Step 1: Preheat the Oven. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures your Pistachio Bread bakes evenly and rises beautifully.
Step 2: Prepare the Loaf Pan. Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal after baking.
Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the yellow cake mix and instant pistachio pudding mix. Whisk them together until well combined.
Step 4: Add the Wet Ingredients. To the dry mix, add the eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil, water, vanilla extract, and almond extract. If you’re using green food coloring, add a few drops now.
Step 5: Mix Until Smooth. Using a whisk or an electric mixer, blend the ingredients until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Be careful not to overmix; just blend until everything is incorporated.
Step 6: Pour into the Pan. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
Step 7: Bake. Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 8: Cool the Bread. Once baked, remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Step 9: Prepare the Glaze. While the bread cools, whisk together the powdered sugar, heavy cream, almond extract, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more cream or powdered sugar as needed.
Step 10: Drizzle the Glaze. Once the bread is completely cooled, drizzle the glaze over the top. Sprinkle the chopped pistachios on top for a lovely finish.
Step 11: Slice and Serve. Slice the Pistachio Bread and enjoy! It’s perfect on its own or paired with a cup of coffee or tea.