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by Annie Rigg

Exotic, fragrant, beautiful – what’s not to love about this luxurious cake? Topped with icing and baked in a bundt tin, it's a cake for when you're out to impress.

For this recipe you will need a 23–25cm/9–10in bundt tin and a freestanding mixer or a hand-held electric mixer.

Cakes and baking

Buyer's guide

Unblemished, large, plump, dark-green nuts are the best quality. Buy them from a reliable shop with a high turnover to ensure that they are not rancid or artificially dyed.

Storage

Store pistachios in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for several months.

Preparation

Pistachios can be briefly dipped in boiling water before cooking to remove their skin and reveal their bright colour before use. Roasted and salted nuts are used as a snack with alcoholic drinks. Plain, unsalted pistachios are widely used in Middle Eastern, Indian and Italian dishes such as pilafs, pâtés, charcuterie, poultry sauces, stuffings, cakes, ice creams, pastries, puddings and confectionery.