Grenouille Royale Elegant Cakes

Featured in: Sweet Heat Treats

These elegant, bite-sized cakes feature a moist almond sponge layered with a rich pistachio cream and finished with a bright citrus glaze. The balanced flavors and delicate textures make them ideal for afternoon tea or special occasions. Preparation involves baking the almond sponge, creating a smooth pistachio cream, then assembling and glazing each square. Garnishes of chopped pistachios and optional gold leaf add a luxurious touch. Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness.

Updated on Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:58:00 GMT
Golden, glazed Grenouille Royale Petit Fours, small French cakes with pistachio cream and chopped nuts. Save
Golden, glazed Grenouille Royale Petit Fours, small French cakes with pistachio cream and chopped nuts. | grilto.com

Elegant, bite-sized cakes inspired by French patisserie, featuring layers of almond sponge, pistachio cream, and citrus glaze—perfect for afternoon tea or festive occasions.

This recipe has become a favorite at family gatherings for its delicate flavors and beautiful presentation.

Ingredients

  • Almond Sponge: 120 g unsalted butter softened, 120 g granulated sugar, 3 large eggs, 120 g almond flour, 40 g all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • Pistachio Cream: 100 g pistachio paste, 80 g unsalted butter softened, 80 g powdered sugar, 2 tbsp heavy cream
  • Citrus Glaze: 200 g powdered sugar, 2–3 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp finely grated lime zest, Green food coloring optional
  • Decoration: 25 g chopped pistachios, Edible gold leaf or gold sprinkles optional

Instructions

Step 1:
Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Line a 20x30 cm (8x12 in) baking pan with parchment paper.
Step 2:
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
Step 3:
Sift together almond flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Fold into the butter mixture until just combined.
Step 4:
Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
Step 5:
For the pistachio cream, beat pistachio paste and softened butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and heavy cream; beat until light and spreadable.
Step 6:
Remove sponge from pan and cut into two equal layers. Spread pistachio cream over the bottom layer, then top with the second layer. Gently press together.
Step 7:
Cut stacked cake into 24 neat squares (about 3x3 cm).
Step 8:
For the glaze, whisk powdered sugar with lemon juice and lime zest until smooth and thick but pourable. Tint with green food coloring if desired.
Step 9:
Place petits fours on a wire rack over a tray. Spoon or pour glaze over each square; let excess drip off. Garnish with chopped pistachios and gold leaf or sprinkles before the glaze sets.
Step 10:
Allow glaze to set for 30 minutes before serving.
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| grilto.com

This recipe always brings back warm memories of family teatimes and celebrations filled with laughter and delicious treats.

Required Tools

Electric mixer, mixing bowls, 20x30 cm baking pan, parchment paper, wire rack, offset spatula, sharp knife

Allergen Information

Contains egg, dairy (butter cream), tree nuts (almond pistachio), gluten (wheat flour). Pistachio paste and almond flour may contain cross-contaminants check labels if allergies are a concern.

Nutritional Information

Per petit four: Calories 160, Total Fat 9 g, Carbohydrates 17 g, Protein 3 g

A beautifully arranged plate of Grenouille Royale Petit Fours, showcasing the almond sponge and citrus glaze. Save
A beautifully arranged plate of Grenouille Royale Petit Fours, showcasing the almond sponge and citrus glaze. | grilto.com

Serve your petits fours slightly chilled for the best flavor experience and enjoy every bite.

Grenouille Royale Elegant Cakes

Elegant bite-sized almond sponge cakes with pistachio cream and citrus glaze, perfect for festive or teatime indulgence.

Prep Time
40 min
Time to Cook
25 min
Complete Time
65 min
From grilto Jake Turner


Skill Level Medium

Cuisine Style French

Serves 24 Portions

Diet Details Meatless

What You Need

Almond Sponge

01 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 3 large eggs
04 1 cup almond flour
05 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
06 1 teaspoon baking powder
07 1/4 teaspoon salt
08 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Pistachio Cream

01 1/2 cup pistachio paste
02 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
03 2/3 cup powdered sugar
04 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Citrus Glaze

01 1 2/3 cups powdered sugar
02 2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice
03 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
04 Green food coloring (optional)

Decoration

01 3 tablespoons chopped pistachios
02 Edible gold leaf or gold sprinkles (optional)

How-To

Step 01

Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x12 inch baking pan with parchment paper.

Step 02

Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in vanilla extract.

Step 03

Combine dry ingredients: Sift almond flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt together. Gently fold into the butter mixture until just incorporated.

Step 04

Bake sponge: Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.

Step 05

Prepare pistachio cream: Beat pistachio paste and softened butter together until smooth. Add powdered sugar and heavy cream, and beat until light and spreadable.

Step 06

Assemble layers: Carefully remove the sponge from the pan and slice horizontally into two equal layers. Spread pistachio cream evenly over the bottom layer, then place the top layer on and press gently.

Step 07

Cut into petits fours: Cut the layered cake into 24 neat squares approximately 1 1/8 inches each.

Step 08

Prepare citrus glaze: Whisk powdered sugar with lemon juice and lime zest until smooth and thick but pourable. Add green food coloring if desired.

Step 09

Glaze petits fours: Place petits fours on a wire rack set over a tray. Spoon or pour glaze over each piece, allowing excess to drip off. Garnish with chopped pistachios and edible gold leaf or sprinkles before glaze sets.

Step 10

Set glaze: Let glaze set firm for 30 minutes before serving.

Essentials

  • Electric mixer
  • Mixing bowls
  • 8x12 inch baking pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Wire rack
  • Offset spatula
  • Sharp knife

Allergy Advisory

Review every component for allergens. Reach out to a health pro if you’re concerned.
  • Contains egg, dairy (butter, cream), tree nuts (almond, pistachio), and gluten (wheat flour).
  • May contain cross-contaminants; verify labels if allergic.

Nutrition Details (per portion)

Facts listed here are for your info, not medical advice. Always double-check if needed.
  • Energy: 160
  • Lipids: 9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 17 g
  • Proteins: 3 g