This Raspberry Orange Pistachio Cake is bursting with flavor. The pistachio flecked cake layers are brushed with an orange simple syrup and topped with a raspberry whipped cream. It’s light, fruity, and perfect for Mother’s Day!
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Raspberry, Orange, and Pistachio. Have you ever tried these 3 flavors together? If you haven’t, you’re in for a treat! One of my all-time favorite cake flavors that I’ve made is a raspberry and pistachio combination. I knew the pretty, pink, delicate frosting would be perfect for Mother’s Day but I wanted to add another layer of flavor as well. I thought citrus would pair well so decided on adding a hint of orange. Each of these flavors perfectly compliments each other. One doesn’t overpower another and they each shine through in every bite. Nutty, crunchy pistachios, zesty, tart orange, and sweet raspberries.
This cake is also very simple to make. The raspberry whipped cream is only 3 ingredients and comes together in the food processor. Plus, this is a naked cake so there’s no need to pull out piping bags or stress about frosting the sides just right. It’s easy to pull off but looks incredible!
This cake is light, airy, and just sweet enough. The perfect cake for spring or summer gatherings. The recipe is made up of pistachio cake layers, which are brushed with an orange simple syrup and layered with raspberry whipped cream. Let’s talk about each of these.
For the cake, I started with a white cake base. This cake recipe is more of a European-style cake so it is light, not overly sweet, and tends to be drier than a traditional American cake. I add finely chopped pistachios and a little bit of orange zest to the batter. You want to make sure the pistachios are shelled, raw, and unsalted. You can chop the pistachios by hand or use a food processor.
I love brushing a simple syrup on cakes to help keep them moist and this white cake recipe soaks it up nicely. Since this is a naked-style cake and isn’t coated in frosting, I especially wanted to add some simple syrup. I decided to go with an orange simple syrup, to accentuate the orange zest in the cake layers. I didn’t want the orange to be too overpowering though so I went with a 50/50 ratio of water and orange juice. You could also add a little raspberry jam to this, to bring out more of that flavor!
This was my first time making whipped cream in a food processor and it turned out wonderful! I first saw this technique from Cake By Courtney and immediately wanted to give it a try. I’ve always loved flavoring my fruity buttercreams with freeze-dried fruit for an authentic, non-artificial flavor. This is also a better alternative to adding jam or fresh fruit to icings, which can take a significant amount and as a result, make the icing too loose or even break down. Whipped cream is much more delicate though so you have to be careful when adding mix-ins and additional flavors. The food processor incorporates less air than the traditional method of whipping, producing a thick creamy yogurt-like consistency. I loved how this icing turned out and can’t wait to make it again with another fruit!
The possibilities are endless with how you can decorate your cake, from simple to elaborate. I chose to go with fresh raspberries, chopped pistachios, and a few ribbons of orange zest to showcase the flavors inside. I love the look of the bright green pistachios against the soft pink raspberry whipped cream and the orange zest adds another bright pop of color. Here are a few other ideas for decorating:
This flavor combination is one of my favorites and I’m so excited to share it with you. Happy Baking!
This Raspberry Orange Pistachio Cake is bursting with flavor. The pistachio flecked cake layers are brushed with an orange simple syrup and topped with a raspberry whipped cream. It’s light, fruity, and perfect for Mother’s Day!
I’ve combined my lifelong love of baking and creating beautiful desserts along with an appreciation for all things delicious. Here you will find mostly sweet recipes, with some savory ones sprinkled in, to satisfy your cravings and delight your loved ones. Classic yet special and sure to impress!
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