Pistachio Cake With Buttercream Frosting (Print Version)
A moist, nutty cake bursting with pistachio flavor and frosted with creamy buttercream. Perfect for special occasions.
# What You Need:
→ Pistachio Cake
01 - 1 1/2 cups shelled unsalted pistachios
02 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
03 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 3 large eggs
08 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
09 - 1/2 cup whole milk
10 - 1/4 cup sour cream
→ Pistachio Buttercream Frosting
11 - 1 cup shelled unsalted pistachios
12 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
13 - 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
14 - 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
15 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
16 - Pinch of salt
# Preparation Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a food processor, finely grind 1 1/2 cups pistachios. Set aside.
03 - In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
05 - Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
06 - Mix in the ground pistachios until evenly distributed.
07 - Alternately add the flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with flour. Add sour cream and mix until just combined.
08 - Divide the batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 28-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
09 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Process 1 cup pistachios until very finely ground or beginning to form a paste.
11 - In a mixer, beat butter until creamy. Add the pistachio paste and mix well.
12 - Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until fluffy. Add vanilla and salt. Add cream 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
13 - Once cakes are cooled, spread frosting between layers and over the top and sides. Decorate with extra chopped pistachios if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The ground pistachios in both cake and frosting create an intense nutty flavor you cant get from extract alone
- Buttercream made with fresh pistachio paste tastes like something from an Italian pastry shop
02 -
- Cold cake layers will cause your buttercream to seize and look curdled
- Ground pistachios can turn into butter faster than you think so check every few seconds
03 -
- Grind pistachios with a tablespoon of flour from the recipe to prevent them from becoming paste
- Place a dab of frosting under your cake plate to keep it from sliding around while you decorate