Dreamy Flourless Pistachio Cake with Chocolate Ganache Recipe

This flourless pistachio cake reinvents nutty, rich ingredients into a decadent dessert that defies traditional baking expectations.

Green pistachios bring extraordinary depth and complexity to every delectable slice.

Delightfully dense textures emerge from carefully selected components that celebrate natural flavors.

Silky chocolate ganache provides a luxurious counterpoint, enhancing the cake inherent sophistication.

Each bite promises an elegant culinary experience that balances sweet and subtle nuances.

Mediterranean baking traditions inspire this remarkable creation, blending cultural influences with contemporary techniques.

The result transcends ordinary dessert boundaries, offering a sensory journey that delights sophisticated palates.

Why Everyone Talks About This Pistachio-Chocolate Cake

• Celebrate Nutty Richness: Dive into a luxurious cake that showcases the deep, earthy flavors of pistachios, creating a unique dessert experience that breaks away from traditional flour-based cakes.
• Master Elegant Technique: Discover a sophisticated baking method that transforms simple ingredients into a show-stopping dessert, with precise steps like whipping eggs to ribbon stage and carefully incorporating butter and oil.
• Indulge in Decadent Layers: Enjoy the perfect balance of textures and flavors- a light, airy cake base topped with a silky smooth chocolate ganache that adds a rich, glossy finish to every slice.

Key Ingredients for a Flourless Pistachio Cake

• Pistachio Flour, Almond Flour: Nutty, gluten-free flour alternatives that provide rich flavor and tender texture.
• Cornstarch: Helps create a soft, delicate crumb and adds lightness to the cake.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Eggs: Creates structure and provides richness, choose fresh, room temperature eggs.
• Granulated Sugar, Orange Zest: Adds sweetness and bright citrusy aroma, use fresh, fragrant orange zest.
• Butter, Olive Oil: Provides moisture and rich flavor, use high-quality unsalted butter.
• Pistachio Extract: Intensifies nutty pistachio flavor, choose pure extract for best results.

• Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate: Creates smooth, glossy ganache topping, use high-quality chocolate for best flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Helps create a silky, rich chocolate coating, use full-fat cream for best results.

Making the Cake with Ganache: A Quick How-To

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Pan

Warm up the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-inch round cake pan with butter. Line the bottom with parchment paper and brush with a light layer of butter.

Step 2: Create Dry Ingredient Blend

• Pistachio flour
• Almond flour
• Cornstarch
• Salt

Set the mixture aside.

Step 3: Infuse Sugar with Citrus

Massage orange zest into granulated sugar until the sugar becomes aromatic and the zest is evenly distributed.

Step 4: Whip Egg Mixture

Use a stand mixer with a whisk attachment. Whip eggs on medium speed until foamy. Slowly add the orange-infused sugar. Increase speed to high and whip for 7-10 minutes until the mixture turns pale and creates thick ribbons.

Step 5: Prepare Butter and Oil

Gently warm butter cubes in the microwave at 50% power, stirring every 10 seconds until soft. Mix in olive oil.

Step 6: Combine Cake Ingredients

On low mixer speed, slowly add the butter-oil mixture to the egg mixture. Gently stir in pistachio extract. Carefully fold in the flour blend until no dry streaks remain.

Step 7: Bake the Cake

Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick. Let the cake cool in the pan, then remove and level the top if needed.

Step 8: Create Chocolate Ganache

Chop chocolate into small pieces and place in a heat-proof bowl. Heat cream in a saucepan until steaming. Pour hot cream over chocolate. Wait 30 seconds, then stir from the center outwards until smooth and glossy.

Step 9: Finish and Decorate

Pour ganache over the cooled cake. Allow to set at room temperature. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Optional: Use an acetate strip to wrap the cake for a clean, professional finish.

Tips for Better Pistachio Cake Results

• Measure Precisely: Use a kitchen scale for accurate flour measurements to ensure the cake's delicate texture remains consistent.
• Whip with Patience: Beat eggs at high speed for the full 7-10 minutes to create maximum volume and a light, airy cake structure.
• Control Butter Temperature: Soften butter carefully in short microwave intervals to prevent melting, which can deflate the cake's delicate texture.
• Fold Gently: Use a spatula to fold dry ingredients with a light hand, making minimal strokes to preserve the air bubbles created during whipping.
• Ganache Perfection: Allow ganache to cool slightly before pouring to achieve a smooth, glossy finish that sets beautifully on the cake surface.

Properly Storing This Nutty Ganache-Topped Cake

• Refrigerate: Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. Keep refrigerated for up to 5 days to maintain moisture and prevent drying.
• Freeze: Slice the cake before freezing, wrap each piece individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months for best quality and taste.
• Reheat: Thaw frozen cake slices in the refrigerator overnight. Bring to room temperature before serving, or gently warm in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to restore softness and enhance chocolate ganache flavor.

