Homemade Pistachio Liqueur – Delightful Creamy Liqueur To Impress

This pistachio liqueur recipe was first published on May 1st, 2023.

As summer is approaching, I wanted to start sharing something that is very popular here in Italy, from the well-known limoncello (or it’s cream counterpart) to any other homemade liqueur. Serving liqueurs to your guests when they drop by or after a meal is part of the culture. And this delightful pistachio liqueur is one you can’t miss!

Our dad is from a village just a few miles from the slopes of Mount Etna and nearby stands the village of Bronte, worldwide known for its pistachio production. Now, Sicily for sure doesn’t even make it in the top ten of pistachio productions around the world, but still, though, they are known for this tasty product.

Pistachio in Italian is pronounced with a double ‘c’, so it will make a stronger sound ‘pistacchio’. And all over Sicily, this product can be found anywhere from desserts like cannoli to pistachio arancini, gelato and granita.

I have the best memories from when we used to go to our grandpa’s allotment in Sicily when we were kids. Even if the memories were few and are now almost gone, there are still pictures to remind me. We went to pick almonds, pistachios and oranges right off the trees, and if anyone has ever had the chance of doing it, they always tasted better there.

Anyway, before I lose myself in memories, let’s get back to this pistachio cream liqueur. So pistachios have been a huge favourite of our whole family and still are, so expect a lot of pistachio recipes here for sure! From pistachio cream to pasta and pistachio desserts, like biancomangiare.

As I mentioned above, the liqueur is something you share with guests and friends. And this pistachio liqueur recipe will bring a bit of Italian culture right into your home to impress your guests. Whether you will have it on its own, over ice, drizzled over ice cream or use it as a dessert filling, you will surely be amazed by this creamy green delight! Picture yourself sipping this delicious liqueur on a hot day in the local square, bliss!

And not to mention that is quick to prep and you can sit back while it infuses, so no time lost! It’s the perfect homemade liqueur to gift your friends for the holidays or for a birthday when you are looking for something special. Easy to make in big batches too!

What are pistachios?

The main characters of today’s recipe are pistachios, to be exact pistachio cream, which is at the base of this liqueur recipe. But what are they? These small green nuts are not actually nuts at all. Pistachios are botanically referred to as ‘drupe’, a fleshy tree fruit that contains a seed covered in a shell. What we eat is actually the seed as the fruit flesh is discarded. (Food Print)

Also known as Pistacia Vera, these plants originated in Central Asia, Iran and Afghanistan. These trees were then introduced from Asia to Europe by the Romans in the first century AD, then spread the production from there. Nowadays, the USA are the major producer, followed by Turkey and Iran.

Are pistachios good for you?

As with any other kind of food, pistachios have great benefits for you, if eaten in moderation. Between the many positives:

• rich in copper, vitamin B6, phosphorus and manganese;
• high level of potassium and unsaturated fatty acids,
• can lower the chances of cardiovascular disease;
• can help with blood sugar, blood pressure and keep cholesterol in check;
• high in antioxidants;
• promote healthy gut bacteria;
• may promote blood vessel health. (Healthline)

What ingredients do I need for this pistachio liqueur?

This pistachio recipe requires first and foremost pistachio cream, which you can find at big supermarkets, but in case it’s not a popular item, you can make it yourself. More info on it is just under. After, you will need full-fat cream – at least 35% of fat – in order to make the liqueur creamy, sugar, whole milk and vodka.

Can I substitute anything in this pistachio liqueur recipe?

Absolutely! If vodka is not your kind of alcohol, there are plenty of recipes made with grappa or you can search for your favourite one. You could surely change with what you prefer to drink, but it will change the taste of the liqueur and overpower the pistachio flavour, as well as having different alcohol content. I must admit that pistachio vodka is an amazing combo!

You could try and use a different kind of milk to make it vegan, but same as for the alcohol, make sure it doesn’t overpower the taste of pistachio.

Can I make the pistachio cream at home?

You absolutely can! For a quick recipe you can just add the pistachio cream to your shopping cart, but making it at home is quite easy, and price wise won’t be much more expensive! There are plenty of versions to go by, but they usually differ in using white chocolate and others in using egg yolks. This is our recipe, but you can also find one with egg yolks from Cucina by Elena and this one with white chocolate from Inside The Rustic Kitchen.

What you can expect is a luxurious spread of an amazing green colour that will be hard to stop eating, rest assured! It’s easy to have it by the spoon, drizzled over ice cream, as a dessert filling or to spread on toast.

How long will this cream liqueur last? how to store it?

This pistachio liqueur needs to be kept refrigerated as it contains dairy, so after every use, make sure it goes back in the refrigerator. It can last up to three weeks in the fridge if it lasts that long in your house!

How to make pistachio Cream liqueur

Start in a small pot, over medium heat. Mix the pistachio cream, white sugar, full-fat cream and whole milk until well combined. Keep stirring the mix until you reach a boil for two to three minutes.

At this point, you will already have a rich green colour. Take the pot off the heat and let it cool completely. Stir in the vodka when the mix is cool. Transfer your pistachio liqueur to a bottle or in a jar, just make sure it’s well closed.

Keep the creamy liqueur in the fridge for twenty-four hours before serving. This will allow the alcohol to infuse and make it even more flavoursome. Keep it refrigerated when you are not using it, for up to three weeks.

When serving it, I found that taking it out five minutes before, from the fridge, will allow for an easier serving. Enjoy it on its own, over ice, drizzled on desserts or ice cream.

How to use pistachio cream liqueur?

This liqueur has plenty of uses. You can drink it straight as it is, it’s the perfect summer drink over ice. Or even during the rest of the year, to warm you up during the colder months. It’s great with dessert or after dinner. But this liqueur is not only a drink, between the many uses, these are the ones we prefer:

• over ice cream, it’s the perfect add-on over your favourite flavour;
• in cakes, it can be an amazing boozy cake filling;
• in cookies, you can use it as a filling for them or a creamy heart,
• for cocktails & mocktails, it can be the perfect add-on for mixing a delicious drink like a pistachio martini recipe,
• in coffee, you could make your own pistachio coffee drink,
• on desserts, it can make the perfect topping for panna cotta or over a biancomangiare.

If you have enjoyed this creamy pistachio liqueur recipe and want to find more easy food recipes and reads, check these posts:

• squares in Rome you must check out
• torta paradiso
• gnocco fritto
• casatiello recipe
• delicious Apulian friselle recipe
• best tiramisu in a glass

Print

SHOP THE POST

Do you have more pistachio recipes?

You could have not looked in a better place for more pistachio ricette as we say in Italian:

• pistachio granita: this is literally my childhood memories in a cup. I used to spend all summers in Sicily when I was a kid, and I could never have enough of granita and brioche!
• pistacchio crema: one of the ingredients for this recipe and one you will want to keep close because it makes the perfect homemade present and also the best thing to eat by the spoon ‘9not the healthiest, but nothing wrong with a treat!)
• pistachio lasagna: forget about the traditional lasagna and make space for the queen of them, or how I like to call this!

Keep tuned, because there are so many more pistachio recipes in the horizon over here!

Have you ever tried pistachio liqueur? Do you ever make homemade liqueur? Have you ever made pistachio liqueur cocktails? Is there any popular liqueur from where you are from? Let us know in the comments!

PIN THIS PISTACHIO CREAM LIQUEUR RECIPE FOR LATER!

Yum