The Best Pistachio Desserts That Are Just Sweet Enough
Healthy, delicious, and just plain fun, this versatile little nut adds nutrition and crunch to a wide range of sweets.
Greg DuPree
The pistachio has come a long way since its humble beginnings in Central Asia, and we have several pistachio desserts as evidence. Once resigned to a novelty ice cream flavor, pistachios have expanded their reach to all kinds of sweet treats. From pudding to biscotti, many of these desserts also double as a decadent breakfast option.
Lemon Pistachio Bars
Antonis Achilleos
These bright, light squares boast pistachios from bottom to top: They're pulsed with butter and sugar to make a gluten-free crust, while chopped pistachios provide a flourishing finish. In between is a luscious, lemony custard with a texture reminiscent of a key lime pie.
Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti With White Chocolate
Another Italian import, this biscotti recipe starts with a standard dough, but takes it up several notches with the addition of pistachios, cranberries, and white chocolate chips. It finishes with a dip in white chocolate, making it perfect for dipping into your latte.
Pistachio Pudding
This creamy, gently sweet pudding has a naturally whimsical light-green hue that's sure to elicit a smile. Finish each serving with a dollop of whipped cream and crushed pistachios.
Honey Apple Galette With Pistachio Sugar
Did you stumble over "galette" or "pistachio sugar"...or both? Let us explain: A galette is a French invention that's defined as a flat, round cake made of pastry dough or bread. In this case, it's a loosely constructed, rustic apple pie topped with a blend of finely crushed pistachios and sugar with a pinch of salt that's liable to make your guests say, "Ooh la la!"
Pistachio Walnut Cheesecake
Greg DuPree
Pistachios star in this dessert from top to bottom—literally. They pair with walnuts to add crunch to the cookie-crumb crust, and then provide a bit of color and texture atop the creamy cheesecake filling.
Pluot Crumble
The star of this dish is the pluots—a stone fruit variety that's a hybrid of plums and apricots—but pistachios play a strong supporting role in the crumble. Bookmark this nutty crumble recipe to use with just about any summer fruit.
Nutty Superfood Breakfast Bites
Pistachios join a cast of nutrient powerhouses—almonds, quinoa, and goji berries, to name a few—to create this superfood snack that doubles as breakfast on the go. There are so many other nuts, seeds, and dried fruit in these bars, you could skip the pistachios, but why would you want to?
Pistachio and White Chocolate Cookie Bark
Fred Hardy
Pistachios double-team this dessert in both layers: the buttery shortbread cookie and the white chocolate bark. Cut into squares, slivers, or shards, this dual-threat dessert is delectable any way you slice it.
No-Bake Seed and Nut Bars
Give your oven a break: The only heat this recipe requires is for a melty sugar-and-cream mixture that cooks on the stove. That's where chopped pistachios come in—along with almond butter, sesame seeds, and apricots—followed by a chill in the fridge. An hour later, you have two dozen flavor- and nutrient-packed bars.
White Chocolate Pomegranate Cheesecake
Victor Protasio
Pistachio may not be in the title, but this rich cheesecake is checkered with a rim of pistachios, lime zest, and pomegranate arils. The mix of green and red makes the dessert an ideal holiday centerpiece, but feel free to make it anytime you want a crowd-pleaser.
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