Pistachio Icing

Jul 25, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Frostings fillings toppings Origin: Tahitian Vanilla: Extract Easy

Bundt cake drizzled with pistachio icing

A quick pistachio icing for drizzling over cakes, scones, and cookies. Best with Tahitian vanilla (floral, cherry, anise); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 3/4 cup; enough to drizzle a 10-inch Bundt cake or 24 cookies.

Prep 5 min

Cook —

Set 20 min

Total 25 min

Servings 12

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

2.0 cups (240.0 g)confectioners' sugar, sifted
2.0 tbsp (34.0 g)pistachio paste
3.0 tbsp (45.0 ml)water, plus more as needed
⅛ tspfine sea salt
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)VanillaGoods pure vanilla extract

Make it at home

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Instructions

Whisk the pistachio paste with 1 tablespoon of the water until smooth.
Whisk the confectioners' sugar and salt in a bowl.
Add the remaining water, pistachio paste mixture, and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Adjust with water, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until the icing falls from the whisk in a thick ribbon.
Drizzle or spread over cooled cakes, scones, cookies, or quick breads. Let set for 15 to 20 minutes.

Tips

Vanilla swap: use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.
Best vanilla for this: Tahitian (floral, cherry, anise), or Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Keep leftover icing covered at room temperature for up to 2 days; whisk before using.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make pistachio icing?

Plan on 5 minutes of prep, plus 20 minutes to set. It makes about 3/4 cup; enough to drizzle a 10-inch Bundt cake or 24 cookies.

How should I store pistachio icing?

Keep leftover icing covered at room temperature for up to 2 days; whisk before using.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

96 Calories / serving

1.4g Fat

20.8g Carbs

0.5g Protein

19.9g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~1152 cal · 17g fat · 250g carbs · 6g protein · 239g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 96 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 18 min·1.1 mi·~2100 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 13 min·0.7 mi·~1300 steps
Moderate cycling 10 min·2.0 mi
Swimming laps 13 min
Jogging 9 min·0.8 mi·~1450 steps
Stair climbing 9 min·~800 steps
Dancing 16 min
Bodyweight circuit training 10 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 22 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.