Vanilla Pistachio Cake and Cupcakes

Today's recipe is one of my favorites for years. I've had it since the 90's. The original recipe has no egg yolks and is made in a bundt mold. Normally I make this cake,and serve with no frosting and it is delicious. It's texture is like an angel food cake, but with pistachio. On this occasion I wanted to decorate it and do it in layers..... I have to say I liked it even more! You can frost or decorate this cake with Vanilla Buttercream, Italian Meringue, Italian Meringue Buttercream or fondant. Please note that there are more photos for this post in the spanish version of this recipe, if you are interested click on link below the last photo where it say AQUI.


Vanilla Pistachio Cake

 
Ingredients:

3 cups of flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon almond extract
6 large eggs separated
½ cup ground pistachios

For Filling:  I used 2 boxes of instant pistachio pudding and pie filing prepared with 3 cup + 2 tablespoons of milk. (Ready in 5 minutes).




Instructions:
1. Lightly grease and flour 12-cup tube pan or three 9" round pans. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt, separate eggs and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy, scraping sides of bowl often (3 -4 minutes). Add egg yolk one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Incorporate the dry ingredients alternately with the milk and extracts mixture.
5. With clean beaters, beat egg whites at high speed until soft peaks form. Fold into batter. Fold in ground pistachios.
6. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake in 350°F for 50 to 60 minutes in a tube pan or 30 - 40 in regular cake pans. Bake until skewer inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Cool on rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on rack.


Yields 16 serving of one inch slices or 24 cupcakes.


Notes:  
a) The filling had a good flavor and went well with the cake. You can also use an almond flavored pastry cream. 
b) The recipe makes enough to for  two 10 " pans if you prefer.
c) Green colo could be added if you want a greener tone.

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For more photos and Esta receta de bizcocho de pistacho en español: AQUÍ

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. - 1 Peter 3: 13-15

Marshmallow Meringue Frosting, Suspiro De Marshmallow

This is a marshmallow meringue frosting that is very white. It's ideal for frosting vanilla, chocolate, and rainbow cakes, cupcakes, pies, puddings etc. I am sure you'll enjoy its light texture and tasty flavor. It's thicker than the regular meringue frosting I use and shinier. I recommend working fast when covering a cake because the gelatin in the marshmallows makes it  a little difficult to manage with a spatula, but with a pastry bag it is "a piece of cake"!

Mashmallow Meringue Frosting

Ingredients:
15 Large Marshmallows
2 tablespoons warm water
2 egg whites
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar (optional)
1 cup sugar
pinch of salt
¼ cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation: 
1. Bring the marshmallows and 2 tablespoons of warm water to a double boiler (Bain Marie), stirring just until melted and thickened.
2. In a saucepan bring the cup of sugar, salt and ¼ cup water until it forms a thick syrup to make a meringue.
3. When the syrup begins to thicken, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form, continue beating on high speed, while you add the syrup in a slow continuous stream.
4. Let beat for two minutes then add diluted marshmallows and vanilla and beat until it forms strong peaks and cools down.  DONE!


Notes: 
a) You can substitute the 15 marshmallows for 1 cup of Marshmallow Cream
b) If you're looking for a Marshmallow Fondant recipe, you can find HERE.
c) When drys it feels like soft marshmallow and it is not sticky to the touched.

Cupcake Recipes: Vanilla Cupcakes ~ Chocolate Cupcakes .

More step by step pictures and video on how to do the bunny cupcakes, plus this recipe en Español: AQUÍ

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven -Matthew 7:20-21

DECORATED COOKIES with PEARL DUST and ROYAL ICING ROSEBUDS

Each time I decorate cookies with icing I enjoy it more than the previous time. On this occasion I made some "rosebuds" with icing using a pastry bag and petal tip. I also used pearl dust it's very much like luster dust, I had a bottle of it lying around and I am glad I finally found another way to use it.

I love how these cookies came out and named them "Princess Tiana Cookies", after my beautiful niece. They were made as a gift for my daughters and several friends. I feel these cookies go well with my personality  because of the flowers and subtle sheen, therefore, I present this post with great joy.

The rosettes or rosebuds did not come out all the same, instead, I gave them each a there own style making them slightly different. As soon as I heal from my sore right arm, I will practice some more to achieve a rosebud that is more defined. I do however believe that how they look is not something to worry about because even the buds that came out looking kind of funny, as soon as you place some leaves and lust on  them they'll look fantastic. The good thing is that you can do lots of rosebuds in different colors, shapes and sizes. When dry they can be stored in plastic containers and use when you want it in cookies, cupcakes and cakes.

How to video for these little rose buttons:

What you'll need:

To make rosebuds:
Strong consistency icing: HERE (if only making a few, use only a quarter of the icing and leave the rest for the cookies)

Tip # 101 (rosebuds and petals)
Tip # 67 or # 352 (leaves)
Flower nail
1'' squares of wax paper  

For Cookies: 

Cookie recipe: HERE
Icing: HERE
Tip #2 (outline and flooding)
Dried icing rosebuds or flowers
Pearl dust
Two soft brushes, one small and one larger

Steps:

1. Make cookies and icing. Leaving some icing with a very strong consistency to make flowers. Let flowers to dry overnight. Decorate cookies desired color and allow to dry overnight. Reserve a bit of icing to glue the flowers the next day and also to do the leaves. With cookies and flowers all ready continue:

Note: You can use pearl dust to give a touch of sparkle and pearl glow to bows, flowers or any details made of fondant, gum paste and royal icing. It is easy to use, to apply, use a dry soft artist brush, using very little on the surface you want to add sheen. You can also wet a small amount of dust with a few drops of vodka or vanilla and use it as paint to color decorations. It is edible and is approved by the FDA. You can find this product in a specialized pastry shops or online. I saw it in  NY Cakes.

2. Powder  should be applied gently to the flowers with a dry soft brush, a small amount of dust, is more than enough.

3. I wanted some cookies to have sheen so I also did the same application procedure as in the flowers but with a larger brush. The brush should be soft to avoid damaging the finish of icing (either fondant or icing).

4.  The powder is ready at once, there is no need to wait a while before placing the flower or decoration.

5. Place a dot of icing and then glue the flower. Make the dot small enough or else it will spread outside the flower's border.

6.  Then go with the tip #67 and add leaves for garnish. Let dry and voila, our Princess Tiana Cookies are ready to please yourself or our loved ones.

For me every day of the year is special for LOVE and FRIENDSHIP so although I published these heart shaped cookies after February 14, it is still valid. I love heart shape everything and with the 20 + heart shape cookie cutters I have, you'll see lots of hearts around this blog!

 

If you need an excuse... these cookies will be a great gift for, your cousin on her birthday, the neighbor's anniversary, Easter and for our Mothers ....... YES, I know you thought about these cookies for Mom. I pictured them in a beige or cream tone for mom, and maybe light blue for me : )  I Hope you liked the idea of the flowers and pearl dust for cookies, and have enjoyed this post as much as I did.

En español: AQUí

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God — Corinthians 10:31-32 

Thanks for following and have a blessed week,

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