Pistachio Christmas Cupcakes with Cherries are a festive, easy, and delicious Christmas cupcake idea that can be made with boxed mix.
Christmas isn’t “Christmas” in our home without my annual Pistachio Christmas Cupcakes with Cherries. I make this festive Christmas cake recipe in bundt pans, loaf pans, and cupcakes. It is absolutely delicious, and perfect for this time of year since they are green, and red. The flavors of the maraschino cherries, and pistachio pudding mix are the perfect taste bud tantalizer.
Pistachio Christmas Cake is very easy to make, and can even be made with boxed cake mix. I have adopted the boxed cake mix method because I usually do not have the time to bake it from total scratch. There are a few additions to the mix that turn this cake into a very moist and delicious sweet treat!
Pistachio Christmas Cupcakes with Cherries
- 1 box of white cake mix
- **You will use the SAME oil, and eggs the boxed mix calls for, BUT instead of 1 cup of regular water, you will use 1 cup of seltzer water!
- 1 box of pistachio pudding mix
- 8 ounces of chopped maraschino cherries for inside the cake mix, reserve enough for each cupcake top.
- *optional 1/3 cup chopped pistachios, walnuts or pecans–they all work well
How to Make Pistachio Cherry Cupcakes
Preheat your oven according to the cake box instructions.
Add cupcake liners to your muffin tins (I used (2) 12 count tins.
Chop up your cherries/nuts.
In a large mixing bowl, add your cake mix, substituted seltzer water, and pudding mix. Mix all your ingredients until combined.
Add your mixture to your cupcake papers in the tins. Fill them a little over halfway.
Bake according to the box’s instructions for that particular pan. The cooking time should remain almost identical.
I suggest using a toothpick, and checking your baked treat right at the time the instructions call for. My time for cupcakes was right at 18 minutes.
Add one cherry to the center of each cupcake & enjoy!
Pistachio Christmas Cupcakes with Cherries
Equipment
- Oven adjusted to the center rack position
- 2 12-count muffin tins
- 24 cupcake liners
- measuring cups
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- cutting board and knife
- batter scoop
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounces white cake mix
- 3.4 ounces pistachio pudding
- 1 cup soda
- 24 ounces marashchino cherries You will need to reserve 24 cherries for the top and the rest will be drained and chopped to bake in the batter.
- 3 large eggs *based on what the boxed cake mix calls for. Pillsbury uses 3 eggs, but other brands may vary.
- ½ cup vegetable oil *based on what the boxed cake mix calls for. Pillsbury uses 1/2 cup, but other brands may vary.
- ⅓ cup chopped nuts *use your favorite- walnuts, pistachios, or pecans.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven according to the cake box instructions.
- Add cupcake liners to your muffin tins.
- Chop up your cherries/nuts; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add your cake mix, eggs, oil, seltzer water, drained, chopped cherries, and pudding mix. Mix all your ingredients until combined.
- Add your mixture to your cupcake papers in the tins. Fill them a little over halfway.
- Bake according to the box's instructions for that particular pan. The cooking time should remain almost identical. Mine baked for 18 minutes
- I suggest using a toothpick, and checking your cupcakes right at the time the instructions call for.
- Add one cherry to the center of each cupcake but gently pressing down. You may need to slightly break the surface. Additionally, you could ice them and then add the cherry.
Love those cupcake liners! Myay I ask, where did you buy them? :)
That is great looking! Cant wait to try it!
I soooo love how you present your images. They are clear and easy to see and I feel like I could almost do it just on the quality of the images that you present. Ok, still need the step-by-step, which you also do well!
Your pictures are great. The cupcakes look very tasty!
Those are absolutely beautiful! I’ve never tried pistachio pudding before. Now I’m curious!
To be honest, I did not know which is cuter, the cupcakes you made or the beautiful cupcake wrappers.
Pistachio cupcakes?!? I’ve never heard of this before, I’d love to try this!
Wow these look amazing! I might try to make these at Christmas!
I love pistachio! I ate that pudding like crazy when I was a kid. Yum!
oh, you had me at pistachio!! my whole family adores pistachio
I love the sound of these. And they seem easy to make too!
Where is the recipe for the Christmas cake?
What best way to print out recipe, don’t like using phone when making anything. I have an iPhone, excited to make this. Thank you
Hello, sent the link by email, but after the first image you can click- “jump to recipe.”