Name: Pistachio Pudding Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 24
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup (225 g, 8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened; 2 large eggs; 2 ½ cups (310 g, 11 ounces) all-purpose flour; 1 cup (200 g, 7 ounces) granulated sugar; ½ cup (100 g, 3.5 ounces) light brown sugar, packed; 2 (3.4 ounces or 96 g) boxes instant pistachio pudding mix; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ½ cup (60 g, 2 ounces) chopped pistachios (optional); 1 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup (115 g, 4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened; 2 cups (250 g, 9 ounces) powdered sugar; 3-4 tablespoons (45-60 ml) milk or heavy cream; Green food coloring (optional, for a brighter hue); Chopped pistachios for garnish (optional)

Have you ever craved a dessert that combines the rich, nutty essence of pistachio pudding with the comforting sweetness of sugar cookies?

Soft crumbles melt together in a delightful harmony that surprises your taste buds.

Unexpected flavor combinations often create the most memorable treats.

Creamy pistachio notes dance alongside buttery cookie textures, promising a unique indulgence.

Each bite tells a story of culinary creativity and simple ingredients.

Baking these bars becomes an adventure of delicious exploration.

You won’t be able to resist trying this irresistible recipe that brings joy to every single slice.

These bars take less than an hour from start to finish, perfect for busy home bakers craving a sweet treat without spending all day in the kitchen.
The unique combination of pistachio pudding and sugar cookie creates a delightful flavor profile that appeals to both kids and adults, making it ideal for family gatherings, potlucks, or casual dessert nights.
With simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, even novice bakers can confidently create these delicious bars, requiring minimal baking skills and basic kitchen equipment.
These bars work wonderfully for various events like birthday parties, afternoon tea, school bake sales, or as a comforting homemade dessert to enjoy with coffee or tea.

Base Ingredients:

All-Purpose Flour: Essential for creating the cookie bar's tender and soft texture.
Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create a golden, crisp exterior.
Unsalted Butter: Adds rich flavor and helps bind the cookie bars together.

Flavor and Binding Ingredients:

Pistachio Pudding Mix: Gives a unique nutty flavor and vibrant green color to the bars.
Eggs: Helps bind ingredients and creates a soft, chewy texture.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall sweetness and adds depth of flavor.

Additional Texture and Flavor Ingredients:

Baking Powder: Helps the bars rise and creates a light, fluffy consistency.
Salt: Balances sweetness and brings out the other flavors in the recipe.
Chopped Pistachios: Optional topping that adds crunch and additional nutty flavor. Look for unsalted, roasted pistachios for best taste.

Step 1: Prepare Baking Dish

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. Line the pan with parchment paper, allowing extra paper to hang over the sides for easy bar removal later.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

Combine in a medium bowl:

All-purpose flour
Pistachio pudding mix
Baking powder
Salt

Whisk these ingredients together until perfectly blended and no lumps remain.

Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale yellow. Use an electric mixer on medium speed for best results.

Step 4: Add Wet Ingredients

Mix in:

Eggs
Vanilla extract

Blend until smooth and fully incorporated.

Step 5: Create Cookie Dough

Gradually add dry ingredient mixture to wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until a soft, cohesive dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.

Step 6: Spread Dough

Transfer cookie dough to prepared baking pan. Use a spatula or clean hands to spread evenly, ensuring smooth and consistent coverage across the entire pan.

Step 7: Bake Bars

Place pan in preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until edges turn golden brown and center looks set. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out with a few moist crumbs.

Step 8: Cool and Cut

Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan. Use parchment paper overhang to lift bars out. Cut into squares or rectangles using a sharp knife.

Prevent Sticking: Line your baking pan with parchment paper, extending the sides for hassle-free bar removal and clean cutting.
Boost Flavor Intensity: Toast pistachios briefly in a dry skillet before chopping to enhance their nutty, rich taste and bring out deeper flavor notes.
Achieve Perfect Texture: Allow bars to cool completely in the pan before lifting out, ensuring they set properly and maintain a clean, crisp edge.
Customize Creatively: Swap out pistachio pudding mix for other flavors like vanilla or butterscotch to create unique variations of these delightful cookie bars.
Store Smartly: Keep bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cover the bars with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent them from drying out.
Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container. Frozen bars will maintain their quality for 2-3 months.
Remove frozen bars from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before serving. Alternatively, transfer to the refrigerator overnight for a gradual thaw.
Warm chilled or frozen bars in the microwave for 10-15 seconds on low power to restore their soft, fresh-baked texture without compromising the delicate pudding layer.

Rich, nutty pistachio pudding bars pair beautifully with complementary flavors and beverages.
Serve alongside cold, creamy almond milk to enhance the pudding's delicate pistachio notes and smooth cookie texture.
Add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, letting its cool creaminess balance the sweet, dense cookie bar for a luxurious dessert experience.
Enjoy with a light, aromatic green tea that cleanses the palate and provides a subtle herbal counterpoint to the rich, sweet treat.

Gluten-Free Pistachio Bars: Replace all-purpose flour with almond flour or gluten-free blend for celiac or gluten-sensitive individuals, maintaining the same texture and rich pistachio flavor.
Vegan Nutty Delight: Substitute butter with coconut oil, use flax egg instead of regular eggs, and select dairy-free pudding mix to create a plant-based version of the classic cookie bars.
Low-Sugar Option: Swap traditional sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia, reducing overall sugar content while preserving the delicious pistachio essence and keeping the dessert friendly for diabetic diets.
Nut-Free Alternative: Exchange pistachios with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for those with nut allergies, ensuring everyone can enjoy a similar sweet treat without compromising taste and texture.

What gives these bars their unique flavor?

The pistachio pudding mix infuses the cookie bars with a rich, nutty pistachio taste and helps create a soft, moist texture that sets these bars apart from traditional sugar cookies.

Can I use instant or cook-and-serve pudding mix?

Instant pudding mix works best for this recipe. Cook-and-serve pudding might alter the texture and moisture content of the bars, potentially affecting the final result.

Do I need to make any adjustments if I don't have a 9×13 inch pan?

If you only have a slightly different pan size, you can still make the recipe. Just watch the baking time carefully and check for doneness earlier, as pan size can affect how quickly the bars cook through.

Is this recipe good for people who love pistachios?

While the pudding mix provides a pistachio flavor, the bars have a subtle pistachio taste. If you’re looking for an intense pistachio experience, you might want to add chopped pistachios to the batter for extra nutty crunch.

Jamie Granger

Recipe Developer & Food Writer

Expertise

Fusion Cuisine Development
Recipe Development and Food Styling
Culinary Writing and Content Creation
Nutrition and Healthy Cooking

Education

Culinary Institute of America

Degree: Associate in Culinary Arts
Focus: Emphasis on flavor development, classic and contemporary culinary techniques, menu design, and global cuisine preparation; combined with food-service management, communication, and finance training; and immersive hands‑on restaurant operations through paid industry internships.

Jamie Granger turns ingredients into memories. With her recipes, she brings a fusion-forward flair to every creation.

Her dishes reflect the places she’s explored, the chefs she’s learned from, and the deep connection she has to food as a form of expression.

At Pass and Provision, Jamie develops recipes that balance flavor, health, and beauty, meals that don’t just satisfy your appetite but speak to your curiosity.