Pistachio and Chocolate King Cake

Pistachio and Chocolate King Cake is a medium French recipe that serves 8. 695 calories per serving. Recipe by Once Upon a Time Pastry on YouTube.

Prep: 12 hrs 47 min | Cook: 40 min | Total: 13 hrs 52 min

Cost: $12.60 total, $1.58 per serving

Ingredients

  • 2 discs Inverted puff pastry (ready-to-use, about 500 g total)
  • 100 g Unsalted butter (at room temperature, very soft)
  • 80 g Granulated sugar
  • 1 un Whole egg (for the pistachio cream)
  • 2 jaunes Egg yolk (for glazing)
  • 80 g Pistachio powder (unsalted, fine)
  • 75 g Dark chocolate chips (minimum 70 % cocoa)
  • 1 c. à soupe Water (to seal the pastry edges)

Instructions

  1. Preparation

    Gather all ingredients, take the puff pastry out of the refrigerator and let the butter soften.

    Time: PT5M

  2. Pistachio cream – butter and sugar

    In a bowl, cream the soft butter with the granulated sugar until you obtain a pale and homogeneous mixture.

    Time: PT3M

  3. Incorporating the egg

    Add the whole egg to the cream and mix quickly until fully incorporated.

    Time: PT2M

  4. Adding pistachio and chocolate

    Fold in the pistachio powder then the dark chocolate chips. Mix until the batter is homogeneous.

    Time: PT2M

  5. Prepare the pastry discs

    On a lightly floured surface, roll out each puff pastry disc. Keep a 3 cm free edge on each disc.

    Time: PT5M

  6. Spread the filling

    Spread the pistachio cream over the first disc leaving a 3 cm free border.

    Time: PT3M

  7. Seal the cake

    Brush the free edge with water using a brush, place the second disc on top and press firmly with your fingers to seal the two pastries.

    Time: PT3M

  8. First glaze and flip

    Flip the cake so the top is smooth, then brush the top with a first egg yolk.

    Time: PT2M

  9. Chill (first glaze)

    Place the cake in the refrigerator for 20 minutes so the first glaze sets.

    Time: PT20M

  10. Second glaze

    Remove the cake, brush the top with the remaining two egg yolks.

    Time: PT1M

  11. Overnight rest

    Wrap the cake in cling film and let rest all night in the refrigerator.

    Time: PT12H

  12. Preheat oven

    Preheat the oven to 200 °C.

    Time: PT10M

    Temperature: 200°C

  13. Bake

    Place the cake on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 30 minutes until well golden and flaky.

    Time: PT30M

    Temperature: 200°C

  14. Cooling

    Remove the cake from the oven, place it on a rack and let rest for 10 minutes before cutting.

    Time: PT10M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
695
Protein
5 g
Carbohydrates
56 g
Fat
47 g
Fiber
1.5 g

Dietary info: Vegetarian, Contains nuts, Contains gluten

Allergens: gluten, milk, eggs, pistachios, soy (in industrial puff pastry)

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Instead of Inverted puff pastry: homemade puff pastry, quick puff pastry
  • Instead of Unsalted butter: vegetable margarine
  • Instead of Granulated sugar: cane sugar
  • Instead of Whole egg: organic chicken egg
  • Instead of Egg yolk: milk-based glaze
  • Instead of Pistachio powder: ground roasted pistachios, almond powder
  • Instead of Dark chocolate chips: chopped dark chocolate
  • Instead of Water: milk

Equipment Needed

  • Mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Silicone spatula
  • Rolling pin
  • Kitchen brush
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Plastic film (cling film)
  • Baker's blade (or pastry cutter) (optional)
  • Cooling rack (optional)

Critical Steps — Do Not Skip

  • Seal the edges with water and not egg yolk
  • 20‑minute rest between the two glazes
  • Overnight rest in the refrigerator before baking
  • Bake at 200 °C for 30 minutes

Chef Tips from the Video

  • Use unsalted pistachios to avoid excess salt in the filling.
  • For a decorative pattern, lightly trace the crown shape with a baker's blade before baking.
  • If you don't have inverted puff pastry, choose a regular puff pastry and add a small spoon of butter on the bottom before sealing.

Troubleshooting

Filling leaks during baking.

Make sure the edge is well sealed with water and that the pastry is not too thin in the center.

Cake is not golden enough.

Brush both glazes generously and increase the temperature by 10 °C for the last 5 minutes.

Pastry remains soft after baking.

Ensure the oven was fully preheated to 200 °C and extend baking by 5‑10 minutes.

Storage

Refrigerator: Store the uncut cake, wrapped in cling film, for up to 2 days.

Freezer: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

Room temperature: Consume the same day, do not leave more than 4 hours at room temperature.

Make-Ahead Tips

  • Prepare the pistachio cream 24 h in advance and keep it refrigerated.
  • Assemble the cake the day before, refrigerate overnight, then bake the same day.

Last updated: September 6, 2026

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Pistachio and Chocolate King Cake

Recipe by Once Upon a Time Pastry

A decadent king cake where the sweetness of pistachio meets the intensity of dark chocolate. Made with an inverted puff pastry, a silky pistachio cream and 75 g of chocolate chips, this cake offers a perfect balance between crunch and melt, ideal for Epiphany or any special occasion.

MediumFrenchServes 8

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Source Video
13h 6m
Prep
30m
Cook
1h 38m
Cleanup
15h 14m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$12.60
Total cost
$1.58
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • • Seal the edges with water and not egg yolk
  • • 20‑minute rest between the two glazes
  • • Overnight rest in the refrigerator before baking
  • • Bake at 200 °C for 30 minutes

Safety Warnings

  • • Handle the hot oven with kitchen gloves.
  • • Do not eat raw dough containing eggs.
  • • Be careful of hot water splashes when cleaning.