Pistachio Brownies

Prep time: 40 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients

Brownies

3/4 cup melted butter

150 grams chocolate

2 tablespoons and 1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup flour minus 1 tablespoon

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/2 cup unsalted pistachios

Pistachio Paste

1 cup unsalted pistachios

3-4 tablespoons water or olive oil

1/4 cup pistachios (for decoration)

Equipment

Measuring cups and spoons

Medium bowl

Large bowl

Small bowl

Handheld electric mixer (or standing mixer)

Mini food processor

mini loaf cake baking tray, buttered and floured

Spatula

Small spoon

How To

Preheat the oven to 350 F/176 C.

Brownies

In a medium bowl mix the chocolate and 2 tablespoons cocoa.

Melt the butter and add to the chocolate mixture while it’s hot. Mix it with the spatula until the chocolate is melted and it’s well combined. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat with a handheld electric mixer (or in the bowl of a standing mixer), add the sugars, vanilla extract and eggs. Beat well until creamy.

Add in the chocolate mixture and mix on medium low until well combined.

Add the flour, corn starch and 1/4 cup cocoa powder and mix until just combined. Fold in the pistachios.

Pour into the prepared mini loaf cake tray and bake for 20 mins.

Watch them carefully and test them with a toothpick at 20 minutes. You want the toothpick to come out with a few crumbs – that’s when it’s ready and fudgy. Don’t forget that it will continue to cook when you remove it from the oven, so don’t hesitate to take them out of the oven when the toothpick still has crumbs – like I did many times and regret it every time!

As the brownies are cooling make the pistachio paste.

Pistachio paste

Place the pistachios in the mini food processor. Pulse the pistachios until they’re well crumbled. Add two tablespoons of the olive oil (alternatively water) and continue pulsing. Add more water if the paste is not smooth and pulsing in increments. Once the pistachio paste is smooth, remove onto a small bowl and set aside.

Remove the brownies from the cake tray. Spread the pistachio paste over the brownies. Scatter some pistachios over the brownies (optional).