Christmas Pistachio Bread Recipes

PISTACHIO BREAD FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Steps:

• Grease two 8x4" loaf pans (or 6 foil mini pans or desired combination thereof) and preheat oven to 350F.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer), combine dry cake mix, dry pudding mixes, hot water, vegetable oil, eggs, and food coloring (if using). Beat on low speed for about 30 seconds, then increase speed to medium and continue beating for about two minutes.
• Divide batter among prepared pans. If desired, top with holiday sprinkles.
• Bake for about 40-50 minutes for full-size pans, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If using mini pans, begin checking on them at about 25 minutes, then continue checking every five minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Allow to cool before serving.

PISTACHIO QUICK BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine cake and dry pudding mixes. Add the eggs, sour cream, water and oil; beat until blended (batter will be thick). , Combine sugar and cinnamon. Spoon half of the batter into 2 greased 8x4-in. loaf pans; sprinkle each with 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar. Spread with remaining batter; sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar. , Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

CHOCOLATE-PISTACHIO BREAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and sides of 9x5-inch loaf pan with shortening.
• In large bowl, mix granulated sugar, butter, milk and egg until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredients except sugar crystals. Pour into pan. Sprinkle with sugar crystals.
• Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaf from pan; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing.

PISTACHIO BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans.
• Mix together cake mix, eggs, oil, water, pudding mix, sour cream, cherries, and food coloring. Pour into prepared pans. In a small bowl, stir together cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle tops of loaves with mixture.
• Bake for 45 minutes. Cool.

PISTACHIO WREATHS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and almond extract and beat well.
• Stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until well mixed.
• Divide the dough in half and stir food coloring into one half. Cover and chill at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll about 1/2 tablespoon of plain dough into a 6-inch rope. Repeat with green dough.
• Place ropes side by side and twist together about 6 times. Form twisted ropes into a circle and gently pinch ends together.
• Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, leaving 2 inches between cookies. Place small amount of chopped pistachios onto each wreath where ends are pinched together.
• Bake for about 10 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for about 1 minute. Remove and cool thoroughly on rack.

PISTACHIO MINI LOAVES

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine cake and pudding mixes.
• Add sour cream, eggs, oil and water; beat until blended Pour into five greased 5-3/4-in.
• x 3-in.
• x 2-in.
• loaf pans.
• Combine the pecans, brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over batter.
• Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

PISTACHIO CHERRY BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease and flour two 9 x 5" loaf pans.
• Mix together cake mix, eggs, oil, water, pudding mix, sour cream, cherries, and food coloring.
• Pour into prepared pans.
• In a small bowl, stir together cinnamon and sugar.
• Sprinkle tops of loaves with mixture.
• Bake for 45 minutes.
• Cool.

PISTACHIO MINI LOAVES

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine cake and pudding mixes. Add sour cream, eggs, oil and water; beat until blended. Pour into five greased 5-3/4x3x2-in. loaf pans. Combine the pecans, brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over batter., Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

PISTACHIO BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350*F
• Grease two bread pans with a spray oil or butter.
• In a small bowl combine white sugar and cinnamon, mix well.
• Pour cinnamon sugar into loaf pan and gently shake it all around coating the bottom and sides of pan. Coat both pans..
• In a medium bowl, combine cake mix, pistachio pudding mix (dry), eggs, oil, water & sour cream.
• Add additional green food coloring if you wish for your bread to be a darker green. Mine is a lime green color, mix well.
• Batter will be very thick. Pour half the batter into each pan. Spread smoothly on top in preparation for baking.
• Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the bread comes out clean.
• Let bread rest for 5 minutes before removing from pans and allowing to fully cool on a wire rack.
• Once cake is fully cooled, make icing.
• In a small bowl with a hand whisk, combine vanilla extract, almond extract & milk. Mix well.
• Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• After icing is mixed pour over bread.
• Top immediately with chopped pistachios as icing will dry quickly.

PISTACHIO MORNING BUNS

Steps:

• Toast the pistachios: Arrange an oven rack in the center position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Scatter the pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet and bake, shaking once, until they're golden brown and nutty smelling, 6 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool completely. Very finely chop the pistachios or crush them beneath a heavy pot, and set aside.
• Make the filling: In a small bowl, combine the sugar, lemon zest, cardamom and salt, and mix with your fingertips, rubbing in the lemon zest until the mixture is fragrant and well combined. Set aside 1/4 cup of the mixture for sprinkling over the baked buns, then combine the remaining sugar mixture with the chopped pistachios and set aside.
• Combine 1/2 cup butter and the honey in a small saucepan, and warm over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter is melted and the mixture is combined. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Prepare the pans: Using a pastry brush, brush the bottom and sides of a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with the remaining tablespoon of room temperature butter, then set the pan aside.
• Roll out the dough: Remove the dough from the refrigerator and uncover. Scrape the dough from the bowl and place on the work surface. Use the heel of your hand to knock out the gas and deflate the risen dough, which will be quite firm. Dust underneath and on top of the dough with a bit of flour, then roll it out into a rectangle measuring about 22 inches long, 12 inches wide, and a scant 1/4 inch thick, dusting with more flour if necessary to prevent sticking. Try to work quickly to prevent the dough from warming, which will make it harder to slice the buns.
• Fill and form the buns: Dust off any excess flour, then brush the entire surface of the dough with all but 3 tablespoons of the honey butter mixture. (Reserve the remaining honey butter mixture for brushing over the baked buns.) Sprinkle the pistachio mixture evenly across the surface, pressing it gently into the dough so it adheres. Starting at one of the longer sides, roll the dough into a tight log. If the dough seems very soft, slide the log onto a baking sheet and chill until firm enough to slice, 10 to 15 minutes. Use a serrated knife to slice off the ends of the log, then cut it crosswise into three even sections. Cut each section into five even pieces, so you have 15 total. Arrange each piece cut side up in the prepared baking dish, forming a 3-by-5 grid.
• Proof the buns: Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until the buns are all touching, very puffed, and about doubled in size, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Meanwhile, arrange an oven rack in the center position and heat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Bake the buns: Uncover the pan and transfer the buns to the oven. Bake, rotating the pan 180 degrees after 15 minutes, until the buns are golden brown all over, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and immediately brush with the reserved honey butter. Sprinkle the reserved sugar mixture evenly over top, then let the buns cool completely in the pan.
• Serve: Use a small serrated knife to cut between the buns and all around the pan, then lift them out one at a time.