Pistachio Tea Cake Food

CHERRY-PISTACHIO TEA CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
• Pulse the pistachios, flour, baking powder and salt in a food processor until finely ground.
• Whisk the confectioners' sugar and eggs in a large bowl, then whisk in the pistachio mixture until just combined. Stir in the melted butter until just incorporated.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons batter into each muffin cup. Bake until slightly puffed and just beginning to set, about 8 minutes. Place 1 or 2 cherries in the center of each cake and continue baking until the cakes feel springy and the edges are lightly browned, 10 to 12 more minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 10 minutes in the pan, then remove from the pan to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

PISTACHIO TEA CAKE

Steps:

• Mix together the first 5 ingredients in a large bowl and beat well.
• In a small bowl mix the nuts, sugar and cinnamon.
• In a lightly greased bundt pan, pour 1/3 batter and 1/2 nut mixture. Repeat ending with the last of the batter. You should have batter, nuts, batter, nuts, batter. And don't worry if layers are not even, it will all work out in the end.
• Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour in a 350° oven. Cool completely before removing from pan.
• Serve as is or simply dust with confectioners' sugar.

MINI PISTACHIO TEA CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F Place a rack in the upper third. Place 2 mini-muffin tins (2" diameter cups, 24 total) on a cookie sheet. If your muffin tins are not non-stick, spray liberally with non-stick spray.
• NOTE: If you cannot find pistachio paste ready-made, you can make your own; combine 1/4 cup shell-less unsalted pistachios and 1/4 cup powdered sugar in a food processor. Process until nuts are finely ground, then add 1-3 tbsp water, until the desired consistency is achieved. (This will probably make a little more than you need.).
• Beat the butter with a stand or hand mixer until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and beat until smooth. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula, then add pistachio paste and vanilla. Beat until smooth again. Add the eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition and scraping the sides of the bowl often.
• Sift the flour and salt in a bowl. Add half the dry ingredients to the wet and blend well; add the remaining dry and blend well again. Divide batter evenly amongst the muffin cups. Place 3 pistachios into each muffin cup; do not press down.
• Bake 13-15 minutes until light golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of one cup comes out clean. Place on a rack to cool completely, then remove from pan. Dust tops with confectioner's sugar before serving.
• Leftovers will last 4 days at room temperature, wrapped airtight in foil. They may also be frozen up to 4 months, wrapped in several layers of plastic wrap and foil. Defrost frozen cakes in refrigerator overnight, then bring up to room temperature before serving.

RUSSIAN TEA CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cream butter in a large mixing bowl. Add the vanilla then gradually add the 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Sift the flour, measure, then sift again with the salt. Add gradually to the butter mixture. Add the pecans and mix well.
• Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten slightly using the bottom of a glass, then bake for 20 minutes, or until edges are very lightly browned. Remove the cookies from the baking sheets and roll in powdered sugar while still hot. Cool on wire racks and roll cookies again in powdered sugar before serving.
• Once they are completely cooled, cookies may be stored in airtight containers for up to 1 week.

PISTACHIO-RASPBERRY TEA CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Line standard or mini muffin tins with paper liners; coat liners with cooking spray. In a food processor, finely grind shelled pistachios with the sugar and salt. Add butter, vanilla, and eggs; process until smooth. Add flour; pulse until just moistened and combined (do not overmix).
• Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Drop raspberries into batter (4 to 6 per standard tea cake; 2 per mini) and sprinkle with slivered pistachios. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until golden brown, about 28 minutes for standard cupcakes, 14 for minis. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature. Cakes can be stored up to 2 days at room temperature in airtight containers.

RASPBERRY & PISTACHIO TEA CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a 15 x 25cm cake tin. Put the pistachios in a food processor with half the sugar and blitz until the nuts are finely chopped. Tip into a bowl, add the remaining sugar and the butter and beat with an electric whisk until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, then beat in the flour and yogurt until smooth, adding some milk if it's too thick.
• Spoon the batter into the tin, level and bake for 50-55 mins, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 15 mins, then turn the cake out onto a board. Remove and discard the baking parchment, then leave to cool completely. Cut into neat squares.
• To make the icing, put the raspberries in a pan with 2 tbsp water and cook briefly until soft and juicy. Push the mixture through a sieve and discard any pips. Whisk in the sugar until you have a smooth pink icing.
• Pour the icing over the cooled cake, then decorate with the sugar flowers, pearl sugar or sprinkles, if you like. Leave to set before serving.

PISTACHIO-RASPBERRY TEA CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line standard or mini muffin tins with paper liners; coat liners with cooking spray. In a food processor, finely grind shelled pistachios with the sugar and salt. Add butter, vanilla, and eggs: process until smooth. Add flour; pulse until just moistened and combined; do not overmix.
• Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Drop raspberries into batter (4 to 6 per standard cupcake; 2 per mini) and sprinkle with slivered pistachios (1/2 teaspoon per standard: 1/4 teaspoon per mini). Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until golden brown, about 28 minutes for standard cupcakes, 14 for minis. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature. Cupcakes can be stored up to 2 days at room temperature in airtight containers.

LITTLE PISTACHIO CAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and grease a 12-hole silicone muffin or friand mould, then dust with a little flour, and tip out the excess (a metal tray will work too, but line with muffin cases, as the mixture may stick). Put the pistachios in a food processor and blitz until finely chopped but not greasy. Add the remaining cake ingredients and blend again into a creamy mixture. Use 2 spoons to fill each hole of your tray 2/3 full, place on the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 15 mins or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool in the mould for 10 mins, then run a knife around the edge of each cake and turn out onto a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, make the icing. Using an electric hand whisk, blend 3 tbsp of the cream cheese with the butter until smooth, then add the remaining cream cheese and icing sugar. Whizz again until creamy, transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small round nozzle, and chill until ready to use.
• When the cakes are cool, pipe spikes of icing on top of each one, then sprinkle with chopped pistachios. Can be made ahead - store the un-iced cakes in a sealed container for up to 3 days and chill the icing for 2 days.