Pistachio Cake Recipe From Scratch (With Surprise Filling!)

This tender pistachio cake is made with homemade pistachio paste (so easy you won’t ever buy it again) and layered with fresh raspberry reduction and a rich French buttercream that tastes like ice cream! Pistachio lovers go CRAZY for this cake! If you’ve never had pistachio then you’ve got to give it a chance! It’s such a unique flavor. Rich, nutty, earthy, and very distinct. This cake doesn’t use any artificial pistachio flavor so it’s a great recipe to try if you want to experience true pistachio flavor.

CHAPTERS ►
00:00 Intro
00:11 Pistachio cake batter?
00:30 Homemade pistachio butter
01:34 Can I use cake flour?
01:56 Natural color
02:25 Preparing the pans
03:20 Baking the cakes
03:38 Cooling the cakes
04:01 The secret filling!
05:58 French buttercream
06:34 Pasteurizing eggs
07:12 Other frostings you can use
07:25 When are my eggs done cooking?
07:59 Meet Dolly!!
08:22 Whipping to the ribbon stage
08:56 Adding the butter
09:42 Trick for making super smooth buttercream
10:20 Trimming the cakes
10:39 The crumb coat
11:23 The final coat
12:27 Decorating the cake
13:12 Tasting the cake
13:57 Bloopers!

Raspberry Filling ►
13 ounces (369 g) fresh or frozen raspberries
5 ounces (142 g) granulated sugar
1 ounce (28 g) lemon zest
1 ounce (28 g) fresh lemon juice
2 ounces (57 g) water
1 ounce (28 g) Clear Jel or cornstarch

Pistachio Cake►
14 ounces (397 g) all-purpose flour
7 ounces (198 g) granulated sugar
7 ounces (198 g) brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
10 ounces (284 g) buttermilk (room temperature)
2 large eggs (room temperature)
6 ounces (170 g) oil
4 ounces (113 g) pistachio butter (or finely ground pistachios)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon green food color (optional)

French Buttercream ►
8 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
14 ounces (397 g) granulated sugar
24 ounces (680 g) unsalted butter (softened)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

OTHER VIDEOS YOU'LL LOVE ►

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ADD ME ON ►

[traceymollet]

I love that you explain when something replaces an ingredient. I like to understand the science behind the recipes and you ALWAYS deliver! 😉😜 thank you! 🙏🏻

[medic]

The cakes are baked, the filling is chillin' and getting ready to chill the cakes before trimming. My cakes had more rise in the middle. I have an older oven but I use a digital probe to try to get the temp just so. The oops moment was after the cakes were in the oven, finding out I had forgotten to add chopped pistachios to the batter. Next time. Thanks for the video. Making this cake for my son for his birthday. It will be a surprise as he had asked for pistachio muffins like ones sold in bakeries.

[medic]

The cake was a big hit with my son. He loved the tartness of the raspberry filling that balanced out the buttercream icing I had to make at the last minute. My attempt at your French buttercream was a dismal failure as it tended to melt at room temp and the texture was not right. I know I did something wrong though. I'm not a novice in the kitchen or baking but my icing attempt was a no go. My advice to anyone is to watch the video and then, most meticulously, make the icing in the recipe. The taste was wonderful and we used some of the icing to eat the cut off cake tops. Yes, the cake has a fantastic flavor. Thanks SG

[ElaineJohnson-xc]

Thank you, thank you thank you Liz! I am a beginner, baker and nervous every time I make a cake but you have made it so approachable. Thank you so much. Also, your recipes rock!

[lidyaabbott]

I tried this ... what a crows pleaser ... my husband said it was the best cake that i ever made so far 😋, thank you for the recipe ...

[brandon]

I love that you don't use food coloring. This is way more appetizing to me than bright green. I like your jibe as well. You're a happy and knowledgeable baker without being gimmicky and fake.

[kaneliroman]

I made this cake for my moms 80th celebration and people loved it! . Now I have couple orders pending 😄

[smileygirl]

I love watching your videos Liz you always make me smile and very hungry.🤤🥰

[abaez]

Thank you Liz! I have been looking for a pistachio recipe to make for my parents anniversary next week and BAM I received a notification that you created one. Thank you so much!!!! I'm definitely going to try! ❤

[jobond]

I'm a Kenwood mixer girl. I have 2. Both go. One my mum had which was probably broughter in the 1950s and one my son gave me. The latest one which you can cook in as well as make a cake. For me Kenwood give the best

[tw]

I can’t wait to make this! I love pistachio desserts. Thank you for sharing!

[susanmarino]

All your cakes look so good. Thank you for sharing and giving information for baking tips.

[colincunniff]

Well done! Really appreciate the detailed descriptions and I’m excited to try this at home. Pro chef of 20 odd years trying to get back into baking, most useful content

[shikinsaerah]

This pistachio raspberry cake famous in my country but no one willing to share their recipe 😁😁😁

Tqvm for ur recipe. I'm surely make this cake soon ❤️❤️❤️

[SugarGeekShow]

CHAPTERS ►
00:00 Intro
00:11 Pistachio cake batter?
00:30 Homemade pistachio butter
01:34 Can I use cake flour?
01:56 Natural color
02:25 Preparing the pans
03:20 Baking the cakes
03:38 Cooling the cakes
04:01 The secret filling!
05:58 French buttercream
06:34 Pasteurizing eggs
07:12 Other frostings you can use
07:25 When are my eggs done cooking?
07:59 Meet Dolly!!
08:22 Whipping to the ribbon stage
08:56 Adding the butter
09:42 Trick for making super smooth buttercream
10:20 Trimming the cakes
10:39 The crumb coat
11:23 The final coat
12:27 Decorating the cake
13:12 Tasting the cake
13:57 Bloopers!

[rosanedeoliveira]

I love Pistachio cake!!! Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe!

[lisaanderson]

Hello Dolly 😉 Sorry about Oscar… I am definitely not a French BC person… great for a pastry filling though! Swiss is my tried and true BC. Liz is generous for sharing this recipe (and making me feel accepted in the perfectionist club🤣) Every vanilla, yellow or white cake I have made always seems to have a grainy texture and off flavor. Then I tried Lizs’ recipe and success! Btw… I made a pistachio paste not that long ago and it was way too dry and crumbly… but I am going to have to try her techniques😊 Thanks to the Sugar Geek team!

[Janine-gfkc]

I made this cake and the frosting for it last night! The cake turned out great. The "Friss" frosting though - I am not sure why it came out on the runny side. My butter was at room temp, and the sugar dissolved properly in the eggs when I whisked them over a bain marie. Once I started whisking in my mixer, it never came together too much--and that was after 15 minutes of whisking! The end result was a more runny frosting after I switched to a paddle for 10 minutes (it did firm it up a bit but not too much where I could pipe it). I stuck it in the fridge overnight hoping that it will come together today later when I whisk it with a paddle attachment again. Any ideas why it wouldn't have worked? I make Swiss and Italian merengue frosting, and never had this issue! But I have never used the whole egg, just the egg whites.

[sweetmimisestscha]

Can't wait to to try this pistachio recipe!! Thank you sweetie!!! 💕💕💕💕

[marjemandfar]

i have made this recipe and its absolutely delicious! If I wanted to add extra chopped pistachios for added texture, how much should I add? will it make it dry?