Pistachio Cheese Cake Recipes

PISTACHIO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the flour and almonds; cut in butter until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and 1-1/4 in. up the sides of a greased 10-in. springform pan. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, milk and pudding mixes until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour over crust. , Place pan on a baking sheet. Reduce heat to 350°. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until the center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. , Slice cheesecake; drizzle slices with chocolate syrup. Garnish with whipped cream and pistachios if desired.

PISTACHIO-RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven; preheat to 325˚. Spread the whole and chopped pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet (keep them separate) and bake until toasted, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
• Set aside the chopped pistachios in a small bowl. Pulse the toasted whole pistachios in a food processor along with the shortbread cookies and granulated sugar until finely ground. Add the melted butter and pulse until the mixture looks like wet sand. Press the mixture into the bottom of an 8-inch round springform pan. Bake until set around the edges and no longer puffed, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack; let cool 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Beat the eggs and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the ricotta, pistachio paste, lemon zest, vanilla and almond extracts and salt and continue beating until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the green food coloring and beat until combined.
• Pour the filling over the crust. Bake until the cheesecake is puffed and the edges are set but the center still jiggles slightly, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Transfer the cheesecake to a rack and let cool to room temperature, 2 to 3 hours. Run a thin knife around the edge of the cheesecake to loosen, then remove the springform ring. Serve at room temperature or cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours or overnight. Dust with confectioners' sugar and sprinkle with the toasted chopped pistachios before serving.

PISTACHIO LAYER CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray three 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Line each pan with a round piece of parchment paper, and spray with cooking spray.
• Prepare the cake: pulse pistachios in a food processor until finely ground, 10 to 15 pulses. Transfer 1 1/2 cups ground pistachios to a bowl with flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; whisk until well combined and set aside. Place remaining ground pistachios, about 1 1/3 cups, in a bowl and reserve for finishing the cake.
• Beat butter and white sugar for cake in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed, scraping down the sides as needed, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg whites and beat on high speed until combined, about 2 minutes.
• Mix in sour cream, vanilla extract, and almond extract until combined, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture in batches on low speed until completely incorporated, about 2 minutes. Mix in milk and food coloring until just combined, about 1 minute.
• Divide batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Gently tap each pan on the countertop to spread and flatten batter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of each pan removes cleanly, 22 to 24 minutes. Cool cakes in the pans for about 10 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen cakes, then invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• While the cakes are cooling, prepare buttercream: beat cream cheese and butter in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in powdered sugar in 1/2-cup increments on medium-low speed, allowing sugar to be completely incorporated before adding more, until combined, about 4 minutes. Mix in vanilla and food coloring on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand. Top with 1 cup buttercream and 1 tablespoon ground pistachios, and spread evenly over the surface using a spatula. Place second cake layer on top; top with 1 cup buttercream and 1 tablespoon ground pistachios, and spread evenly over the surface. Place third cake layer on top, and spread 1 cup buttercream evenly over the surface. Spread 2 cups buttercream evenly around sides of assembled cake and smooth with a spatula. Transfer cake to the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes.
• Remove cake from the refrigerator and spread remaining buttercream over top and sides of cake until sides are smooth and top is billowy. Using a small offset spatula, make a spiral pattern on top of the cake. Press remaining ground pistachios into sides of the cake.
• Slice and serve immediately or chill in an airtight container until ready to serve. If chilled, allow cake to come to room temperature before serving.

PISTACHIO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For bottom layer: Preheat oven to 350°F Mix flour, butter and sugar until crumbly.
• Spread evenly over bottom of ungreased 9-inch square baking pan. Press firmly. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool completely.
• Cheesecake layer: In medium bowl, beat together cream cheese and icing sugar.
• In small bowl, combine milk and instant pudding. Beat pudding mixture into cream cheese mixture, until well mixed.
• Spoon over base. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
• Cut into small squares and top with whipped cream.

FLUFFY PISTACHIO CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING AND DONUT BAGELS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
• Place the pistachios in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment and grind them until you have small crumbs. Measure out 1/4 cup of the crumbs and set them aside for the filling.
• Pour the remaining crumbs into a large mixing bowl. Add the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, oil, extracts and 3/4 cup water. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, then pour into the cake pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, begin checking for doneness at 28 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn them onto a greased cooling rack and cool completely.
• Level the cake rounds and spread the top of one cake with a layer of Frosting. Sprinkle on the reserved ground pistachios. Place the other cake round on top, cut-side down, then frost all over with the remaining Frosting.
• Place the Donut Bagels on the top of the cake. Decorate the top and sides of the cake with the sprinkles.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer, beat together the butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar and salt until smooth. Add the food coloring and whisk until fully combined.
• Color and shape the marzipan on a powdered sugar dusted surface. Cut into circles for tomatoes. Smash into oblong shapes for salmon. Roll into little balls for capers. And to make the onions, just brush a bit of food coloring on the edges of slivered marzipan.
• Put the seeded topping mixture in a small bowl. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of the donuts with simple syrup, then dip into the seeded topping, pressing down slightly so everything adheres. Cut the donuts in half and spread a thin layer of cream cheese on the cut sides of the top and bottom pieces. To the bottom halves, add the marzipan salmon, tomato, onions and capers. Top with the seeded donut halves.

