A pistachio and cherry sheet cake in its tin with bowls of cherries and pistachios and a plate of forks, from above

Cakes & Cupcakes

Pistachio and Cherry Sheet Cake

This is a lovely, slightly dense but still moist cake, with a nutty flavour. The cream cheese icing is more sweet than tangy, and the cherry flavour adds a nice level of tartness.

A square of pistachio and cherry sheet cake topped with cherries, the tin behind Close-up of the cherry swirl and pistachios on top of a pistachio and cherry sheet cake, from above

I have been working on a big report for the last couple of weeks, so my ability to spend time in the kitchen, experimenting with new recipes, is limited. That does not mean that I do not usually have the same sweet cravings, however.

When my brain is occupied with work, I usually do not want to try and create my own recipes, as this takes a fair amount of time and effort. I do, however, like being able to consult a trusted source for a good recipe to use. Edd Kimber always has great recipes that have unique flavours and are usually foolproof. So I trust that they will be a success. (That doesn't mean they are idiot-proof! I misread the recipe initially and forgot to include the baking powder!). He has just released a book called One Tin Bakes and I am eagerly awaiting my order – so decided to bake this in the interim. The cake is not in the book, but it is an example of what you would find in the book.

A square of pistachio and cherry sheet cake on a grey plate with a gold fork, the cut tin behind

This pistachio and cherry sheet cake not only tastes great, but with minimal decorative effort, looks beautiful too. I love the contrast of green and red from the cherries. The cake has a fair amount of almonds and pistachios, so has a bit of density to it, yet it is still moist. There were two birthdays at Linsen's office, so they got to enjoy most of it! This definitely is more of a celebratory cake – pistachios and almonds are not cheap in South Africa.

A pistachio and cherry sheet cake with squares taken out, a square on a grey plate, from above A corner of a pistachio and cherry sheet cake beside a bowl of cherries and a plate of forks

The next time you're having a celebration, keep this cake in mind. It's a nice alternative to the usual celebration cakes. In fact, the green and red almost remind me of Christmas, with its festive colours.

Pistachio and Cherry Sheet Cake

I have not majorly adapted the recipe in any way, so you can find Edd's pistachio and cherry sheet cake recipe on his website. I did add a quarter teaspoon almond extract to the cake, just to boost the overall flavour of the nuts.

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