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Silky Pistachio Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Silky Pistachio Buttercream Frosting


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4.7 from 12 reviews

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Silky pistachio buttercream frosting delivers nutty sophistication to classic desserts. Professional bakers and home cooks discover rich Mediterranean flavors you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups (710 ml) butter, unsalted, softened at room temperature
  • 4 cups (454 g) confectioner’s sugar
  • 1 cup (150 g) pistachios, shelled, salted or unsalted
  • 2 tbsps (30 ml) heavy cream
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Green food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pulverize Pistachios: Grind shelled pistachios in a food processor until achieving an ultra-fine, powdery consistency.
  2. Create Pistachio Paste: Blend ground pistachios with heavy cream until transforming into a smooth, cohesive mixture.
  3. Prepare Butter Base: Whip room temperature butter in a stand mixer at medium-high speed for 8 minutes, creating a voluminous, pale mixture while occasionally scraping bowl edges.
  4. Incorporate Flavors: Merge pistachio paste, vanilla extract, and confectioner’s sugar into the whipped butter, blending thoroughly at low speed to ensure even distribution.
  5. Achieve Fluffy Texture: Increase mixer speed to high, vigorously beating the mixture for 3-4 minutes until developing a cloud-like, aerated consistency.
  6. Refine Appearance: Optionally introduce subtle green food coloring for a natural, delicate hue.
  7. Adjust Consistency: If buttercream appears dense, refrigerate for 30 minutes, then re-whip to obtain an ethereal texture.
  8. Storage Protocol: Preserve buttercream in a sealed container, refrigerating for up to seven days or freezing for one month, ensuring thorough thawing before use.

Notes

  • Master Pistachio Grinding: Ensure pistachios are pulverized into an ultra-fine powder for smooth, creamy texture without chunky bits.
  • Temperature Matters: Use room temperature butter and cream to prevent lumpy or separated buttercream consistency.
  • Whipping Technique: Beat butter and mixture at specified speeds to create light, airy frosting with perfect volume and silky smoothness.
  • Storage Strategy: Properly refrigerate or freeze buttercream to maintain freshness and texture, allowing gradual thawing before use.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Blending
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 290
  • Sugar: 24 g
  • Sodium: 60 mg
  • Fat: 22 g
  • Saturated Fat: 13 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 31 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 45 mg