Can you think of anything better than two thick layers of chocolate sponge, sandwiched together with chocolate ganache and smothered in pistachio buttercream, topped off with ganache drips and chopped pistachio nuts?!
Birthday cake
We have had two big birthdays in our family this year. First was my sister who turned 30 in March, then earlier this month my dad hit the big 6-0!
A big birthday deserves a show stopping birthday cake but my Dad wanted to celebrate in relative quiet. There was no big party, instead my sister and I travelled back to our home town mid-week to surprise him for a home cooked meal and a slice of cake.
She cooked his favourite meal (paella) and I baked a cake. As there were only 4 of us I made just a small two layered, 6 inch cake but when I saw the smile on his face, it may as well been ten times the size!
Pink and Green Pistachios
Whenever I think of my Dad I think of pistachios - how many sons or daughters can say that?! I have fond memories of him sat in his arm chair, watching sport on a Saturday, while shelling pistachios! I loved how underneath their pale skins, they were bright green and pink!
When I asked my Mum what flavour cake I should make, I should have known that she'd say pistachio! I thought about using the ground nuts in the sponge - a bit like you would if you used ground almonds - but I thought that was too obvious.
Instead I decided to use my Vitamix to grind them up super fine and mixed them in with icing sugar in my usual buttercream recipe. The result was a pistachio flavoured, bright green buttercream - and I didn't even need to use any food colouring! Can you believe that colour is natural!!!
Chocolate makes everything better
If I wasn't going to put pistachios in the sponge then I had to think of another way to flavour the cake. Sure, vanilla would have been fine but it seemed a little underwhelming. Rose and orange blossom were two possibilities but everyone knows that chocolate makes everything better!
After the great reaction for my sisters chocolate cake I wanted to make something similar so I decided to pair the pistachio buttercream with chocolate sponge. I then sandwiched the chocolate sponge layers with my signature chocolate ganache then drizzled the remaining ganache over the cake creating drips. It was the perfect balance of bitter and sweet!
The recipe
Chocolate and Pistachio Cake
Ingredients
For the chocolate sponge cakes
- 200 grams caster sugar
- 200 grams butter
- 4 large eggs
- 200 grams self raising flour
- 50 grams cocoa powder
- 75 millilitres black coffee freshly brewed
For the buttercream
- 250 grams butter softened
- 450 grams icing sugar
- 100 grams pistachios finely ground
For the ganache
- 100 millilitres double cream
- 100 grams milk chocolate finely chopped
- 100 grams dark chocolate finely chopped
To decorate
- 75 grams chopped pistachios
Instructions
To bake the cake
- Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 4 (160 C), and line two 6 inch cake tins with grease proof paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, sugar until soft and smooth.
- Beat in the eggs until the mix is creamy in pale.
- Sift the cocoa powder and flour into the bowl and fold through until fully incorporated.
- Finally, stir through the coffee.
- Pour the cake mix into the two tins and bake for 35-45 mins or until springy to the touch and a skewer comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the tins for 10 minutes before turning out on to a cooling rack.
To decorate
- Beat the softened butter until it becomes pale and creamy.
- Add i the icing sugar and ground pistachios and beat gently until just incorporated and smooth and spreadable.
- Spread a small amount on to a cake board or cake plate and place the first sponge layer on top.
- Fill a piping bag with a round nozzle and pipe just around the outer rim of the sponge layer.
- Heat the cream until almost simmering then stir in the chopped chocolate.
- Keep stirring until the chocolate has completely melted and its smooth and glossy.
- Allow the ganache to cool stirring regularly until its spreadable.
- Spoon some of the ganache on top of your base layer of sponge cake up to the piped ring of buttercream.
- Sprinkle half of the chopped pistachios over the ganache.
- Place the second layer of sponge on top of the buttercream/ganache and press down gently.
- Spoon a third of the buttercream on to the top of the cake then, using a large spatular, spread the buttercream until smooth on top, and gently ease it down the sides of the cake.
