Description
Delight in these chewy pistachio bars topped with a luscious homemade cream cheese frosting. Combining the nutty flavor of pistachios with sweet cream cheese, this easy-to-make dessert is perfect for any occasion and offers a moist, flavorful treat in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Bars
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 (3.4 oz.) boxes of instant pistachio pudding mix
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped pistachios
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 3 tbsp butter, softened
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup chopped pistachios
Instructions
- Prepare the Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all purpose flour, instant pistachio pudding mix, granulated sugar, and baking powder. Stir these dry ingredients together until evenly mixed.
- Add Wet Ingredients: To the dry mixture, add the egg, melted butter, vegetable oil, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until a smooth batter forms and all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Fold in Pistachios: Gently fold the chopped pistachios into the batter to evenly distribute the nuts throughout the mixture.
- Bake the Bars: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Pour the batter into a greased 9×13 inch baking pan, spreading it evenly. Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.
- Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and softened butter until smooth and creamy. Add the vanilla extract and gradually mix in the powdered sugar, beating until the frosting is fluffy and spreadable.
- Frost the Bars: Once the bars have cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top using a spatula.
- Decorate: Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup of chopped pistachios over the frosting for added texture and visual appeal.
- Serve: Cut the dessert into 24 bars and serve. Store any leftovers refrigerated to preserve freshness.
Notes
- Chewy pistachio sugar cookie bars, topped with a homemade cream cheese frosting!
- Ensure the bars are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting.
- You can substitute vegetable oil with light olive oil for a slightly different flavor.
- For a nut-free version, omit the pistachios and use a different nut or seed topping if desired.
- These bars store well refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 130mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
