Frosted Pistachio Bars Recipes

FROSTED PISTACHIO BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk flour, pudding mix, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, whisk egg, oil, water and vanilla until blended; stir into flour mixture. If desired, stir in pistachios. (Dough will be stiff.), Press dough into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla and salt until blended. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Spread over top. Decorate as desired., Cut into bars before serving. Store in the refrigerator.

PISTACHIO CREAM BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat butter and 2/3 cup powdered sugar with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in flour and baking powder. Stir in nuts. Press dough in bottom of pan.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 1 hour.
• In chilled medium bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. In another medium bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 cup powdered sugar on medium speed 1 minute or until creamy. Fold in vanilla and 1 1/2 cups of the whipped cream. Spread over baked crust. Refrigerate.
• In medium bowl, mix dry pudding mix and 1 cup milk as directed on package. Refrigerate 5 minutes. Fold in remaining whipped cream. Spread over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until chilled. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Garnish with additional chopped nuts, if desired. Store covered in refrigerator.

PISTACHIO BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, combine flour and 1/4 cup sugar; mix well. With pastry blender or fork, cut in 1/2 cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press mixture in bottom of ungreased 8-inch square pan.
• Bake at 350°F. for 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat egg slightly in medium bowl. Add all remaining topping ingredients except pistachios and coconut; mix well. Stir in pistachios and coconut.
• Remove pan from oven. Spoon and spread coconut mixture evenly over warm base. Return to oven; bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 1 hour 15 minutes or until completely cooled. Cut into bars.

PISTACHIO LAYER CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray three 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Line each pan with a round piece of parchment paper, and spray with cooking spray.
• Prepare the cake: pulse pistachios in a food processor until finely ground, 10 to 15 pulses. Transfer 1 1/2 cups ground pistachios to a bowl with flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; whisk until well combined and set aside. Place remaining ground pistachios, about 1 1/3 cups, in a bowl and reserve for finishing the cake.
• Beat butter and white sugar for cake in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed, scraping down the sides as needed, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg whites and beat on high speed until combined, about 2 minutes.
• Mix in sour cream, vanilla extract, and almond extract until combined, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture in batches on low speed until completely incorporated, about 2 minutes. Mix in milk and food coloring until just combined, about 1 minute.
• Divide batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Gently tap each pan on the countertop to spread and flatten batter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of each pan removes cleanly, 22 to 24 minutes. Cool cakes in the pans for about 10 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen cakes, then invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• While the cakes are cooling, prepare buttercream: beat cream cheese and butter in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in powdered sugar in 1/2-cup increments on medium-low speed, allowing sugar to be completely incorporated before adding more, until combined, about 4 minutes. Mix in vanilla and food coloring on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand. Top with 1 cup buttercream and 1 tablespoon ground pistachios, and spread evenly over the surface using a spatula. Place second cake layer on top; top with 1 cup buttercream and 1 tablespoon ground pistachios, and spread evenly over the surface. Place third cake layer on top, and spread 1 cup buttercream evenly over the surface. Spread 2 cups buttercream evenly around sides of assembled cake and smooth with a spatula. Transfer cake to the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes.
• Remove cake from the refrigerator and spread remaining buttercream over top and sides of cake until sides are smooth and top is billowy. Using a small offset spatula, make a spiral pattern on top of the cake. Press remaining ground pistachios into sides of the cake.
• Slice and serve immediately or chill in an airtight container until ready to serve. If chilled, allow cake to come to room temperature before serving.