Pistachio-and-Cardamom Pound Cake with Lemon Icing

I got this recipe from Suvir Saran's American Masala.

Ingredients For Cake:

  • 1 cup raw, shelled pistachios
  • 1 stick, plus 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
Ingredients For Icing:
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon heavy cream or milk
Method:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Place pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until fragrant and browned, about 5 minutes. Cool and then pulse in a food processor until they become very fine (don't over process) and set aside. Reduce oven temp. to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 - inch loaf pan with 1/2 tablespoon of butter. Place a long strip of parchment paper in the pan bottom. Grease the top of the parchment with 1/2 tablespoon of butter, set aside.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, cardamom, and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside. Crack the eggs into a small bowl, whisk in vanilla, and set aside.

Using an electric mixer, cream the remaining stick and a half of butter and sugar until they are light and airy. Drizzle in the eggs, a little at a time, beating between additions to incorporate and scraping the bowl as necessary. Alternate adding the flour and the milk, starting and ending with the flour and mixing until the batter is just nearly combined between additions, scraping the bowl as necessary. Fold the pistachios into the batter by hand, then transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan. Bake the cake until a cake tester inserted in the cake's center comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes, then invert the cake onto a cooling rack and turn it so it's top faces up. Let the cake cool completely.

While the cake cools, make the icing: Sift the confectioners' sugar and cardamom into a medium bowl. Whisk in the lemon juice and cream or milk. Spread the icing over the cake, letting it drip over the sides. Once the icing has set, slice and serve.

24 comments:

Cham said...

I can smell the cardamom here :) Love cardom and pist in pound cake...Delicious piece...

Uma said...

yum! that's one delicious cake Meeso! the picture is so mouth-watering. thanks for the lovely recipe.

Dori said...

~ Cham & Uma, Thank you!

Unknown said...

TYUMMO..that's perfect moist cake meeso..loved the combo..

Unknown said...

wow Meeso must be tasting divine.Oh god I just love pista nuts and with lemon, simply superb.Really awesome and I have bookmarked.

Nabeela said...

How did it taste? Was it dense or light?

Sum Raj said...

how pretty r those...cute mini cakes...can i have one bite plz...its mouthwatering...

ST said...

First time at ur blog..U have nice and lovely blog....Mini cakes are so mouthwatering and inviting..

Dori said...

~ Maheswari, Thanks :)

~ Pearlsofeast, I also love pistachio, it was my favorite pudding flavor as a kid... I hope you try it and enjoy!

~ Nabeela, It's nice to see you here... I have tried to visit your blog but It's for invited readers only??? The cake was meant to be dense, but I over mixed it a bit, so it was a little lighter... The taste of pistachio's was too good and the icing was such a contrast, it was delicious :)

~ Suma, forget just a bit... Have as much as you'd like :)

~ Sireesha, Thanks for stopping by and commenting... Hope to see you again :)

@the_whisk_affair said...

hmm..cake..hmmm..pistachios..hmm..cardamom..need i say more!! love it! :-)

Sujatha said...

looks yummy! I usually stay away from baking as it scares me.. but yours is tempting me to try... Nice entry, meeso!

Ranjani said...

Wow Meeso! That's quite a myriad of flavors:) Looks delicious!

Laavanya said...

How decadent that is Meeso.. Wish I could get a slice of that. Pistachios and cardamoms are such a nice variation to the usual pound cake recipe. Awesome.

Madhavi said...

WOW cake looks divine Messo, and with cardamom hummmm I want that piece :))) Great entry!!!

Swati said...

Lovely cake with such beautiful flavors..Pistachios is an absolutely great addition..

test it comm said...

That cake looks good. I like the pistachio, cardamom and lemon combo.

Unknown said...

Being on diets just suck. not being able to eat something like this is one of the reasons! nice looking cake.

flanboyanteats.com

Dori said...

~ JZ, That's exactly what I was thinking :)

~ Thanks, Ranjani, Laavanya, Madhavi, Swati & Kevin :)

~ Bren, I just do not have the will power to diet!!! Thanks for stopping by :)

ranji said...

yummmmmmmmmmmm meeso..the cake is sooo moist and soft...love the addition of cardamam...my fav spice:)...good job :)

Dori said...

~ Thanks Ranji :)

Hetal said...

lovely cake...it looks very yummy.

Arabic Bites said...

Pistachios & cardamom...Good combination.
Looks yummy...

zainab

Mansi said...

I'm a great fan of cardamom too! in fact i just made peach melba with cardamom ice cream today!:)

pistachios is another favo of mine...so no doubt, your cake goes into my to-do list!:)

Dori said...

~ Thanks Hetal & Zainab :)

~ Mansi Desai, I'm glad you stopped by and liked the cake :)