I'm a little obsessed with pistachio desserts - so it really bothers me when they don't actually taste like pistachio. It drives me nuts (ha) when something looks amazing, but you take a bite, and it's just vaguely sweet with no real flavour behind it.
The biggest issue is that a lot of recipes rely on artificial flavourings (or, god forbid, pistachio pudding) as the main source of flavour. All of my pistachio recipes use the real thing, and over time, I've learned exactly how to get that deep, nutty flavour to actually come through.
In this post, I've pulled together the best pistachio desserts to try - from easy bakes to proper showstoppers - and I'll also share exactly how to get that real pistachio flavour into your own baking.
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How To Get A Strong Pistachio Flavor In Desserts
You do not need artificial flavors or pudding. mixes or jello (please, no) in your pistachio desserts. Here is exactly how to get a real, punchy pistachio flavor in your bakes.
Use REAL Nuts
It might seem obvious, but many recipes don't actually even put pistachios in their pistachio desserts! You can use chopped or ground pistachios or pistachio paste.
Use Pistachio Paste
Pistachio paste is the best way to get a strong pistachio flavor in your desserts. Pistachio paste is a nut butter made of 100% pistachios. You can buy it online, or easily make your own pistachio paste at home.
Because it is just blended up pistachio nuts, it can add a lot of flavor without adding too much liquid. (Though it is a fat, so you may need to take that into consideration for certain recipes).
Store-bought vs Homemade Pistachio Paste
I prefer to make my own pistachio paste as it's a little cheaper and I have more control over the exact consistency I want.
But if you are short on time or don't want to make your own, you can easily buy it readymade. If you do buy it, make sure to look for pistachio paste or pistachio butter - NOT pistachio cream. If in doubt, check the ingredients - it should be just pistachios in there.
It's a very quick process to make it yourself, so I typically make a big batch all in one go and then keep some of it for future recipes.
Pistachio Paste vs Pistachio Cream
Many recipe sites use these two ingredient names interchangeably, but they are COMPLETELY different things, and using the wrong one in your bakes could be a pretty expensive mistake.
- Pistachio Paste - A nut butter made from 100% pistachios. Savory and earthy.
- Pistachio Cream - A sweet, creamy spread made with pistachios and other ingredients, kind of like pistachio-flavored Nutella.
Toast For Deeper Flavor
Toasting the pistachios helps them to release their natural oils and bring out the lovely nutty flavor. I always toast them for a few minutes in the oven before chopping, grinding, or turning them into pistachio butter.
Use Almond Extract To Compliment (Not Overpower)
Sometimes desserts are sold as pistachio, but really they're just almond extract and food coloring. Almond goes beautifully with pistachio, and when used correctly, can really help to make it shine. But it's important not to use too much, or it will just overpower the natural pistachio flavor.
Pistachio Dessert Recipes
As the self-proclaimed queen of pistachio desserts, I've probably tried sneaking pistachios into almost every kind of recipe. But here are the best pistachio recipes you NEED to try right now:
In a well-deserved first place, we have pistachio dacquoise - aka, the best thing I've ever tasted. It brings all types of textures to the table, with layers of crispy yet chewy meringue-based cake, and satisfyingly smooth pistachio French buttercream. It uses ground pistachios in the dacquoise cake and pistachio paste in the rich filling.
These pistachio shortbread cookies are what I make when I want something super easy that will always impress. It's my traditional Scottish shortbread recipe with chopped pistachios, dipped in shiny dark chocolate. The recipe uses the slice-and-bake method, so you don't need any special equipment.
These deliciously nutty muffins are bursting with rich pistachio flavour. The sweet and salty pistachio crumble topping is one of my favourite inventions - it's hard not to just eat it straight out of the bowl!
This pistachio cake was one of the first recipes I ever posted on the blog. It's super soft and made with natural ingredients, but full of delicious flavor. My sister actually requested that I make it for her wedding cake!
Load gooey, fudgy brownies with flavourful pistachios, and finish them off with a silky white chocolate pistachio ganache made completely from scratch. Chocolate and pistachio are a match made in heaven.
Dubai chocolate went viral for a few months, but this version will be one of my favourites forever. It has a crispy kataifi and pistachio cream filling that melts in your mouth with each bite, all encased in a glossy dark chocolate shell. Pre warning: once you try this recipe, no other chocolate bar will compare!
