Nigella Lawson Easy Chocolate Pistachio Fudge Recipes

CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• For the fudge icing:
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, minimum 70 percent cocoa solids
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• For the cake:
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and line the bottom of 2 (8-inch) cake pans.
• In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugars, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl or wide-necked measuring cup whisk together the eggs, sour cream and vanilla until blended. Using a standing or handheld electric mixer, beat together the melted butter and corn oil until just blended (you'll need another large bowl for this is using the hand mixer; the standing mixer comes with its own bowl), then beat in the water. Add the dry ingredients all at once and mix together on a slow speed. Add the egg mixture, and mix again until everything is blended and then pour into the prepared tins. And actually, you could easily do this manually; I just like my toys and find the stand mixer a comforting presence in itself.
• Bake the cakes for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a cake-tester comes out clean. Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes, and then turn the cakes out on the rack to cool completely.
• For the icing:
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave - 2 to 3 minutes on medium should do it - or in a bowl sitting over a pan of simmering water, and let cool slightly.
• In another bowl beat the butter until it's soft and creamy (again, I use the stand mixer here) and then add the sifted confectioners' sugar and beat again until everything's light and fluffy. I know sifting is a pain, the 1 job in the kitchen I really hate, but you have to do it or the icing will be unsoothingly lumpy. Then gently add the vanilla and chocolate and mix together until everything is glossy and smooth.
• Sandwich the middle of the cake with about a quarter of the icing, and then ice the top and sides, too, spreading and smoothing with a rubber spatula.

CHOCOLATE AND PISTACHIO WHIRLIGIG BUNS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine 8 tablespoons butter and the milk, and place over low heat until lukewarm, stirring to melt the butter. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
• In a large bowl, combine 5 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast. In a medium bowl, beat eggs lightly, and then whisk in milk mixture.
• Using a mixer with a dough hook, or by hand, stir liquid ingredients into dry ingredients. Knead dough for 7-8 minutes until smooth and springy, adding more flour by the tablespoon if necessary to form a soft, slightly sticky dough. Form into a ball, and place in an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place until double in size, about 30 minutes.
• Line bottom of a 13-by-10-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
• Punch down the dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a rectangle about 22 by 12 inches.
• To make filling, dollop the remaining 8 tablespoons softened butter over the dough and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle the sugar evenly over the butter. Chop pistachios until splintery, and sprinkle evenly over dough. Top with chocolate chips, pressing the chocolate and nuts gently into the dough. Starting from longest side, carefully roll up dough so it looks like a long sausage. Cut dough into 20 slices, each 1-inch thick, and arrange with a cut side up in pan.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush buns with beaten egg, and let them sit in a warm place until puffed up and spongy to the touch, about 15 minutes. Bake until buns are risen and golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the pan at least 30 minutes, then cut and serve warm.

NIGELLA LAWSON EASY CHOCOLATE PISTACHIO FUDGE

Steps:

• Line a 23cm/9 inch square pan with foil and grease lightly -- I use the spray. Scatter nuts on the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Place the chocolate, condensed milk, butter and salt in a glass bowl and microwave on MED(50%) for about 4 minutes. Stir every minute until just melted.
• Pour the mixture on top of the nuts. You can smooth the top, if you want it to look tidy.
• Nigella recommends to let the fudge cool in the fridge til set, but I put it directly in the freezer. (So I can eat it sooner!) It can be eaten directly from the freezer, as it doesn't freeze hard.
• Cut into 2cm x 3cm pieces. Very rich and satisfying!

CHOCOLATE PISTACHIO FUDGE

Steps:

• Melt the chopped chocolate, condensed milk and salt in a heavy based pan on a low heat.
• Put the nuts into a freezer bag and bash them with a rolling pin, until broken up into both big and little pieces.
• Add the nuts to the melted chocolate and condensed milk and stir well to mix.
• Pour this mixture into a 9-inch square foil tray, smoothing the top.
• Let the fudge cool and then refrigerate until set. You can then cut into small pieces approximately 3/4 by 1 3/4 inches or cutting 8 by 8 lines in the tin to give 64 pieces.
• Once cut you can keep it in the freezer, no need to thaw just eat straight away.

CHOCOLATE PISTACHIO FUDGE

Steps:

• Put the chopped chocolate, condensed milk, butter and salt in a heavy-based pan on a low heat and stir to melt.
• Place the nuts into a freezer bag and bash them with a rolling pin, until broken up into both big and little pieces.
• Add the nuts to the melted chocolate and condensed milk and stir well to mix.
• Pour this mixture into a foil tray 23cm square, press mixture to the edges of tin and smooth the top.
• Let the fudge cool, and refrigerate until set.
• Cut fudge into small pieces - see note.
• Note - Cut fudge into small pieces approx 3x2.25cm. Cutting 8 x 10 lines in the tin to give 64 pieces.
• Once cut, fudge can be kept in the freezer - no need to thaw, just eat straight away.