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posted by Amy Johnsonon March 15, 2012 (updated Feb 24, 2019) 69 comments »
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Thistasty Pistachio Cupcakes recipe are super duper easy and perfect for any time of the year.
I cheated. I’m a cheaty McCheater. I used a box of cake mix and a box of pudding mix. There it is. It’s all out in the open. We can move along now in good conscience.
This is Pistachio Cupcake recipe is perfect for green holidays, pastel holidays, and whenever you’re feeling like a pistachio cupcake would hit the spot. Which around here might just be any day of the year. Again, I used a boxed cake mix, and all required ingredients that it called for, as well the addition of a box of pistachio pudding mix. They baked up nicely as cupcakes.
For the frosting, hugs and kisses to Alice from Savory Sweet Life for the wonderful Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. I figured if anyone knows frosting, Alice does. She used to be a professional cake maker, ya know?
For the shavings on top, I melted some white chocolate chips, along with a bit of vegetable shortening, and spread it out thinly on a baking sheet to let harden a bit.
Using a spoon, I scraped curls and shavings as a topping for the cupcakes. Sprinkles or some festive candy would be just as cute. I was trying to cover up my lack of icing skills. Plus it was fun.
There you have it. A honestly good cupcake made by cheating. Enjoy!
Pistachio Cupcakes Recipe
Pistachio Cupcakes Recipe
Yield: 24
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
This Pistachio Cupcake is perfect for green holidays, pastel holidays, and whenever you're feeling like a pistachio cupcake would hit the spot. Which around here might just be any day of the year.
Ingredients
For cupcakes:
- 1 box of white cake mix & all ingredients that it calls for
- 1 box of pistachio pudding mix
- 1 batch of Vanilla Buttercream Frosting (this one mentioned above from Savory Sweet Life is terrific!)
For white candy/chocolate shavings:
- 7 ounces weight white chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vegetable shortening or vegetable oil
Instructions
For cupcakes:
- Combine cake mix and it's ingredients according to packaging instructions.
- Add in pudding mix and combine well.
- For cupcakes, fill cupcake liners about halfway full with batter.
- Bake as directed on cake mix packaging.
- Cool and decorate as you like.
For white candy/chocolate shavings:
- Melt chips according to package instructions.
- Stir in vegetable shortening/oil until combined well.
- Using a spatula, spread melted candy/chocolate thinly on a baking sheet.
- Let harden for a few minutes.
- Using a spoon, scrape across hardened candy/chocolate to create curls and shavings.
Did you make this recipe?
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originally published on March 15, 2012 (last updated Feb 24, 2019)
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69 comments on “Pistachio Cupcakes Recipe”
Sarah —Reply
I made these as the recipe called for, but my cupcakes flattened once I put them on the drying rack?!? I’ve never had this happen before, so I’m wondering if it’s from the pudding mix.
Carrie —
I had the same thing happen…any further thoughts?
Amanda —
I had the same thing happen. There are different weights of pudding mixes out there. Maybe the boxes we used are bigger than what she used?
JF —Reply
Love the use of Jell-O in these cupcakes. So creative and love the color it gives your cupcakes. You should submit these to the cupcake crown contest: http://www.celebrations.com/cupcakecrown/
Jenni @ Sweet Pennies —Reply
I’m a box girl myself. If you don’t have to make it from scratch, then I prefer the easy way! I’m glad I found this recipe! I have a box of Pistachio pudding in my cabinet and wanted a different recipe to use it. Looks like cupcakes are in order 😉
Ohhhh now these look interesting. I hate pistachio nuts but oddly LOVE pistachio pudding.
Julia Bettencourt —Reply
Tried these and sent them to a our band bake sale. They turned out great. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I need all the quick and easy things I can find 🙂
Gail Breazeale —Reply
I make this for my daughter’s birthday every year except with Cream Cheese Frosting. Delicious!!!!
Hannah —Reply
I was really excited to try these, but I have to say that I’m very disappointed. The texture was amazing, but the pistachio flavour got lost in the cake mix.. all I could taste was the plastic bag the mix came in 🙁 maybe if the cake batter was from scratch it would be better.
MA —Reply
Sounds great! Going to make these today. Quick and easy just what I need 🙂
Rojo —Reply
Had these at a bake sale. Lots of options and these were by far my fav. When I asked the woman who made them (who is a detailed and excellent cook) I was ready for a complicated recipe. She told me this and I couldn’t believe it. Your shavings idea is a great one to top them off. I’m going to use these for the holidays. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful detail and pics.
Amy Johnson —
Thank you Rojo!
Glad you enjoyed them. They are so very easy for such wonderful results. And a happy green for the holidays!
Samantha —Reply
Omg these look delicious! My boyfriend is gluten free but loves cupcakes and pistachio EVERYTHING. Do you think this would work with a gluten free cake mix and the pudding mix?! He’d just love these (and I wouldn’t mind helping to eat them!)
Samantha —
I should add, he is gluten free because he has celiac disease, so there’s no cheating by way of eating non-gluten free!!
rita —Reply
What size pudding mix should I use? These look AMAZING, can’t wait 🙂 Thanks so much
Amy Johnson —
I used the 3.4oz. package. Happy baking! Those won’t last long. 😉
robin —Reply
i’d like to make this but in cake form for my husbands birthday. think it can work?
Amy Johnson —
Of course! Let me know how it goes.
Doreen —Reply
Do you think you could use fat free/sugar free pudding and have the same results?!
Amy Johnson —
I would think so, but I’ve never tried it. Please let me know if you do and how it turns out.
Kate —Reply
Made these today! They turned out amazing! Instead of white chocolate shavings, I topped mine with crushed pistachios. So good
Amy Johnson —
Oooh … crushed pistachios sounds like a tasty addition with a little crunch too!
Vickey —Reply
I remember my mom making this as a cake back in the 70’s. It’s one of my favorites and I actually just made it again a few days ago. I make a layer cake with two cake mixes, the ingredients on the boxes plus and extra egg white per box and two small boxes of pistachio pudding mix. Make and bake according to package directions but adding the extra egg whites and dry pudding mixes. I should also mention that this is a 9×13 layer cake. We used to use this for parties and NEVER had leftovers. I don’t use a butter cream frosting though. It’s much simpler. One pint heavy whipping cream beaten to soft peaks. Fold in a box of dry pistachio pudding mix and frost the bottom layer. Repeat for the top. The frosting is light, fluffy and creamy and adds a perfect texture balance to the cake.
Amy Johnson —
Sounds fabulous! So when you say a 9×13 layer cake, do you mean two whole 9×13 cakes layered? Or one divided in half and then layered?
Vickey —
Yes. For parties mom would do two whole 9×13 cakes and layer them.
Rhiannon —Reply
This may be a dumb question but do I prepare the pudding as directed before adding it or do I just add the powder??
Amy Johnson —
Just add in the powder. Do not prepare it.
Stacia —Reply
These cupcakes are absolutely wonderful! Mine also went flat on the top but the taste and texture were perfect, so this doesn’t bother me. I usually make my cakes from scratch, but I will continue to use this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing this one!
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