Pistachio Cream Cake Recipe

The Dreamiest Pistachio Cream Cake Recipe for Sweet Success

Decadent pistachio cream cake brings a luxurious twist to classic dessert traditions.

Nutty flavors dance across each delicate slice, promising pure indulgence.

Mediterranean bakeries inspired this dreamy creation with their rich culinary heritage.

Delicate green hues peek through creamy layers, signaling an extraordinary experience.

Smooth pistachios whisper elegant notes of sophistication in every bite.

Soft textures melt seamlessly, creating a sensory journey that captivates.

FAQs

  • Are pistachios essential in this cake?

Yes, pistachios provide a unique nutty flavor and texture. They add crunch and enhance the cake’s overall taste and visual appeal.

  • Can I substitute ingredients if I don't have exactly what the recipe calls for?

You can replace sour cream with Greek yogurt or buttermilk. For white chocolate chips, you can use regular chocolate chips or skip them entirely.

  • How do I prevent my cake from being dry?

Avoid overmixing the batter and don’t overbake. Check the cake at the minimum baking time and use a toothpick to test doneness. Remove from oven immediately when it comes out clean.

  • What makes this frosting different from regular buttercream?

This frosting uses heavy cream, which creates a lighter, fluffier texture compared to traditional buttercream. The cream adds richness and helps create a smoother, more spreadable consistency.

Pistachio Cream Cake That’s Nutty, Soft, and Sweet

  • Elevate Baking Skills: Perfect for home bakers looking to improve pastry techniques with a sophisticated yet approachable dessert. This recipe teaches layering, frosting, and precise mixing methods.
  • Crowd-Pleasing Celebration Dessert: Impressive pistachio cream cake works wonderfully for birthdays, weddings, and special gatherings. Its elegant white chocolate and pistachio combination creates a memorable centerpiece that guests will adore.
  • Quick Weeknight Baking Adventure: Achievable within 90 minutes from start to finish, this cake allows busy home cooks to create a delectable dessert without spending hours in the kitchen. Simple ingredients and straightforward steps make it accessible for intermediate bakers.
  • Kid-Friendly Customization: Children can help chop pistachios, mix ingredients, or decorate the final cake. The recipe offers engaging moments for family baking time while producing a delicious treat everyone will enjoy.

Pistachio Cream Cake What You’ll Use

Cake Base Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides the cake's structure and tender crumb, best when measured accurately.
  • Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Essential for cake's rise and light texture, ensure they are fresh and not expired.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
Wet Cake Ingredients:
  • Butter: Adds richness and creates a smooth cake texture, room temperature is key.
  • Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a tender cake structure.
  • Eggs: Bind ingredients and provide moisture, use large fresh eggs.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and classic baking flavor, pure extract recommended.
  • Sour Cream, Milk: Contribute moisture and tenderness to the cake, whole milk preferred.
Flavor Add-Ins:
  • Pistachios: Provides nutty crunch and signature flavor, unsalted and freshly chopped.
  • White Chocolate Chips: Adds sweet contrast and melty texture, high-quality chips suggested.
Frosting Ingredients:
  • Butter: Creates creamy base for frosting, softened to room temperature.
  • Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and smooth frosting consistency.
  • Heavy Cream: Helps achieve perfect frosting texture and richness.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances frosting's overall flavor profile.

Pistachio Cream Cake Baking Directions

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Get your oven toasty at 350°F.

Grab your cake pans and give them a quick spray with cooking oil, then dust with flour to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.

Set this magical powder mixture aside.

Step 3: Create Cake Batter Magic

Cream butter and sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud.

Crack eggs one by one, mixing thoroughly after each.

Splash in vanilla extract for extra flavor.

Ingredients for mixing:
  • Flour mixture
  • Sour cream
  • Milk

Gently fold these into your batter, alternating between dry and wet ingredients.

Sprinkle in:
  • Chopped pistachios
  • White chocolate chips

Step 4: Bake to Perfection

Pour batter evenly into three pans.

Smooth the tops with a spatula.

Slide into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean.

Let cakes rest in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Step 5: Whip Up Creamy Frosting

Beat butter until silky smooth.

Gradually add:
  • Powdered sugar
  • Heavy cream
  • Vanilla extract

Whip until the frosting becomes light and dreamy.

Step 6: Build Your Cake Masterpiece

Layer cake rounds on a serving plate.

Spread generous frosting between each layer.

Cover the entire cake with remaining frosting.

Sprinkle finely chopped pistachios on top for a gorgeous finish.

Step 7: Chill and Delight

Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes to let the frosting set.

Slice, serve, and enjoy your pistachio cream creation!

Pistachio Cake Tips for Smooth Creamy Slices

  • Use room temperature ingredients to ensure the cake batter blends smoothly and maintains ideal texture without becoming dense or dry.
  • Toast chopped pistachios briefly in a dry skillet before adding to the batter to intensify their nutty aroma and release deeper flavors.
  • Avoid overmixing the batter and check oven temperature with a separate thermometer to guarantee even baking and prevent potential collapsing.
  • Sift powdered sugar before mixing to eliminate lumps and achieve a silky, creamy frosting without graininess.
  • Swap regular milk with almond or oat milk and use gluten-free flour blend for a lactose-free and gluten-free version of this delectable cake.