I turned my classic Sicilian cannoli recipe into a pistachio sweet treat dream. Mix homemade pistachio paste into a sweet ricotta filling to bring these crunchy pastries to life. They make the perfect coffee morning treat or post-dinner dessert when you're fancying something a little different (and delicious).
This heavenly cheesecake contains real pistachios in every layer, from the buttery crust to the creamy cheesecake filling and smooth pistachio topping. The recipe shows you exactly when to take it out so it has a soft, creamy texture in the middle.
These easy drop cookies are packed with all-natural pistachio goodness that's subtly sweetened by white chocolate chips. This recipe uses melted butter, so you don't have the faff of softening the butter and carefully creaming it - just melt, mix, and bake.
Bake up some delicate little cupcakes that certainly aren't shy on flavour. The pistachio Italian meringue buttercream tastes so good, I have to stop myself from eating the whole bowl straight away! But it's worth the wait, as the combination of frosting and the fluffy pistachio cupcakes is to die for.
What do you get when you combine chocolate-covered strawberries with the best Dubai chocolate bar? An irresistible no-fuss dessert that's ready in just 15 minutes. This is a super romantic dessert for your next homemade date night, and it works just as well for a crowd, as you can make as much as you like (leftovers are essential!).
Put a pistachio twist on your favourite patisserie treats with my silky-smooth pistachio pastry cream. Use it to fill classics like eclairs, profiteroles, cream puffs, and donuts, or create an entire dessert by pairing with a homemade tart shell.
What Kind Of Pistachios To Use In Baking
Choosing the right kind of pistachios for all your nutty baking creations is a game-changer. Here's what to look for when buying your pistachios:
- Shelled - To save you a lot of time and sore fingers, use pre-shelled pistachios. They're a little more expensive but totally worth it.
- Unsalted - This means you can control the level of salt in your bakes.
- Raw or Roasted - You can use either type, but I prefer to use raw pistachios as they're less likely to dry out or burn when toasted.
These are my go-to brand of unsalted no-shell pistachios.
Best Flavors To Pair With Pistachio
Pistachio is a standout flavor on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with a lot of other ingredients to bring out a whole new profile. Here are some of my favourite pistachio combinations:
- Chocolate - Chocolate and pistachio were made for each other. You can put pistachios into just about any chocolate dessert, or add some tasty ganache to your pistachio desserts. I also love to just temper some chocolate and sprinkle it with chopped pistachios and a bit of flaky sea salt.
- Raspberry - Sharp, tart raspberries cut through the rich, salty taste of pistachios. Add chopped pistachios to my raspberry muffins or raspberry cupcakes to try it out!
- Citrus - Lemon and orange pair beautifully with pistachios and make refreshing spring and summer desserts. Add some lemon curd to your pistachio cake.
FAQ
Lightly toasting pistachios, adding a pinch of salt, and using rich ingredients like butter or cream all help intensify their natural flavour. A small amount of acidity (like lemon or raspberry), or a drop of almond extract can also brighten and deepen pistachio's nuttiness.
Desserts made with 100% real pistachios (paste or cream) shouldn't be bright green, but rather a darker, muted greeny-brown colour. If you would like a stronger green colour (think St. Paddy's and Wicked themed desserts!), just add a few drops of green gel food colouring to the mixture.
Authentic, homemade pistachio paste is made from one ingredient: pistachios! I toast my pistachios before blending to release their flavour even more.
Recipes To Add Pistachio To
Now that you know the trick to punchy pistachio flavor (pistachio paste), you can add it to all your favorite desserts and frostings. Here are some of my favorite recipes to add pistachios to:
I hope you have so much fun baking (and eating!) your way through these pistachio desserts. They're some of my absolute favourites, and I'm so excited to finally have them all in one place. If you try any, I'd love to hear what you think - leave a comment and let me know which one you loved most!
More Nutty Recipes
Are you a little bit nut-crazy? Me too. Try out these baking recipes full of nuttiness.
Hi, I'm Jules!
I'm a Scottish ex-bakery owner sharing my tried and true dessert recipes and expert tips to help you whip up impressive desserts at home.
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Happy Baking!