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Vanilla Bean Pistachio Cake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 128 reviews

This Vanilla Bean Pistachio Cake is a beautifully moist and flavorful dessert featuring the warm essence of Madagascar vanilla beans combined with a rich pistachio pudding-infused frosting. Perfectly baked and layered with creamy frosting, it’s topped with delicate buttercream roses and chopped pistachios for a stunning finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake:

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 Rodelle Madagascar vanilla bean
  • 1/2 tsp Rodelle vanilla paste or pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup milk

Frosting:

  • 1 lb butter
  • 1 package pistachio pudding mix (3.4 oz)
  • 1 tsp Rodelle pure vanilla extract
  • 5–6 cups powdered sugar
  • 4–6 tablespoons milk
  • Chopped pistachios (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven: Set your oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready for baking your cake layers.
  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined, then set aside.
  3. Cream butter and sugar: In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth texture for your cake.
  4. Add eggs and vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the butter and sugar mixture, blending thoroughly after each addition. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add it along with the vanilla paste or pure vanilla extract, mixing well.
  5. Combine wet and dry ingredients: Alternately add the dry ingredient mixture and milk into the wet ingredients, starting and ending with the dry, mixing until smooth and just combined.
  6. Prepare and bake cake pans: Divide the batter evenly between two 9-inch cake pans that have been greased and floured or lined. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cakes turn golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  7. Cool the cake layers: Remove the cakes from the oven and carefully turn them out onto cooling racks. Let them cool completely before frosting.
  8. Make the frosting base: In a large bowl, beat the butter until it becomes light and fluffy, which will create a smooth and creamy base for your frosting.
  9. Incorporate pudding and vanilla: Beat in the pistachio pudding mix and vanilla extract until fully combined, ensuring a uniform pistachio flavor throughout.
  10. Add powdered sugar and milk: Gradually mix in powdered sugar one cup at a time. Once fully incorporated, slowly add milk, a tablespoon at a time, until you achieve the desired consistency.
  11. Whip frosting: Continue beating the frosting on high speed for about 5 minutes to create a fluffy, light texture perfect for spreading and decorating.
  12. Assemble cake layers: Place one cake layer on a turntable or cake stand. Spread approximately 1 cup of frosting in the center, extending it outwards but leaving about a 1/2 inch border at the edges.
  13. Add second layer and crumb coat: Place the second cake layer on top and cover the entire cake — top and sides — with frosting, reserving about 1 cup of frosting for decoration.
  14. Create textured sides: Using an offset spatula, gently press into the frosting at the base of the cake and spin it around on the turntable. Repeat this in consecutive rows all the way up to the top to create a textured pattern.
  15. Decorate cake: Pipe large buttercream roses on top of the cake with the reserved frosting and finish by sprinkling chopped pistachios over the top for added texture and flavor.

Notes

  • Make sure the cake layers are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting and sliding.
  • Vanilla bean adds an intense and fresh vanilla flavor, but you can use all vanilla paste or extract if unavailable.
  • Adjust milk quantity in frosting to reach your preferred spreading consistency.
  • Chilled frosting is easier to pipe and hold shape if making decorative roses.
  • Store the cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.

Keywords: vanilla bean cake,pistachio cake,layer cake,pistachio pudding frosting,buttercream roses,vanilla pistachio dessert

Find it online: https://todayfoodrecipe.com/vanilla-bean-pistachio-cake-recipe/