Pistachio Strawberry Cake (Gluten-Free)
Pistachio is a wonderful ingredient in desserts. Not only does it add a great flavor and texture, but its extraordinary color can transform a simple dessert into an elegant and delicious one. This pistachio and strawberry cake is a very stylish dessert that’s rich in aromas.
In addition to the already mentioned (and very tasty) pistachios, there’s a palette of flavors that includes strawberries, lemon, and hazelnuts.
Hazelnuts are present both in the cake and in the Italian meringue hazelnut cream. Lemon is a powerful antioxidant that helps the strawberries retain their beautiful color while enhancing their aroma.
You may be wondering why I decided to mix hazelnuts with pistachios. It’s actually an awesome combination. The hazelnuts replace flour in the sponge, so their taste doesn’t come through, giving room for the pistachios to shine and create an interesting balance with the hazelnut cream.
There are basically 3 levels of flavors: pistachio in the sponge, strawberry cream, and hazelnut cream. A total treat!
Pistachio Strawberry Cake (Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
Sponge:
- 4 large eggs
- 4 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp hazelnut flour
- 300 g ground pistachios
- a pinch of salt
- 25 g butter
Strawberry cream:
- 400 g strawberries
- 1 lemon juiced and zested
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 50 ml water
- 6 g gelatin
Hazelnut cream:
- 100 ml hazelnut liqueur
- 250 g mascarpone
- 1 tbsp vanilla powdered sugar
- 4 g gelatin
- 40 ml water
Italian meringue:
- 4 egg whites
- 60 ml water
- 200 g sugar
- 20 g glucose syrup
Instructions
Sponge:
- In a mixer, combine the eggs, salt, and sugar, mixing for 10 minutes until they triple in volume. Add the melted butter and mix some more.
- Turn off the mixer and add the hazelnut flour and 200 grams (1 1/4 cup) of the ground pistachios. Incorporate gently, with upward motions.
- Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Line a 25×35 cm (10×14 inches) baking tray with parchment paper. Pour the remaining 100 g (1/2 cup) of ground pistachios into the tray, covering the entire surface. Pour the mixture on top and smooth it out carefully to avoid disturbing the pistachio layer underneath.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, until it comes away from the edges. Remove from the oven and flip onto a cooling rack, green side up. Cut into two 17×25 cm (6.5×10 inches) pieces.
Strawberry cream:
- Hydrate the gelatin in cold water.
- Soak the sliced strawberries in the sugar and lemon for 10 minutes. Then put them in a saucepan and boil for 5 minutes over a medium heat. Turn off the heat and strain the strawberries through a fine sieve, pressing with a spoon. When all the liquid has drained, mix in the gelatin and leave to cool.
Hazelnut cream:
- Hydrate the gelatin in cold water.
- Heat up the hazelnut liqueur, and mix in the hydrated gelatin. Add the mascarpone cream and vanilla sugar and stir until incorporated. Set aside.
Italian Meringue:
- Pour the water, glucose syrup, and sugar in a small saucepan over a medium heat. When the sugar has completely melted, turn up the heat and simmer for 6-7 minutes until you get a thick syrup.
- Mix the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they turn into firm foam. When the sugar syrup is ready, turn off the heat and pour it slowly over the egg whites, mixing at high speed. Mix for about 10 minutes until they reach room temperature and the meringue thickens and becomes glossy.
- Divide the Italian meringue into halves. Incorporate one half into the hazelnut cream with upward motions.
- Divide the strawberry cream into halves. Incorporate the second half of the Italian meringue with one half of the strawberry cream. Set aside the remaining strawberry cream.
Assembly:
- Place one of the pieces of sponge on a platter. Spread half of the strawberry cream. Place the other piece of sponge on top and add another layer of strawberry cream. Refrigerate for half an hour.
- Top with the hazelnut cream, gently smoothing it out. Finish with the remaining strawberry jelly. Refrigerate overnight.
Enjoy!
Notes
Related: Fraisier Cake (French Strawberry Cake)
Related: Chocolate Strawberry Cookies
