Pistachio Cardamom Cake is from a British cookbook called "Sweet Food". While the ingredients are not listed in metric, the recipes seem to be geared for European cooks. This is a good thing in terms of taste, but I did have to modify the directions quite a bit. We enjoyed this cake, but I need to make it again a few times and test with different pan sizes as well as the self-rising flour substitute.
Update: I've since updated this recipe using regular all-purpose flour (rather than self-rising). I've also reduced the amount of batter so you still get an 8 inch round cake, but it's slightly smaller.
Recipe
Pistachio Cardamom Cake with Lime Glaze
Pistachio Cardamom Cake with Lime Glaze is a less-sweet, heavier cake that goes nicely with whipped cream and fruit. For best results, make sure the cardamom is very fresh.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour 127 grams
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup unsalted pistachios 80 grams
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom plus an extra pinch if desired
- ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
- 7 tablespoons butter room temperature or slightly soft
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- ⅓ cup sour cream or use plain yogurt and an additional ½ T. butter
- Glaze
- 1 lime
- Water see below
- ¼ cup sugar 50 grams
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8 inch cake pan (you can use butter, shortening or flour-added cooking spray).
- Sift or thoroughly mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Again, make sure the dry ingredients are very uniformly mixed.
- Place pistachios, cardamom and ½ cup of sugar in food processor and process until pistachios are fine. Add the flour mixture and pulse 3 or 4 times or until blended. Add the chunks of butter and pulse until mixture is crumbly.
- In a separate bowl, stir together eggs and sour cream (or yogurt) until well mixed. Add egg mixture to food processor and process just until blended. Don't overprocess, but make sure ingredients are uniformly moist
- Dump batter into prepared cake pan, scraping remainder from processor. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Let cool in pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then invert and allow cake to finish cooling. Keep pan handy.
- Zest the lime to make about 1 tablespoon of zest (green part). Juice the lime and collect as much juice as possible. Add water to lime juice to make ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon liquid. Place water/lime juice mixture in a saucepan and add the ¼ cup sugar. Turn heat to medium and bring to a boil. Add lime zest. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain lime zest. Let cool for about 10 minutes. Liquid should be slightly thick.
- Now glaze the cake. Use the skewer to poke neat holes in the top of the cake. Pour liquid over top and let it sink down. Let it sit for a while then serve. If you want to cover the holes, sift confectioner's sugar over the top.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Crumbly batter in processor.
Ready to bake!
Smells good.
More photos...
Anna says
Heather, don't worry. It's almost over ;). Deadline is coming up soon.
Julie, I was also thinking this would be a good muffin.
Julie O says
I love the flavors of this cake. Cardamom is one of my favorite spices. Looks super-easy too. I'll hold onto this one. I think these flavors would also make really good muffins.
Heather K says
Wow... I love cardamom and pistachios... I may have to try that one... and I must admit, the bakeoff is tiring me out, although my coworkers are loving the daily treats 🙂