PISTACHIO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar, and almonds; cut in butter until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and 1 1/4 inches up the sides of a greased 9- or 10-inch springform pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, beat room temperature cream cheese, milk and pudding mixes until smooth. (Note: if the cream cheese is not at room temperature, the cheesecake will turn out with small lumps.) Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Do not overbeat. Pour mixture over crust. Put a piece of foil underneath the pan and wrap it up a little bit on the sides.
• Place pan in another pan or cooking dish that is about 2 or 3 inches larger around than the springform pan. Place pan in the oven and pour boiling water into the water bath pan about halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
• Reduce the heat to 350 degrees. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the center is almost set. Place on a wire rack until the cheesecake has cooled. Carefully run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen. Refrigerate, covered, overnight (the cheesecake is even better if you leave it in the refrigerator for 2 days before eating).
• Remove sides of pan. Slice cheesecake; drizzle slices with chocolate syrup. Garnish with whipped cream and pistachios, if desired.

PISTACHIO BRITTLE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend shortbread, nuts and sugar in processor until nuts are finely ground. Add butter; process until moist clumps form. Press onto bottom of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Wrap outside of pan with foil. Bake crust until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool crust.
• For filling and topping:
• Beat cream cheese, sugar and cardamom in large bowl until smooth. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Add 1 cup sour cream, pear nectar, flour and vanilla and beat until blended. Pour filling over crust.
• Bake cheesecake until puffed at edges and softly set in center, about 1 hour 5 minutes. Transfer cheesecake to rack; let cool 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir white chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water until smooth (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Cool chocolate to lukewarm; whisk in remaining 1 1/4 cups sour cream.
• Spread topping over warm filling. Refrigerate cake uncovered overnight. Cut around pan sides; release pan sides. Place cake on platter. Stand brittle pieces on edge in topping on cheesecake.

PISTACHIO CARDAMOM CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan., In a small bowl, combine cracker crumbs and brown sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom of prepared pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the milk, lemon juice, cardamom and, if desired, food coloring. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Fold in pistachios. Pour over crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of boiling water to larger pan. , Bake for 35-40 minutes or until center is just set and top appears dull. Remove springform pan from water bath; remove foil. Cool cheesecake on a wire rack for 10 minutes; loosen sides from pan with a knife. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight., Remove rim from pan. Top cheesecake with whipped cream and sprinkle with pistachios and cracker crumbs if desired.

PISTACHIO-CRUSTED CHEESECAKE WITH ORANGE-CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• The cake must be made one day before serving. To begin making the filling, place a sieve over a bowl and line it with a double layer of paper towels. Spoon the yogurt into the sieve and let drain for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. To make the crust, place pistachios, orange zest, salt, cinnamon and sugar in a food processor and pulse until nuts are ground. Put in a bowl and stir in the melted butter.
• Butter a 9-inch springform pan. Press the pistachio mixture into the bottom of it and set aside.
• To continue making the filling, place the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, gradually add the sugar, beating until light. Stop and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary while incorporating ingredients. Add the lemon zest and the drained yogurt, then the eggs, one at a time. Mix in the salt and flour, then the lemon juice, vanilla and honey.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Place in a large roasting pan. Add enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the springform pan. Bake until the cheesecake is set, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Remove cake from the water and let cool. Cover with plastic and refrigerate overnight.
• To make the sauce, use a paring knife to remove all peel and pith from the oranges, working over a bowl to collect any juice. Cut the orange sections out from between the membranes and place in the bowl. Add the 1/4 cup orange juice to the bowl and set aside.
• Stir the sugar and water together in a medium saucepan. Use a pastry brush dipped in water to wash down any sugar crystals from the sides of the pan. Place over low-medium heat and cook without stirring until the sugar turns a nice caramel color. Remove from heat and carefully pour in the heavy cream, as the mixture may spatter. Return to the heat and stir until the caramel is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the oranges and juice. Set aside. (The sauce can be made ahead, refrigerated and warmed slightly before serving.)
• Release the sides of the springform pan. To cut the cake, rinse a large sharp knife under hot water and cut a slice of cake. Wipe off the knife and reheat with hot water before slicing the next piece. Place on dessert plates and spoon a pool of sauce, with orange sections, beside each slice. Serve.

HONEY-PISTACHIO CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine cookie crumbs, butter and 1/2 cup nuts; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and 1/2 cup honey in medium bowl with mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 55 min. or until center of cheesecake is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Top cheesecake with remaining nuts, then drizzle with remaining honey before serving.