With ground pistachios and orange zest, this easy single layer cake is simple and delicious. Pistachio Cake with Orange Segments makes a delicious end to any meal.
This cake is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s just a simple pistachio cake, lightly scented with orange zest. It has a tender, moist, nutty crumb flecked with subtle green from the ground pistachios. I serve it with a spoonful of orange segments for a perfect pairing. It’s sublime — and it won’t last one night. It’s that good.
I made this for dessert one night when we had friends coming for dinner. We sipped a little wine, grilled some chicken, crunched green beans, munched bruschetta with basil and walnut pesto and tomatoes. Pandora provided background music and the wine sparked a lively conversation. We ate, we laughed and we had some cake. CAKE. Picture the scene. Five of us — each with a sweet wedge dusted with powdered sugar and glistening with fresh orange segments. One bite. Two. Bigger bite. Gone. Maybe just a sliver more. Or two. Are there any oranges left? Then a frenzy of forks jostling for the remains on the cake plate. No more.
What I’m saying is that pistachios should be at the top of your grocery list. This cake is too good not to have this weekend (with a cup of coffee or tea – no wine – lest you succumb to the same fate as I). Seriously, make this. Eat this. You won’t be sorry.
Here’s why you’ll like it: It isn’t involved. There isn’t a huge time commitment. you won’t be making several layers, letting them cool, splitting them in half and frosting them layer by layer, assembling as you go. Heck, you don’t have to make frosting at all. No. It’s a single 9-inch cake. Adorn it with whipped cream, ice cream, or powdered sugar. Or don’t. It’s yummy either way. I didn’t make a single change to this recipe other than to segment the oranges that I’d already zested for the batter and serve them with the cake.
Speaking of the recipe, I’m not taking credit for this one. I’m spreading the word. I found this on epicurious.com by chef Rick Tramonto. However, it did get me thinking – could I do this with cashews? Peanuts? Brazil nuts? Pecans? Hmmm. We’ll see. In the meantime, I’m making this again — so should you.
Pistachio Cake with Orange Segments
Ingredients
- ¾ cup pistachios unsalted, shelled-- about 4 ounces -- not dyed red
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 3 medium oranges 2 Tablespoons, zested and segmented
Optional garnish
- powdered sugar
- whipped cream
- ice cream
- pistachios
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Trace the circumference of a 9" round cake pan on a piece of parchment paper and cut out the circle. Spray the pan with vegetable spray. Lay the parchment paper on the bottom of the pan and spray again. Set aside.
- Using food processor (I used my 3 cup mini-prep), pulse pistachios until finely ground, about 40 seconds. Don't over-process or you'll get a nut butter.
- Add flour, baking powder, cardamom and salt and pulse a few times to combine.
- In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy (1 1/2-2 minutes). Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low and alternate adding pistachio mixture and milk -- beginning and ending with pistachio mixture and beating just enough to combine. Add orange zest and vanilla and beat just to combine.
- Spread batter evenly in a pan and bake until wooden skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean -- about 30-40 minutes.
- While cake is baking segment oranges and set aside in a small bowl.
- Cool in pan and on rack 10 minutes. Run a knife around cake to loosen from pan and invert onto rack. Peel off parchment paper.
- Can be served warm or room temperature. Serve a spoonful of orange segments alongside a slice of cake with any additional garnish you like!
Notes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjOEGQ18F-A
Nutrition
More Easy Cakes:
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- One-Bowl Applesauce Walnut Snack Cake
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- Easy Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting
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- Brown Sugar Cornmeal Plum Cake
“Pin It” For Later!
Charlotte and I had so much fun making this cake way to go and keep up the good work
Love Carter
Carter, I’m so glad you enjoyed this cake — it’s one of Mimi’s favorites!
I can’t wait to make it ! Thank you.
Let me know how you like it!
These look absolutely amazing and so pretty. I bet they taste heavenly too Lisa. Never tried a combo like this but I see no reason why I shouldn’t soon.
I’m so intrigued by this beautiful cake, I always have pistachios around because I adore them…pinning and sharing!
OMgosh Lisa, this looks incredible! I make an orange cake but clearly I need to try this! I also happen to have orange trees in my yard…blood oranges even! Wish I could give you some right now!
I love this combination. Perfect for my morning coffee. I’m curious to get my taste of this pistachio cake.
What a beautiful cake! My hubby loves pistachios, so maybe ill surprise him with this cake soon!
Ooooooo now this is a combo I could roll with! Absolutely loving the process shots too! Such beautiful photography 🙂
Just enjoyed a slice of this with a cup of joe! Just perfect! And my kind of dessert….simple, straightforward flavors, moist and beautiful. I suspect that it will freeze beautifully or be equally receptive to a week in the refrigerator without losing any of its qualities! This recipe is a keeper, Lisa!
I am a big fan of such no fuss cakes. I can imagine the beautiful blend of flavours from Pistachio and Orange in this one.
This is a delicious cake and I love it with orange segments.