓ cup ground pecans or can substitute ground almonds
- 1 cup 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
- 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.
- Beat pudding mixes and milk with an electric mixer 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 gently over cooled crust.* If the crust cracks a little,don't worry it's not a big deal.
- Pour pudding over 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.
Notes
📋Related 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!