Spooktacular Pistachio Monster Cake
This Spooktacular Pistachio Monster Cake is the ultimate Halloween dessert that will amaze your guests and family alike! With a decadent devil's food base and an eye-catching green pistachio filling, this cake is a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. The combination of rich chocolate ganache and crunchy chopped pistachios creates a delightful texture that has every bite bursting with flavor. Perfect for Halloween Night, this cake pairs beautifully with Blue Bunny Pistachio Almond ice cream for an unforgettable treat. Whether you’re entertaining or enjoying a cozy night in, this cake is sure to become a seasonal favorite. Your loved ones will be raving about it long after the last slice has been devoured!
N/A
Servings
417
Calories
18
Ingredients
Ingredients
Devil's food cake mix
1 box (18 1/4 ounces) (Use according to package instructions.)
Water
1 1/4 cups (Measure out.)
Vegetable oil
1/3 cup (Measure out.)
Eggs
3 (Beaten.)
White cake mix
1 box (18 1/4 ounces) (Use according to package instructions.)
Green food coloring
1 teaspoon (Add to white cake batter.)
Pistachio flavored instant pudding mix
2 boxes (3 1/2 ounces each) (Combine with other filling ingredients.)
Heavy whipping cream
2 cups (For filling.)
Sour cream
1 cup (Combine with filling ingredients.)
Whole milk
1/2 cup (Combine with filling ingredients.)
Powdered sugar
1/2 cup (Combine with filling ingredients.)
Semi-sweet chocolate chips or bittersweet chocolate
12 ounces (Good quality, Ghirardelli recommended.)
Milk chocolate chips
6 ounces (Good quality, Ghirardelli recommended.)
Heavy whipping cream (for ganache)
1 cup (For melting with chocolate.)
Unsalted butter
1 cup (Combine with ganache ingredients.)
Kahlua (mocha flavored liqueur)
1/4 cup (Combine with ganache ingredients.)
Vanilla extract or Mexican vanilla
1 teaspoon (Combine with ganache ingredients.)
Chopped pistachios
1 1/2-2 cups (For garnish.)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2
Spray four 8-9 inch round cake pans with nonstick spray and lightly dust with flour. Line the bottoms with parchment paper, spraying the parchment as well; set aside.
3
Prepare the devil's food cake mix according to package instructions, using water, vegetable oil, and eggs. Divide the batter equally between two pans and bake according to package directions. Allow the cakes to cool completely in pans on a wire rack.
4
In the meantime, prepare the white cake mix. Add the green food coloring to the mix and blend well. Divide the colored batter between the two remaining pans and bake as per the package instructions. Cool completely.
5
Once cooled, trim the tops of the cakes to create an even surface, if desired. Then, place each cake in the freezer for about 30 minutes before assembly to prevent crumbling.
6
Assemble the cake by placing one devil's food layer onto a serving plate, top side down for a flat surface. Spread about 1 1/8-1/4 cups of pistachio filling evenly over the layer.
7
Add another layer (white cake) on top and repeat the process, alternating layers and adding the pistachio filling until all layers are stacked.
8
Spread the chocolate ganache icing over the top and sides of the cake, smoothing with a spatula. If the ganache thickens too much, place the cake in an oven set to WARM for a few minutes to soften.
9
Finally, generously sprinkle chopped pistachios over the top for a finishing touch. For added flair, you can decorate the cake with Halloween-themed sprinkles or chocolate decorations!
Nutrition Information
25g
Fat
38g
Carbs
4g
Protein
21g
Sugar
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Spooktacular Pistachio Monster Cake?
The Spooktacular Pistachio Monster Cake is a decadent Halloween-themed dessert featuring alternating layers of devil's food chocolate cake and green-colored white cake, filled with a creamy pistachio mixture and topped with chocolate ganache.
How many cake mixes are required for this recipe?
You will need two cake mixes: one box of devil's food cake mix (18 1/4 ounces) and one box of white cake mix (18 1/4 ounces).
