Pistachio and Chocolate

Today's post will be brief, as I have a little person tugging on my jeans, signing "more" for a piece of bread (the stand in for the cupcake he originally asked for).

I wanted to try another new cupcake in time for the boy's game night. On a fairly regular basis, my brother, husband, and brother in law get together to play board games on a week night. It's fun for them and a quiet night for whichever wife isn't at the host house.

Tonight, I decided to send a manly cupcake. Earthy colors, nothing pink or frilly. Salty and sweet, but most importantly, delicious.

Again, I wanted to make something that didn't require a special grocery trip, so I searched the pantry and found that I had a bag of pistachios. With that, the decision was made.

And the decision was delicious.



The recipe for the cupcake and frosting follow - I had to shell my pistachios, which is time consuming and starts to hurt your fingers after a while, so I would recommend getting them already shelled. Also, mine were salted, which I didn't mind since I like the salty/sweet combo. But if you aren't a fan of the salt, buy unsalted.


Pistachio Cupcakes (Makes 24)

1 c. unsalted butter at room temperature (2 sticks)
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 cups unsalted, shelled pistachios, chopped into a coarse powder
2 1/2 c. flour
1 T. baking powder
1 t. salt
1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 t. almond extract
1 c. milk
a handful of pistachios for garnish

Heat oven to 350.

Cream your butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and beat till smooth.

In separate bowl combine your dry ingredients. Add a cup at a time to the butter/sugar mixture. Alternate adding milk and dry ingredients. Add extract and pistachio powder.

Pour batter into cupcake liners (in pan) 3/4 full. BAke 20-25 minutes or until the cupcake springs back slightly to the touch.


Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting (will frost 12 GENEROUSLY, or 24 lightly)

1/3 cup butter
8 oz cream cheese
3-4 cups sifted confectioners sugar (go with 4 if you want to have stiff piping frosting...I used 3)
1/2 cup cocoa (I prefer dark chocolate cocoa...if you can afford good stuff, get it. otherwise, hershey's DARK is the way to go)

Cream butter and cheese. Add sifted sugar and cocoa.


If you like pistachios, you MUST try these.