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pistachio bundt pan on a cooking rack.
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Pistachio Pound Cake (No instant pudding mix)

Tender, buttery and moist pound cake infused with pistachios and cream cheese for flavor and texture.
Course Dessert
Keyword pistachio pound cake
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 52 minutes
Servings 15 slices

Ingredients

  • 1 2/3 Cup (250g) Shelled pistachios
  • 3/4 Cup (170g) Unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 Cup (224g) Cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1 3/4 Cup (350g) Granulated sugar
  • 4 Large Eggs at room temperature
  • 2 1/3 Cups (280g) Unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoons (9g) Potato starch
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons Baking powder
  • 1/3 Cup (80ml) Sour cream at room temperature

Instructions

Prepare the pistachios

  • Process half (125g) of the pistachios in a food processor until you have a thick, spread consistency mixture. Make sure to scape the sides of the bowl as you go.
  • Chop the rest of the nuts into a rough pieces. You can use a kitchen knife, or the food processor.

Make The Batter

  • Preheat your oven to 340F and grease one 12 cups bundt pan.
  • Cream the cream cheese, butter, sugar, and pistachio paste on high speed in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. Make sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl 2-3 times, or as needed.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, waiting for each egg to fully incorporate before adding the next egg.
  • In a separate large bowl, mix the flour, potato starch, baking powder and chopped pistachios.
  • Reduce the speed to low, then add the flour in three parts, alternating with the sour cream.
  • Once you added the last part of the flour, use a rubber spatula to mix the flour into batter. This is the best way to make sure we are not over mixing.
  • Fill the greased pan with the batter and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the top of the cake is golden brown and a toothpick comes out from the center of the cake with a few moist crumbs.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and allow the cake to set and chill in the pan for at least 45 minutes before inverting the cake. Inverting the cake too soon might cause the cake to collapse and some part to stick to the pan. However, if the cake cools completely in the pan it might get stuck to the pan as well.

Notes

  • Replace the potato starch with more flour if you do not have it at hand.
  • Replace the sour cream with buttermilk, or plain greek yogurt (no skim).
  • Bake the cake in a 10, or 12-inch Bundt pan or two 8-inch loaf pans, and only fill the pan up to 3/4 full. 
  • The cake is ready when the top is golden brown and a toothpick comes out from the center of the cake with a few moist crumbs.
  • Allow the cake with chill in the pan for about 30-45 minutes before inverting it. Releasing it too soon might cause it to collapse, or stick to the pan. 
  • Do not allow the cake to chill completely in the pan or it will stick to it.