What flavor is the cake filling?
The filling is pistachio-flavored, made using instant pistachio pudding mix, heavy cream, sour cream, milk, and powdered sugar.
What oven temperature is needed to bake the cakes?
The oven should be preheated to 350°F (175°C) before baking the cake layers.
How many cake pans do I need?
You should use four 8-9 inch round cake pans to accommodate the different colored layers.
How do I make the white cake layers green?
Add one teaspoon of green food coloring to the white cake mix batter and blend well before baking.
Why should I freeze the cake layers before assembly?
Placing the cake layers in the freezer for about 30 minutes before assembly helps prevent crumbling while you stack and frost the cake.
What kind of chocolate is used for the ganache?
The ganache uses a combination of 12 ounces of semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate and 6 ounces of milk chocolate.
Does the ganache contain alcohol?
Yes, the ganache includes 1/4 cup of Kahlua, which is a mocha-flavored liqueur, to add depth to the chocolate flavor.
What should I do if the chocolate ganache thickens too much?
If the ganache becomes too thick to spread, you can place the cake in an oven set to the WARM setting for a few minutes to soften it.
How many calories are in a serving of this cake?
Each serving of the Spooktacular Pistachio Monster Cake contains approximately 417 calories.
What is the fat content per serving?
The cake contains 25g of fat per serving.
How much sugar is in one serving?
There are 21g of sugar in each serving of the cake.
What are the carbohydrate and protein counts?
Each serving contains 38g of carbohydrates and 4g of protein.
How do I garnish the cake?
The cake is garnished with 1 1/2 to 2 cups of chopped pistachios sprinkled over the top. You can also add Halloween-themed sprinkles or chocolate decorations.
What ice cream is recommended to serve with this cake?
Blue Bunny Pistachio Almond ice cream is suggested as a perfect pairing for this dessert.
How do I prepare the cake pans for baking?
Spray the pans with nonstick spray, lightly dust them with flour, and line the bottoms with parchment paper, spraying the parchment as well.
What ingredients are in the pistachio filling?
The filling consists of two boxes of pistachio instant pudding mix, 2 cups of heavy whipping cream, 1 cup of sour cream, 1/2 cup of whole milk, and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar.
What are the components of the chocolate ganache?
The ganache is made from semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips, 1 cup of heavy whipping cream, 1 cup of unsalted butter, Kahlua, and vanilla extract.
How many layers does the assembled cake have?
The cake has four layers: two layers of devil's food cake and two layers of green white cake.
How much pistachio filling should I use between layers?
You should spread approximately 1 1/8 to 1 1/4 cups of pistachio filling evenly over each layer during assembly.
What type of vanilla is recommended?
The recipe suggests using either standard vanilla extract or Mexican vanilla for the ganache.
Is this cake suitable for a Halloween party?
Yes, with its bright green filling, dark chocolate exterior, and 'Monster' name, it is designed specifically as a festive Halloween celebration dessert.
Do I need to trim the cakes?
The instructions suggest trimming the tops of the cakes once cooled to create an even, flat surface for easier stacking.
How many eggs are needed for the devil's food cake?
The recipe calls for 3 beaten eggs to be used in the devil's food cake mix portion.
Is there fiber in this recipe?
According to the nutritional data provided, the fiber content is null or not significant.
What is the total number of ingredients used?
There are 18 distinct ingredients required to make the cake, filling, and ganache.
Should the devil's food cake be placed top side up or down?
The instructions recommend placing the first devil's food layer onto the serving plate top side down to ensure a flat base for assembly.
What is the recommended brand for chocolate chips?
The recipe recommends using high-quality chocolate, specifically suggesting Ghirardelli brand.
How should the pudding mix be used in the filling?
The two boxes of pistachio instant pudding mix should be combined with heavy cream, sour cream, milk, and powdered sugar to create the filling.