Pistachio Cake Recipe

Are you a fan of carrot cake? This moist, tasty cake is made even better with pistachios and makes a wonderful dessert for a holiday potluck or dinner. Pistachios are fresh during the holidays after being harvested in the early autumn. So, it’s the perfect time of year to bake something yummy with them.

Pistachio Harvest Cake

Compliments of American Pistachio Growers

YEILD:

16 servings

 
 
 
 
 

INGREDIENTS:

Cake:
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 cups packed brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups carrot, grated
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking soda
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup Heart of the Desert Pistachio Kernels, finely chopped
2 (8-ounce) containers pineapple yogurt

Icing:
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
5 cups unsifted powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
3 to 4 tablespoons orange juice, or as needed

COOKING DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350°F

1. For Cake: Mix oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla and carrots in large bowl.
2. In separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt and 3/4 cup pistachios.
3. Mix portions of dry mixture (about 1/3 at a time) into egg mixture alternately with yogurt. Turn into greased and floured 14-cup Bundt® pan or crown ring mold.
4. Bake in preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 1 hour 15 minutes or until pick inserted into cake comes out dry.
5. Cool 15 minutes in pan, then loosen top edges and gently invert from pan onto wire rack.
6. When cake is completely cool, spread Icing on top and decorate with remaining 1/4 cup pistachios.
7. For Icing: Beat butter with powdered sugar, orange peel and enough orange juice to make a good spreadable consistency. Makes 3 cups icing.

Once you’ve made your cake, post a photo of it on social media and tag Heart of the Desert to let us know how it turned out. On Facebook @HeartoftheDesertAlamogordo and on Instagram @hodpistachioswine.

Happy Baking!

Heart of the Desert is a working pistachio ranch and vineyard with four retail establishments in New Mexico. They are best known for their farm fresh pistachios and Award-Winning New Mexico wines. Each store offers wine and pistachio tastings. They offer worldwide shipping and produce attractive gourmet baskets that make great corporate and family gifts. The main store, on the ranch in Alamogordo, offers farm tours that showcases how pistachios are grown and processed as well as a stunning Tuscany themed patio that overlooks the groves and is available for weddings, private parties or enjoying a relaxing glass of wine.