BEST Pistachio Cake Recipe - GF

Name: BEST Pistachio Cake Recipe - GF
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ingredients: 200 gm butter; 150 gm castor sugar; 1 tsp vanilla; 4 eggs; 200 gm pistachio powder; 50 gm corn flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt

This cake is made from scratch with real pistachio powder and corn flour to make a moist and tender gluten free cake that is naturally green and very delicious. It is even better with pistachio paste but you can enjoy it on its own too!

This cake is basically pistachio frangipani aka pistachio cream meets fluffy cake to create the MOST INTENSELY flavored pistachio cake that is moist (no better word to describe the texture), tender, floral and nutty in every bite. It is so simple to make literally is the BEST pistachio cake recipe you will make that happens to be gluten free but so good!

If you are new to the pistachio game, don’t worry I will guide you through the rules. Truth be told there is no game but the only one which makes you not want to finish this cake in one sitting. I absolutely loved the pistachio cake recipe Broma bakery posted last year and thoroughly enjoyed it when I made it. However, my bother who is gluten free cannot eat gluten and I wanted to try a version of the cake without any flour and using the principal of almond cream but with pistachios instead, baked into a cake. Yes. You heard right. I have used this pistachio frangipani recipe for my homemade pistachio kunafa croissant recipe.

Pistachio cake origin can be traced back to no specific timeline as they were used very freely in middle eastern and levantine cuisine they. Have been found in various dessert recipes which have no direct origin. In saying this, this pistachio cake recipe is not similar to the Italian pistachio cake which is has a very different method of preparation and list of ingredients. As pistachio is having its moment now, it seemed only fitting to share this recipe as I made it for my brother who loves dessert and needed a gluten free, minimal ingredient sweet treat fix and he absolutely loved it.

What to love about this Pistachio cake recipe?

Simplicity –

This cake is doesn’t require much effort to make the batter. You don’t need any fancy equipment to bake it and it is ready in an hour. You don’t need a long list of ingredients to prepare this cake batter. In fact you most likely would have the ingredients in your pantry right now.

Flavor –

The flavor of this cake is floral, nutty, intense with pistachio flavor and is very elegant. Considering you don’t need many ingredients to make it, the cake is perfect for breakfast, brunch, tea time or a dessert situation.

Texture –

This cake has the best texture, it is soft, moist, fluffy and tender. The first day the cake has a crust but honestly it is even better the next day as the pistachio releases its oils and keeps the cake moist/fresh – basically, tastier the next day!

Gluten free –

Incase you didn’t have enough reasons to make this cake, the fact that it is gluten free should be the seal. It is a simple gluten free cake option for anyone who is gluten intolerant but loves a good slices of cake. Also, this cake makes for a yummy summer flavor cake.

What is pistachio cake made of?

Pistachio cakes are made from butter, sugar, eggs, pistachios in powder form and in a coarse nut form, flour, leavening agents and salt. Some cakes may include, buttermilk/yogurt/milk etc. There are recipes with oil instead of butter and they use pistachio pudding mix or a green food color to keep the cake green in color. This recipe doesn’t use any artificial color or flavor. We use pistachios blended into a powder to create a naturally flavored pistachio cake which is what sets this cake apart from others.

What flavor goes with pistachio?

Pistachio pairs well with fresh fruits, frosting like cream cheese or freshly whipped cream. It is also yummy on its own or with milk chocolate. Check out my chocolate pistachio kunafa cake recipe for more inspiration.

What is the best frosting for pistachio cake?

I would say cream cheese, chocolate or whipped cream. They are my favorite combinations to pair with pistachio cake. I also like the yogurt whipped cream frosting from the lemon cake sandwiches recipe with this cake.

Can you make pistachio flour?

You can make you’re own pistachio flour at home by removing the pistachios from the shells and peeling them before blending to create a fine powder. Traditionally the shelled pistachios are blanched, lightly toasted and then ground into a powder to retain that gleaming green color. You don’t need to do all of that, you could just shell the pistachios and blend them to create a powder. However, you might loose bit of the green color in the process as it will have the skin blended into the powder.

What fruit goes with pistachio?

I love the combination of raspberries with pistachios. You could use strawberries or mangoes as well. There is no rule book on this combination but these are my personal favorites.

What does pistachio taste like?

Pistachio cake is nutty, floral and subtle. It is elegant and has a very sweet note to its flavor profile.

What is pistachio paste made of?

Pistachio paste or pistachio butter is originally blended pistachios until it releases its oils to create a paste. However, today recipes and jar include added essence, sugars, emulsifiers etc.

What makes this pistachio cake gluten free?

The cake batter uses pistachio flour aka pistachio powder which is basically pistachio ground into a powder and corn flour. These two ingredients together act as the “flour” in our cake batter making for a very fluffy, most and tender cake.

What ingredients do you need to make this pistachio cake?

To make this pistachio cake we need butter, castor sugar, eggs, vanilla, pistachio powder, corn flour, baking powder, salt. If you do not have pistachio flour you can make it by blending your pistachios into a fine powder. You can add chopped pistachios into the batter to amp up the pistachio flavor. Alternatively you can add white chocolate chunks into the cake batter as well.

What equipment do you need to make this pistachio cake?

To make this cake batter we need a mixing bowl, whisk and rubber spatula. I have baked the cake in a 9 inch loaf tin lined with baking paper. You can use an 8×8 inch cake tin as well however it will bake in half the amount of time and the cake will be thinner in height. I have also baked this cake in an 8/9 inch round cake tin. I would recommend checking the cake after 25 minutes and doing a tooth pick test to check if it is done. You might have a few stocky crumbs and that is fine as it will cool down

How to make this pistachio cake?

Preheat the oven to 175℃, line a 9 inch loaf tin with baking paper and butter, set aside. In a mixing bowl add the soft butter and whisk for a minute until pale. Add the sugar and vanilla, whisk again fro 2 minutes until creamy and the sugar is dissolved. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well between each interval. Add the pistachio powder, corn flour, baking powder salt and whisk well until smooth. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the tin completely before removing, slicing and serving.

Serving and decorating this pistachio cake?

The best way to serve this cake is with pistachio paste. You can use any pistachio paste/butter you have. It is also yummy with fresh raspberries, whipped cream with yogurt, cream cheese frosting, or even a simple chocolate frosting.

Storing this pistachio cake?

The cake is best the next day as the pistachio flour releases its oils, making it even more tender. You can store it in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. When ready too eat, warm it in the microwave and enjoy.

Looking for more pistachio recipes?

Now that we have covered how to make the BEST gluten free pistachio cake recipe, you can have a look at the recipe video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more fun recipe inspiration.

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on pinterest & instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.