Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour2 packages (3.4 ounces each) instant pistachio pudding mix1/2 cup sugar1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt1 large egg, room temperature1/2 cup canola oil1/4 cup water1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/2 cup chopped pistachios, optionalFROSTING:3 ounces cream cheese, softened1/4 cup butter, softened1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/8 teaspoon salt3 cups confectioners’ sugarOptional decorations: candy eyeballs, M&M’s minis, milk chocolate M&M’s, Life Savers hard candies and gummies, regular and mini peanut butter cups, licorice twists, shoestring licorice, Starburst fruit chews, mega and regular Smarties, Nerds, Runts, Snaps chewy candies, candy corn, tiny-size Chiclets gum, butterscotch hard candies, Rolo candies, Caramel Creams and PayDay candy bar
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk flour, pudding mix, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, whisk egg, oil, water and vanilla until blended; stir into flour mixture. If desired, stir in pistachios. (Dough will be stiff.)
Press dough into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla and salt until blended. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar. Spread over top. Decorate as desired.
Cut into bars before serving. Store in the refrigerator.
