Pistachio Cake

Name: Pistachio Cake Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 227 g Unsalted Butter (room temperature); 360 g Granulated Sugar ((Caster sugar)); 375 g All-purpose Flour ((Plain Flour)); 2 tsp Baking powder; 1/2 tsp Baking soda; 1 tsp Salt; 3 Large Eggs (room temperature); 80 g Sour Cream (room temperature); 240 ml Whole Milk (room temperature); 80 g Pistachio Paste; ½ tsp Almond Extract; 1 tsp Vanilla Extract; 100 g Pistachios (roughly chopped); 1 batch Frosting of choice; 40 g Pistachio Paste

Finally - a pistachio cake recipe that actually tastes like pistachios!

This soft, fluffy pistachio layer cake is made with real pistachio paste and chopped pistachios for a deep, nutty flavour in every bite. No artificial flavouring, no pudding mix - just pure pistachio goodness.

Pistachio cake on a cake stand with a slice being taken out of it to reveal the layers of fluffy cake and italian pistachio buttercream inside.

Pistachio Cake Recipe Snapshot

What it is: Pistachio cake that actually tastes like pistachio, made with pistachio paste to pack in the nutty flavor.

Why you'll love it: Made with real pistachios - no pudding mix or artificial flavoring.

How to make it: Beat butter, sugar, and pistachio paste together until fluffy, then mix in wet ingredients, followed by dry. Fold in chopped pistachios and bake.

Single slice of pistachio cake on a pink plate with a forkful being taken out of it, showing the silky smooth texture of the pistachio buttercream.

Reader Review:

I've made this cake 4 times and now it's my specialty that my friends and fam ask me to make for them!! Someone even made it for my wedding!! It's always so moist, my fave recipe by far.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Harper

This pistachio cake is one of the oldest recipes on my blog - and still one of my favourites.

I've loved pistachio desserts long before they had their moment, but when I first went looking for a pistachio cake recipe… I was not impressed. So many of them use pistachio pudding mix (hard pass) or rely on loads of almond extract, which just turns the whole thing into almond cake pretending to be pistachio.

So I developed my own - properly. I use pistachio paste to load the batter with real pistachio flavour without messing up the texture (it's my go-to in pretty much all of my pistachio recipes), and then add chopped pistachios for even more flavour and texture.

EDIT: This recipe was originally developed in 2020, but I have made it many times over the years and have since made a few tweaks to improve the recipe (2026). If you were a fan of the old version, just let me know, and I can send it to you.

Jump to:

Pistachio Cake Recipe Snapshot
Ingredients
How to Make Pistachio Cake
How to Make Pistachio Buttercream
Variations
Storage
FAQ
More Pistachio Desserts
Recipe

Ingredients

This pistachio cake is made from scratch, without any pudding mix or artificial flavors. The ingredients are fairly simple, but there are a few important things to pay attention to.

Butter - Use unsalted butter and make sure it is room temperature.
Sugar - Granulated sugar (Caster sugar in the UK).
Pistachio Paste - You can easily make homemade pistachio paste, or you can buy it online. Note: If you are buying it, make sure you get pistachio paste or pistachio butter, and NOT pistachio cream - see below.
Flour - All-purpose flour (Plain flour) gives the best structure. I have tested multiple times with cake flour, and it does work, but it can be a bit too soft.
Eggs - Use large eggs in the US or medium eggs in the UK (our eggs are bigger).
Sour Cream - This gives the pistachio cake a gorgeously soft, fluffy texture. Can be substituted with Greek yoghurt.
Milk - Whole milk is best to carry the flavor and give moisture.
Almond Extract - Pistachios don't have a naturally strong flavor, but almond extract kind of pulls it out and gives it a twirl around to show it off. The key is for the almond to complement the pistachio, rather than overpower it.
Vanilla - Use a high-quality vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
Pistachios - Use unsalted pistachios, raw or roasted are both fine. If you are making your own pistachio paste, you'll need a lot more.

Make sure your butter, eggs, milk, and sour cream are all room temperature before beginning.

See the recipe card below for the full recipe with measurements in both cups and grams (though I always recommend weighing with a kitchen scale).

Pistachio Paste vs Pistachio Cream

This is the most important thing to get right in this recipe - pistachio paste and pistachio cream are two completely different ingredients!

✔️ Pistachio paste (or pistachio butter)

Made from 100% pistachios
Unsweetened
Strong, natural pistachio flavor.

❌ Pistachio cream

Sweetened spread (like Nutella)
Contains added sugar, milk, and flavorings
Makes a great topping, but not suitable for baking.

I can't believe how many baking blogs don't know the difference, especially with the Dubai chocolate craze happening recently.

Slice of pistachio cake on a plate with four thin layers of cake and Italian meringue buttercream.

How to Make Pistachio Cake

This is a super easy cake to make and uses a classic creaming method, but with the pistachio paste added as well.

scooping a spoonful of pistachio butter in a heart shaped bowl.

Make Pistachio Paste

Make the pistachio paste first so it can cool before using. You can also make it in advance and store it in the fridge for 4 weeks.

See my complete guide on how to make pistachio paste.

Alternatively, you can just buy it online and skip this step.

Butter, sugar, and pistachio paste creamed together in a glass mixing bowl until light and fluffy to make pistachio cake.

Creaming Method

Preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C (160° fan) and grease two 8-inch cake pans. I also like to line the bottom with parchment paper circles.

Cream the butter, sugar, and pistachio paste together until light and fluffy.