Store Pistachio Cream Cake Properly

  • Store leftover cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Wrap individual slices or the whole cake with plastic wrap to prevent drying out.
  • Let cake sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to soften the frosting and enhance flavors.
  • Wrap cake tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
  • Warm individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or until slightly warm, being careful not to overheat and dry out the cake.

Pistachio Cream Cake Serving Suggestions

  • Pair Sophisticated Sips: A crisp champagne or prosecco complements the cake's rich, nutty flavors, cutting through the sweetness with elegant bubbles.
  • Brew Delightful Coffee Companions: A smooth, medium-roast Colombian coffee or a velvety cappuccino enhances the pistachio and white chocolate notes, creating a luxurious dessert experience.
  • Match Creamy Drink Delights: A chilled Irish cream liqueur or almond-based milk provides a complementary nutty undertone that beautifully echoes the cake's pistachio essence.
  • Explore Dessert Wine Magic: A sweet Moscato d'Asti or a late-harvest Riesling offers a delicate sweetness that harmonizes perfectly with the cake's creamy texture and nutty complexity.

Pistachio Cream Cake with Nutty Enhancements

  • Gluten-Free Pistachio Delight: Replace wheat flour with almond or gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to create a celiac-friendly version of the cake while maintaining its rich flavor profile.
  • Vegan Pistachio Dream: Swap butter with coconut oil, eggs with flax eggs, and dairy cream with cashew cream to transform the recipe into a completely plant-based dessert that's equally creamy and decadent.
  • Low-Sugar Pistachio Treat: Use monk fruit sweetener or stevia instead of regular sugar, and replace white chocolate chips with dark chocolate chips for a lower-carb, diabetic-friendly alternative that still delivers incredible taste.
  • Dairy-Free Pistachio Celebration: Substitute dairy milk with almond or oat milk, replace butter with plant-based margarine, and use coconut cream in the frosting to create a lactose-free cake that's smooth and indulgent.
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Pistachio Cream Cake Recipe

Pistachio Cream Cake Recipe


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4.6 from 11 reviews

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Layers of blissful pistachio cream cake dance with nutty elegance, promising a Mediterranean dessert experience that whispers luxury. Green-hued dreams melt on palates, inviting you to savor each silky, luxurious crumb with pure culinary delight.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1 cup shelled pistachios, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Dry Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients and Additives:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup pistachios, finely chopped for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prepare the baking environment by warming the oven to 350°F and preparing three 8-inch round cake pans with grease and flour coating.
  2. Combine flour, leavening agents, and salt in a separate mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of dry ingredients through careful whisking.
  3. Cream butter and sugar until achieving a light, airy texture, then incorporate eggs individually, blending thoroughly after each addition to create a smooth base.
  4. Alternate adding dry ingredient mixture and dairy liquids into the butter mixture, gently folding to maintain batter’s delicate consistency while integrating white chocolate fragments and roughly chopped pistachios.
  5. Distribute batter evenly across prepared pans, smoothing surfaces to create uniform layers, then bake for approximately 22-25 minutes until a testing probe emerges clean.
  6. Allow cake layers to rest in pans briefly before transferring to cooling racks, permitting complete temperature reduction.
  7. Whip softened butter until creamy, gradually introducing powdered sugar and cream to develop a silky, spreadable frosting with balanced sweetness.
  8. Construct cake by layering each round with generous frosting between levels, completely encasing exterior with remaining cream mixture.
  9. Embellish cake top and edges with finely crushed pistachios for textural contrast and visual appeal.
  10. Refrigerate assembled dessert for minimum 30 minutes to stabilize frosting and enhance flavor melding.

Notes

  • Ensure pistachios are finely chopped for even distribution throughout the cake batter, preventing large chunks that might disrupt the cake’s texture.
  • Toast pistachios lightly before adding to the batter to enhance their nutty flavor and create a more aromatic profile.
  • Use room temperature ingredients like eggs, butter, and sour cream to guarantee a smoother, more consistent cake batter and better rise.
  • For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, maintaining the same measurement proportions.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 14 g
  • Sodium: 150 mg
  • Fat: 24 g
  • Saturated Fat: 12 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 70 mg
Angelina Wiles

Angelina Wiles

Content Editor & Culinary Enthusiast

Expertise

Food Writing and Editing, Vegetarian and Vegan Cuisine, Baking and Pastry Arts, Sustainable Cooking Practices​

Education

Portland Community College
Certificate in Culinary Arts
Focus: Emphasis on sustainable cooking practices, vegetarian cuisine, and food writing.​

​Oregon Culinary Institute
Diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts
Focus: Specialized training in artisanal baking, pastry techniques, and dessert presentation.


Angelina’s love for cooking started with handwritten family recipes and weekend trips to farmers’ markets around Portland. She followed her passion with a Certificate in Culinary Arts from Portland Community College, then perfected her sweet side with a Diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts at Oregon Culinary Institute.
Angelina believes recipes should feel like a conversation, not a science project. She’s all about helping readers trust themselves in the kitchen with simple steps, fresh ideas, and easy twists on classic meals.
When she’s not editing recipes, she’s baking bread, sipping coffee, or getting inspired by the changing seasons.

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