Drinks and Snacks to Serve Alongside the Cake

• Craft a Decadent Dessert Companion: Pair this rich, nutty cake with a chilled glass of late harvest Sauternes wine, which complements the pistachio's earthy notes and balances the chocolate ganache's intensity.
• Create a Textural Flavor Contrast: Serve alongside a scoop of lavender honey ice cream, offering a cool, floral counterpoint to the cake's warm, dense texture and enhancing the orange zest undertones.
• Design a Coffee Pairing Experience: Match the cake with an espresso martini or a robust single-origin Ethiopian coffee, whose bright, fruity acidity cuts through the ganache's richness and highlights the cake's delicate pistachio flavor.
• Elevate with Fruit Accent: Garnish with fresh raspberries or a small quenelle of raspberry coulis, providing a tart brightness that beautifully complements the cake's nutty, chocolatey profile.

Exciting New Pistachio Cake Flavors to Explore

• Nutty Almond Chocolate Cake: Swap pistachio flour with finely ground almonds, enhancing the nutty flavor profile while maintaining the cake's delicate texture.
• Citrus Orange Cake: Replace orange zest with lemon or lime zest for a bright, tangy alternative that complements the rich chocolate ganache.
• Lavender Honey Infusion: Incorporate dried lavender and honey into the sugar mixture, creating a fragrant and sophisticated dessert with subtle floral undertones.
• Coconut Rum Variation: Add shredded coconut to the flour mixture and replace some olive oil with coconut rum for a tropical-inspired decadent cake experience.

Flourless Pistachio Cake with Chocolate Ganache Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Irresistible flourless pistachio cake celebrates Mediterranean flavors with rich ground pistachios and silky chocolate ganache. Elegant dessert delivers nutty complexity and luxurious chocolate finish you cannot resist.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 6 large eggs, at warm room temperature
• 10 tablespoons (140 g / 4.9 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar

Nut Flours and Dry Ingredients:

• 2 cups (220 g / 7.8 ounces) pistachio flour
• ¾ cup (80 g / 2.8 ounces) almond flour
• 2 tablespoons (16 g / 0.6 ounces) cornstarch
• ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt

Flavor Enhancers and Oils:

• 1 teaspoon orange zest, very finely grated
• 2 tablespoons (28 g / 1 ounce) extra virgin olive oil
• ¾ teaspoon pistachio extract

Ganache Topping Ingredients:

• 5 ounces (140 g) 60-70% dark chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 ounce (28 g) 30-35% milk chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 cup (238 g / 8.4 ounces) heavy cream

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Meticulously grease a 9-inch round cake pan, line the bottom with parchment paper, and lightly butter the surface to prevent sticking.
2. Sift pistachio flour, almond flour, cornstarch, and salt into a mixing bowl, ensuring a uniform, lump-free dry ingredient mixture.
3. Massage orange zest into granulated sugar, releasing aromatic oils and creating a fragrant sugar base.
4. Whip eggs in a stand mixer, starting at medium speed until frothy. Gradually incorporate the orange-infused sugar, then increase speed to high.
5. Continue whipping for 7-10 minutes, transforming the mixture into a pale, voluminous foam that creates distinct ribbons when the whisk is lifted.
6. Gently soften butter in the microwave using short intervals, ensuring it remains soft but not melted. Incorporate olive oil for added moisture and richness.
7. Carefully introduce the butter-oil mixture into the whipped eggs on low speed, maintaining the delicate air bubbles.
8. Delicately fold in pistachio extract and sifted flour mixture, using gentle strokes to preserve the cake’s airy texture.
9. Transfer batter to the prepared pan, spreading evenly to create a smooth surface.
10. Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 40-45 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should emerge clean.
11. Allow cake to cool completely in the pan, then remove and level the top if necessary.
12. Create ganache by placing chopped chocolates in a heat-proof bowl.
13. Heat cream until it steams, then pour over chocolate. Let sit briefly, then stir from the center outwards until achieving a glossy, smooth consistency.
14. Generously coat the cooled cake with ganache, allowing it to cascade down the sides.
15. Let the ganache set at room temperature, then refrigerate for 2-3 hours to achieve a perfect, glossy finish.
16. Optional: Use an acetate strip for a professional, clean-edged presentation while the ganache sets.

Notes

• Precisely measure all ingredients for consistent texture and flavor balance in this delicate flourless cake.
• Whipping eggs thoroughly creates a light, airy structure crucial for the cake’s delicate crumb and height.
• Use room temperature ingredients, especially eggs, to ensure smooth mixing and optimal cake volume.
• Orange zest and pistachio extract provide subtle, sophisticated flavor complexity that elevates the dessert.
• Gentle folding techniques prevent deflating the egg mixture, maintaining the cake’s delicate air pockets.
• Cooling and setting times are critical for achieving the perfect ganache finish and cake consistency.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 396
• Sugar: 31 g
• Sodium: 82 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 13 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 123 mg