Pistachio cake batter in a glass mixing bowl, showing the soft texture after adding the eggs.

Add Eggs

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing in between until incorporated.

In a separate bowl, sift together the dry ingredients, then add half of them to the cake batter and mix it in on low speed.

Pistachio cake batter in a mixing bowl, thick and glossy with a pale green colour.

Wet + Dry Ingredients

Pour in the wet ingredients, including sour cream, milk, and both extracts, and mix slowly until completely incorporated.

Then stir in the remaining flour - be careful not to overmix.

Chopped pistachio nuts being added to pistachio cake batter.

Add Pistachios

Add the chopped pistachios to the bowl and fold them in.

There's no need to toast them first; they will soften in the oven to give just a tiny bit of bite.

Pistachio cake batter divided between two cake pans.

Bake

Divide the pistachio mixture between the two prepared cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs.

Baking time will vary, so definitely check your cake.

Pistachio cake on a cake stand, covered with soft pistachio buttercream and chopped pistachios.

Fill and Frost

Let the cake cool completely in the pan before removing.

Fill and frost with pistachio buttercream, and decorate with chopped pistachios.

How to Make Pistachio Buttercream

The beauty of using pistachio paste is that it can easily be added to any frosting recipe and immediately tastes incredible.

To do this, just mix in a few tablespoons of pistachio paste right at the end of making your frosting recipe. You can also add a pinch of salt and a few drops of almond extract - but be careful not to go overboard, as the almond can overpower the natural nutty flavors.

This cake pairs beautifully with Italian meringue buttercream - it's light, silky, and not overly sweet, which lets the pistachio flavour shine.

But I have also tested this cake many times with these other frosting recipes, all of which take on the nutty flavor really well:

Italian meringue buttercream - my go-to for making pistachio frosting.
Swiss meringue buttercream - slightly less sweet with a wonderful mouth-feel.
French buttercream - for a rich and luxurious option made with egg yolks instead of egg whites (I use this on my pistachio dacquoise cake).
Russian buttercream - a quick and easy buttercream that still has the silky texture of meringue frostings.

Overhead view of a pistachio cake with pistachio buttercream swirled on top, and a crescent of chopped pistachios to decorate.

Variations

Add fruit or jam - Pistachio pairs so beautifully with many fruits, especially berries. Try adding a raspberry jam or fruit puree between the cake layers.
Whipped Cream - For a lighter option, replace the buttercream with chantilly cream - you could add some pistachio paste or almond extract into that too.
Pistachio Cream Topping - Though we can't use it inside the cake batter itself, pistachio cream makes a really delicious topping or filling. Try spreading it on top of the cake or in between one of the layers.
Lemon Pistachio Cake - For a citrusy twist, add some lemon zest to the cake batter and/or frosting.
Pistachio Cupcakes - This recipe can be made as cupcakes as well. See my pistachio cupcake recipe for details on bake time.
Green Cake - If you'd like to make your pistachio cake a bright green color, you can add a few drops of green food coloring (gel). It's fun for a theme like St. Patrick's Day or to make the cake pop. Though I think the natural color is super pretty!

pistachio cake covered in pistachio italian meringue buttercream.

close up of pistachio cake, bright green sponge flavoured with real pistachios

Single pistachio cupcake on three small stacked plates, with pistachios strewn around the background

Storage

Store your homemade pistachio cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

FAQ

If you have a question about this recipe that isn't answered here, please write it in the comment section, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Do I have to make my own pistachio paste?

No, you definitely don't have to make your own pistachio paste - you can buy it pre-made. Just make sure you get pistachio paste or pistachio butter, not pistachio cream. The ingredients should be 100% pistachios.

Are pistachio paste and pistachio butter the same thing?

Yes, pistachio paste and pistachio butter are two names for the same thing. They are both made with 100% pistachios (and sometimes a little oil). Not to be confused with pistachio cream, which is sweeter and has other ingredients added.

What is the difference between pistachio paste and pistachio cream?

Pistachio paste is made with 100% pistachios, whereas pistachio cream has lots of other ingredients added to make it a sweet spread or filling.

Can you use salted pistachios to make pistachio cake?

Yes, you can use salted or unsalted pistachios to make this pistachio cake. You won't really taste the flavor of the salt too much - but it's all down to personal preference.

Can this Recipe Make Pistachio Cupcakes?

Yes, it can! In fact, I actually have a whole post dedicated to Pistachio Cupcakes.
You can also use this recipe in a bundt cake pan to make a pistachio bundt cake, just make sure you grease your bundt pan VERY thoroughly as this is a very soft cake.

What flavors go with pistachio?

Pistachio is such a versatile flavor because it can be light and fresh or rich and decadent, depending on what you pair it with. For crisp flavors, pair with fresh raspberry or lemon. For something more indulgent, pistachio goes beautifully with dark chocolate and creamy flavors like custard.

Show Me Your Bakes!

If you make this recipe, please tag @bonni_bakery on Instagram or send me a photo - I love seeing all your creations.

Want your bake featured on the blog? You can also upload a photo here.

More Pistachio Desserts

I mentioned I am a little obsessed with pistachios. If you are a pistachio lover too, I have a lot more delicious pistachio recipes you should try!

Recipe

Jules (Juliane) Grasekamp, baking blogger at Bonni Bakery standing in the kitchen holding a heart spoon.

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.

Check out my baking blog and try a few recipes.
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Comments

4.76 from 97 votes (76 ratings without comment)

Pistachio Cake Recipe Snapshot