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Pistachio Bread
Are you looking for a fun, festive treat that’s perfect for the Holiday Season? Pistachio Bread is quick and easy, leaving you time to concentrate on many of the other activities that seem to keep us hopping throughout the season. In just a few minutes, you can have this bread in the oven and it always makes a very beautiful presentation.
I like to top this Pistachio Bread with an almond glaze and some Christmas sprinkles, but if you’re not a fan of almond, you can definitely substitute vanilla extract. The vanilla glaze will be just as yummy and it will take nothing away from the beauty of the finished bread. Don’t forget the Christmas sprinkles to really highlight the season! Make sure to add the sprinkles before the glaze dries completely so they stick.
What You’ll Need for Pistachio Bread
- yellow cake mix
- instant pistachio pudding mix
- eggs
- vegetable oil
- hot water
- sour cream
- green food coloring, optional
- roasted pistachios, optional
- Christmas sprinkles, optional
Almond Glaze:
- powdered sugar
- butter
- almond extract
- vanilla extract
- milk
Gift Giving
This Pistachio Bread makes an excellent gift for friends and family. It’s also a wonderful treat to bring as a hostess gift. Let’s face it, who doesn’t love a delicious homemade treat, especially during the Christmas holiday season? If you prefer to gift a smaller loaf, consider making some mini loaves.
You can easily make mini loaves that are perfect for gift giving. Pour the bread batter into disposable mini loaf pans (paid link), place on a sheet pan and bake at 350° F. for about 20 – 25 minutes. Start checking early! Remove from the oven when a wooden pick inserted in center of loaves comes out clean. The nice thing about baking Pistachio Bread in a disposable pan is it can easily be glazed and decorated, wrapped in cellophane wrap and tied with a pretty ribbon, or try one of these decorating ideas, and it will be ready for gift giving with almost no effort! These mini Pistachio Bread loaves make fun and inexpensive gifts.
Make Ahead and Freeze
If you struggle with the hectic pace of the holiday season, consider getting a jump start on your baking. Make some Pistachio Bread and put it in the freezer. You’ll be ready for unexpected company or whenever you just want a little treat for the family. Make sure the bread is completely cool, then wrap in plastic wrap and place in a freezer safe container or zip top bag. I prefer to hold off on the glaze and sprinkles until I’m ready to serve the bread. The glaze can easily be made in just a couple of minutes, and your Pistachio Bread will look much prettier if you decorate it just before serving.
Ingredients
- 1 cake mix, yellow
- 2 instant pistachio pudding mix, two 3.4 oz. boxes
- 4 eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2-3 drops green food coloring, optional
- ½-1 cup pistachios, roughly chopped, optional
- Christmas sprinkles, optional
Almond Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp. butter, melted
- 3/4 tsp. almond extract
- 3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2-3 Tbsp. milk, + more, as needed
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Grease two 8" x 4" loaf pans.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (fitted with paddle attachment) or a large bowl and a hand mixer, combine the dry cake mix, dry pudding mix, eggs, oil, hot water, sour cream, and green food coloring, if using. Beat on low speed to combine, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and beat about 2 more minutes. Stir in chopped pistachios, if using.
- Divide the batter evenly between the 2 prepared loaf pans. Bake about 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove bread to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
Almond Glaze
- In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, butter, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Gradually add just enough milk, 1 Tbsp. at a time, until you reach desired consistency.
- Drizzle and spread the glaze over the cooled loaves of bread. Top with Christmas sprinkles if desired.
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