Try this air fryer pistachio pudding coffee cake if you’re looking for new, exciting air fryer recipes. This air fryer cake with pistachio, coconut and almonds is so tasty. This easy-to-make pistachio coffee cake is made with pistachio instant pudding and other simple ingredients. It is like a Watergate cake and would be perfect for a sweet treat or for Christmas, Easter or St Patrick’s Day.
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Get ready for an irresistible combination of flavours with our air fryer pistachio pudding coffee cake. The moist, nutty cake is infused with creamy instant pistachio pudding and topped with a delicious frosting for the perfect dessert.
This impressive recipe using pistachio pudding also boasts the flavours of coconut, almonds and brown sugar. Perhaps you’re familiar with Watergate cake that is made with pistachio pudding mix.
This air fryer pistachio pudding coffee cake is a modern take on classic Watergate cake which dates back to 1972 (long before the air fryer made an appearance!)
I have read that the name comes from the Watergate scandal of the time, as the cake is full of nuts and has a cover-up glaze. Back in the 1970s there were a lot of recipes satirically named like this!
Pistachio Cake Ingredients
As you’d expect, all the usual suspects feature in this cake, namely butter, sugar, egg, flour, and baking powder and soda. You’ll need both coconut flour and all-purpose flour to make it.
In addition, you’ll need almond extract and almond slivers as well as pistachios and pistachio pudding mix to add nuttiness. Milk, coconut flakes and heavy cream also go into this air fryer cake.
Pistachio Coffee Cake Variations
This air fryer cake recipe can be tweaked if you like. Sub margarine for the butter and/or non-dairy milk for the whole milk if liked. As for the pistachio, coconut and almonds, I’d stick with those since they’re core ingredients in this cake.
Another idea would be adding walnuts or even pecans to the recipe. I love walnuts in cake and pecans would also work well. If you are looking for a completely different baked dessert, you might like this air fryer brownie recipe.
This recipe calls for coconut flour which is basically finely ground coconut flesh. It adds a very light coconut flavor to the cake and you can get coconut flour from pretty much any grocery store these days.
How to Make Pistachio Coffee Cake
Whether you’re planning a cake for Christmas or St Patrick’s Day or simply because you love cake, you will be pleased to learn this recipe is easy. Cream the butter with the brown sugar in one bowl, put the dry ingredients in another bowl and the wet ones in a third bowl.
Mix the dry ingredients with the brown sugar mixture and then you can add the wet ingredients gradually. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan. Cover with foil and bake in a preheated air fryer until done. Cool for 5 minutes before inverting onto a cake platter.
To make the glaze, simply beat the glaze ingredients together then spread it over the top of the cooled cake. Finally decorate the air fryer pistachio pudding coffee cake with almonds and pistachios.
What Exactly is ‘Coffee Cake’?
Did you notice that this is called a coffee cake despite not containing coffee? Interestingly enough, the term coffee cake applies to any cake which is good served with coffee.
This tasty cake recipe using pistachio pudding pairs beautifully with a cup of Joe or you can have it with any other drink you want. This easy to make pistachio coffee cake is not only delicious but is also unique with its bright green inside. Making it for Christmas or St Patrick’s Day? Try it with egg nog or a shamrock shake! This air fryer coffee cake is delicious any time of the year.
If you love pistachio, coconut and almonds as much as I do, I’m convinced you’ll love this pistachio pudding cake recipe!
When to Serve Green Pistachio Cake
- St. Patrick’s Day – it has a green tinge after all!
- Christmas – add maraschino cherries and coconut on top for a festive green and red holiday theme.
- Easter – tint the icing pink and enjoy the pastel theme for spring.
- Summer BBQ potluck – making it in the air fryer keeps the house cool.
Air Fryer Pistachio Cake FAQs
This recipe is air fryer friendly as long as your air fryer is large enough to hold a loaf pan. You can also make this cake in the oven. If you’re doing that, you can use a larger, wider baking pan. The baking time might change a little but as soon as a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, it’s done!
Leftover cake can be stored for a day or 2 at room temperature in an airtight container or in plastic wrap. You can also keep the cake refrigerated for up to 3 more days.
Yes! I suggest that you freeze the cake in individual pieces so you can thaw them out later whenver you want a sweet treat. It will keep for a couple of months in the freezer in an airtight container. You will find that freezing doesn’t seem to impact the flavour or texture of this cake.
You can add a few drops of green food coloring to the batter if you want a darker color green in your pistachio coffee cake.
In this recipe, the instant pistachio pudding mix adds some flavour, colour and it also crease a very moist cake.
Air Fryer Pistachio Pudding Coffee Cake Recipe
Air Fryer Pistachio Pudding Coffee Cake
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1/4 Cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 Cup brown sugar
Wet ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1 Teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 Cup whole milk
Dry ingredients
- 1/2 Cup all purpose flour
- 1/3 Cup coconut flour
- 1/4 Cup coconut flakes sweetened
- 1/2 Teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
- 1 Package pistachio pudding mix
Glaze
- 2 Cups icing sugar
- 2 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 Teaspoon almond extract
- 4 Tablespoon heavy cream
- 1/2 Cup pistachios chopped
- 1/4 Cup almonds slivered
Instructions
- Cream the butter and brown sugar in a stand mixer.
- Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Combine dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another.
- Add dry ingredients to the mixing bowl with the brown sugar and butter, then mix on low speed until well combined. Slowly add in the wet ingredients and continue mixing until smooth.
- Lightly spray a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Pour batter into the loaf pan. Cover with foil.
- Place into the air fryer and bake for 25 minutes, remove foil and cook for 5 more minutes. Check to be sure the cake is done by imserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, it is ready.
- While the cake is cooking, prepare the glaze. Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and beat on high speed until smooth.
- Allow loaf to cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and spread glaze over the top. Sprinkle with pistachios and slivered almonds.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
So whether you are considering this pistachio coffee cake recipe for Christmas, Easter or St Patrick’s Day, you’ll love it. The pistachio, coconut and almonds give this easy dessert an incredible flavour. It’s a great recipe using pistachio pudding as a shortcut and goes beautifully with a cup of coffee. If you are a fan of things pistachio, you will love this delicious cake! Happy baking!
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a storyteller, food lover, dog mom and adventure seeker living on the Pacific coast. She shares her passion for food, dogs, fitness, adventures, travel and philanthropy, in hopes of encouraging followers to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places and stand for a cause. Bella lives with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease.
This looks so good! I love pistachios
I’m obsessed with pistachio so I definitely need to make this