- Once the whole cake is covered in one smooth layer, place the cake in the fridge for 15 minutes.
- Add a second layer of buttercream and make sure the edges are smooth.
- If the ganache has become firm while you've been icing, gently reheat it, stirring frequently to make sure it stays smooth and glossy.
- Using a teaspoon, spoon drips over the edge of the cake.
- Once you have created drips round the whole cake, spoon the ganache on top and gently ease right up to the edge of the cake until smooth.
- To finish, sprinkle over the remaining chopped pistachios.
Nutrition
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If you like this you'll love...
...these drip cakes!
Heidi Roberts says
I bet your dad was tickled pink to receive such a beautiful birthday cake!
Jemma says
I love your cake recipes! Chocolate and pistachios are a match made in heaven.
Choclette says
Pistachio buttercream? I'm in love. You make the best cakes Emma. Lucky dad I say.
Kelly says
I too have a dad who loves pistachios! Instead of sports though it was Star Trek! I can't wait to make this for him and me, a fellow pistachio lover. Thanks for sharing
Emma Walton says
My pleasure Kelly! I hope he loves it!!!
Karyl Henry says
Gorgeous presentation! Chocolate and pistachios are a fabulous combination, and this cake looks so mouthwatering. It is amazing that you didn't use any food coloring at all, yet still get that vibrant color.
Emma Walton says
Thank you so much Karyl. It is amazingisn't it. I knew it would be a little bit green but I didn't know just how much!
Pam Greer says
What a gorgeous cake!! I love how you made it such a personal cake for your dad!
Claudia Lamascolo says
wow this is a favorite combo for me and this cake is mouth watering. I would and could eat that right now for breakfast!
Gloria says
That looks like a delicious celebration cake….and I would love it for my birthday cake too. I always love the colour contrast of the green pistachios against the dark chocolate.
Veena Azmanov says
Oh, you dad must have been so happy to get his favorite cake. I love pistachio and especially pistachios and chocolate. This sounds so good. So pretty too.
Tammy says
What a stunner! This looks beautiful! I've never had pistachio in cake but I'm sure it's delicious with chocolate 🙂
Marisa Franca says
What a fantastic cake. When I think of pistachios I think of my Italian parents — they loved the nuts and they always thought of our home in Italy. Wish I could have made them this cake. Next celebration I’ll make it in honor of my folks.
Emma Walton says
Marisa you commenr has really touched me. If you do make it I'd love for you to send me a picture!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
I LOVE pistachios!! This cake looks amazing! I think my dad would love this cake too!
Valerie says
My Dad likes pistachios, I remember him snacking on them when I was young. I’m guessing he’d be up for trying a slice of pistachio cake.
Emma Walton says
I'm sure he'd love it! What is it with dads shelling pistachios!
Celeste says
My mouth is watering, pistachios are one of my favorites. My birthday is at the end of the month and I think I’ll make this one for myself.
Emma Walton says
Great idea you won't regret it. Do send me a picture if you do - you can tag my on instagram or twitter 🙂
swathi says
Chocolate and pistachio goes in hand in hand. This is one of beautiful cake I would like to make it for my wedding anniversary. You make beautiful cake.
Emma Walton says
Thank you so much Swathi. What a lovely idea! And congratulations 🙂
Alexis says
I love chocolate and pistachios! This cake looks amazing. We have birthdays coming up, this would be perfect for my pistachio loving kiddo.
Ally says
Hi! What a beauty! I plan to make this for my husband's birthday but I would like to make it bigger...do you have any advice regarding tins etc if I were to double the recipe in order to make a tiered cake? Thank you!
Emma Walton says
Oooh lucky hubby. Unfortunately I don't have a straightforward answer for you. To move from a 6inch round tin to an 8inch round tin you usually need double the batter and tbh I just gague the time it takes to cook by eye.
Theres maths involved in working out how much batter you need and the cooking time. Serious Eats have some great advice : http://www.seriouseats.com/2019/05/how-to-resize-cake-recipes-to-fit-any-pan.html sorry I can't be of any more help!