Pistachio Cream Bars Recipe
Delightfully creamy and nutty, Pistachio Cream Bars feature a buttery crust topped with a luscious pistachio-flavored cream cheese pudding layer, garnished with crunchy chopped pistachios. Perfect as a refreshing dessert or a sweet snack at gatherings, these bars combine subtle sweetness with a rich, nutty flavor in every bite.
- Author: Ava
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 24 to 36 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Crust
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
Filling
- 1 package (8oz/250g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 box Pistachio instant pudding mix (4 serving size)
- ¾ cup milk
- ¼ cup pistachios, roughly chopped
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat your oven to 300ºF (150ºC). In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and sugar. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat in the softened salted butter until the mixture is completely blended into a dough.
- Bake the Crust: Press the dough mixture firmly into the bottom of a 13×9 inch (33×23 cm) pan to form an even crust layer. Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. Once baked, remove from the oven and allow it to cool completely.
- Make the Pistachio Filling: In a separate large mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add the milk and the pistachio instant pudding mix, then continue mixing until the mixture is fully combined and thickened.
- Assemble the Bars: Spread the pistachio pudding cream cheese mixture evenly over the cooled crust layer. Sprinkle the roughly chopped pistachios evenly on top to add a crunchy texture.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the assembled bars for at least one hour or until the pudding layer is set. Once chilled, cut into 24 to 36 bars depending on desired portion size, and serve chilled for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use softened butter and cream cheese for easier mixing and a smoother texture.
- Ensure the crust is completely cooled before spreading the filling to prevent melting or mixing of layers.
- For a firmer set, you can refrigerate the bars overnight.
- If pistachio instant pudding mix is unavailable, consider substituting with vanilla pudding mix and adding a few drops of pistachio extract.
- Store bars covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Keywords: Pistachio cream bars, pistachio dessert, cream cheese bars, no bake pudding bars, easy dessert recipe, nutty dessert, summer desserts