Pistachio Cream vs. Pistachio Paste: What's the Difference?
Shoppers use "pistachio cream" and "pistachio paste" interchangeably, but they are different products. Knowing which one you have changes how you use it, and how much sugar you add.
The short answer
Pistachio paste is ground pistachios, usually with little or nothing added. It is thick, unsweetened, intensely nutty and made for flavoring. Pistachio cream is a sweet, ready-to-eat spread made with pistachios plus sugar and other ingredients for a smooth, spoonable texture.
| Pistachio paste | Pistachio cream | |
|---|---|---|
| Main ingredient | Ground pistachios | Sugar, oils and pistachio, often with milk |
| Sweetness | Unsweetened or barely sweet | Sweet, ready to eat |
| Texture | Very thick, like nut butter | Smooth and spreadable |
| Eat straight from the jar? | Not usually; very strong and dense | Yes, on toast, fruit or a spoon |
| Best for | Flavoring gelato bases, pastry creams, doughs | Spreads, fillings, swirls, Dubai chocolate, lattes |
Which is Belgico?
Belgico makes pistachio creams. Our Pistachio Cream is made in Belgium with roasted pistachio paste, sugar, vegetable oils and milk powder, so it is sweet, silky and ready to use straight from the jar. Our Crunchy Pistachio Sauce is 30% pistachio with toasted pistachio pieces folded in for crunch.
How to use each one
- Spreading, filling and topping: use pistachio cream. It goes straight onto toast and crepes, into croissants and cookies, and over ice cream and cheesecake.
- Dubai chocolate bars: use pistachio cream mixed with toasted kataifi. The sweetness balances the chocolate. See our Dubai chocolate bar recipe.
- Baking with pistachio cream: it is already sweetened, so reduce the sugar in your recipe slightly.
- Gelato and pastry flavoring: professionals often use pure paste for maximum nut intensity. Pistachio cream works too and adds sweetness and body; adjust the sugar in your base.
Choosing your size
For home baking and breakfast, the 7 oz pantry jars are the right fit. For bakeries, cafés and gelato shops, our 8.8 lb (4 kg) foodservice buckets give the same cream at volume, and you can request wholesale pricing.