Easy, layered, no bake pistachio dessert that is both sweet and salty with a whipped topping. Perfect for Easter Bruch, Mother's Day Brunch, St Patrick's day or just a summer BBQ. Can be made nut-free! #dessert #pistachio #nobake #allergyfriendly #recipe

Pistachio Delight an Easy No-Bake Dessert

Are you craving a delectable yet effortless pistachio dessert? Look no further than this indulgent pistachio pudding dessert recipe, perfect for any occasion. Get ready to delight your taste buds with layers of creamy pistachio pudding, crunchy Ritz cracker crust, and a heavenly mixture of Cool Whip. Whether you’re a pistachio enthusiast or simply looking to impress your guests, this easy-to-make pistachio layered dessert is a treat like no other.

A Quick Recipe Overview

To prepare this heavenly delight, crush some Ritz crackers and combine them with melted butter to create an irresistible crust. Press this mixture firmly into the base of your serving dish, forming a solid foundation for the upcoming layers of this pistachio pudding-filled creation.

Next, it’s time to whip up the star of this dessert – the pistachio pudding. Follow the instructions on the package to create a sinfully smooth and luscious pistachio pudding mixture. Once ready, gently pour a generous layer of the pistachio pudding over the Ritz cracker crust, ensuring an even distribution.

To intensify the pistachio flavor and add a delightful crunch, sprinkle some crushed pistachios on top of the pistachio pudding layer. This will provide an extra burst of nuttiness, harmonizing perfectly with the creamy textures.

Now, it’s time for another layer of pure dessert bliss! Slather a generous amount of cool whip over the pistachio layer, creating a creamy and dreamy contrast to the crunchy crumbs beneath. This step adds a touch of lightness and a heavenly fluffiness that will leave you craving for more.

For the final touch, sprinkle a handful of crushed Ritz crackers on top of the cool whip layer. This innovative twist adds a unique touch to the pistachio dessert, giving it a playful and surprising element.

Put your creation in the fridge to chill for a couple of hours, allowing all the flavors to mingle and develop into a harmonious symphony of taste. Once it’s nice and chilled, serve this tempting pistachio delight to eager dessert enthusiasts and prepare to astonish them with your culinary prowess.

This pistachio pudding dessert, layered with a delightful combination of flavors and textures, promises an unforgettable culinary experience. Whether enjoyed on its own or accompanied by a dollop of extra cool whip, this pistachio-layered dessert will leave you and your loved ones craving for seconds.

Childhood Favorite Family Receipe

Pistachio Delight dessert was a childhood favorite in our house, and it’s the one no-bake dessert that my friends will request that I bring to parties. Unlike other Pistachio Delight recipes, our family’s version is made with pistachio pudding, also known as a Watergate salad.

It’s a layered pistachio pudding dessert with a Ritz cracker crust. It’s so simple, no-bake, and so delicious. I still get texts from old friends asking me for my mom’s recipe. Just like my chili and chicken soup, this dessert is nostalgic. It’s spring in a 9×13 pan. It’s a great treat to bring for an Easter or Mother’s Day brunch, a festive St. Patty’s Day dinner, or just a summer BBQ.

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Pistachio Delight – No-Bake Dessert Tips

This dessert is effortless to put together but does take some planning. It would help to give the ice cream a little time to thaw partially. The pistachio pudding mixture should be set for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, and if you use Cool Whip for the topping, it needs time to defrost.

Since we don’t have air conditioning in our house, I always appreciate no-bake desserts during the hot months – which for us lately has been almost all year round. This dessert is something that both of the kids can help with. My kids love to smash the Ritz crackers and whisk the green pistachio pudding together.

This dessert’s (not so) secret ingredient is the partially melted vanilla ice cream. I usually buy rectangular quarts of ice cream, so it’s easier to split it in half.

If you don’t have ice cream, leave it out and use the total milk needed. Keep it refrigerated overnight, though, to get it nice and firm.

Updated Whipped Cream Recipe

We have always used Cool Whip for the topping on this dessert, but I’ve recently made my own whipped cream for the top. It’s SO easy to make, and I can control the ingredients. I’ve added my whipped cream recipe below, but here’s a quick rundown on how to do it.

  • Place your bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer for at least a half-hour.
  • Make sure all of your ingredients are cold when you start.
  • Whip the 2 cups of cream with the 1/4 cup of powdered sugar and two teaspoons of flavor (I use vanilla, but you can experiment with any extract or flavored water).
  • Don’t over whip! It doesn’t take long to get soft peaks, so keep an eye on it. Mine usually takes about 4 minutes on high with my KitchenAid stand mixer.

Pistachio Delight Dessert Pan

Nut-Free Option

My nieces are allergic to nuts, so we swap out the pistachio pudding for a nut-free flavor (vanilla or strawberry are favorites), and it’s just as good. There is no reason you have to sacrifice flavor just because of a food allergy.

Are you looking for more dessert options? Check out my other no-bake dessert, red, white, and blue trifle, or my secrets to the best chocolate chip cookies.

Need a perfect side dish for a summer BBQ or weeknight dinner? My easy kale salad recipe is perfect! Even the kale haters will love it, I promise.

Pistachio Delight Dessert Pinterest

Pistachio Delight

No bake pistachio dessert.

Course Dessert

Ingredients

  • 2-3 tbsp butter, melted
  • 1.5 sleeve Ritz crackers, smashed into crumbs
  • 2 packages pistachio pudding
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1/2 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
  • 1 container Cool Whip or use homemade whipped cream, recipe below

Whipped Cream

  • 2 cups Heavy whipping cream cold
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Line a 9x13 pan with Ritz crumbs and drizzle with melted butter. Make sure all the crumbs are coated and press down into the bottom of the pan to make your crust.

  2. Whisk milk and pudding until just set and then fold in softened ice cream. Spread evenly over the top of the cracker crumbs - careful not to lift the crumbs into the pudding mixture. 

  3. Cover pan with cling wrap and let set in the fridge for 4 hours (or overnight). Top with Cool Whip or whipped cream and serve immediately or refrigerate. 

Whipped Cream

  1. Place your mixing bowl and whisk attachments in the freezer for at least 3 minutes

  2. Combine all the ingredients in the cold bowl and whip on high until soft peaks form, about 4 minutes.

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14 Comments

    1. You could easily swap out the pistachio flavor for a different pudding and it’s still super yummy!

  1. I love how easy this is to make! I like pistachios but don’t get a chance to eat them very often so i’m happy to try this. Thanks for sharing!

  2. This is such a fun recipe – I totally was not expecting the Ritz crackers! I’ll have to give this a try with my kids, I’m sure they would enjoy making it.. and of course eating it 🙂

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