This slightly dense but still light, moist lemon pistachio cake is flavored with ground pistachios, fresh lemon juice and fragrant olive oil. Use a high-quality olive oil and you'll be rewarded with a subtle but nuanced flavor of fruity olive oil. This is an easy, no-mixer-required cake that has an elegant feel to it. The cake can stand on its own, but is extra delicious served with some very lightly sweetened whipped cream on top.
¾ cupfinely ground pistachios(a heaping ½ cup shelled whole pistachios)
½ teaspoonbaking powder
½ teaspoonbaking soda
1teaspoonkosher salt
1 ¾ cupsugar
3large eggs
¼cupfresh lemon juicefrom about 1 ½ lemons
1tablespoonlemon zestfrom 1 lemon
1cupbuttermilk
1cupolive oil
1teaspoonvanilla extract
Whipped Cream
1 cupheavy whipping cream
3tablespoonspowdered sugar
1teaspoonvanilla extract
Instructions
Cake
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper and spray the sides with baking spray.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, ground pistachios, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, buttermilk, olive oil and vanilla until combined.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir together until just combined without over mixing.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
Let the cake cool in the pan. Once cooled, run a sharp knife around the edges and then remove the ring of the springform pan. Either top the cake with the whipped cream or serve it on the side. Top with more lemon zest and pistachios if desired.
Whipped Cream
Place the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl. Beat until medium peaks form.
Notes
To make your own buttermilk, measure one tablespoon of vinegar into a 1 cup measuring cup and fill it to the top with whole or 2% milk. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to start to curdle before using.