CHEF JOHN'S ORANGE-PISTACHIO "GREENIES"

Chef John's Orange-Pistachio

Are you tired of blondies or bored with brownies? Then it's time to try these Greenies, a brownie-like confection made with pistachios and flavored with orange zest.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Desserts Nut Dessert Recipes Pistachio Dessert Recipes

Time 1h5m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

2 tablespoons freshly grated orange zest
½ cup butter, melted
½ cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 tablespoon milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups shelled dry-roasted pistachio nuts
½ teaspoon salt to taste (see footnote)
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup miniature chocolate chips
1 tablespoon orange juice, or as needed
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, or as needed

Steps:

Whisk 2 tablespoons orange zest into melted butter in a mixing bowl, followed by white sugar, until sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes. Whisk in eggs until light and fluffy, about 2 more minutes. Stir 1 tablespoon orange juice, milk, and vanilla extract into egg mixture.
Place pistachios into a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add salt, baking powder, and flour to pistachios; pulse until combined, 3 to 4 times. Stir pistachio mixture into wet ingredients until batter is combined. Gently fold in chocolate chips.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; generously butter a 9x9-inch square baking dish.
Spread batter into prepared baking dish. Tap the dish several times on a sturdy work surface to eliminate air bubbles.
Bake in the preheated oven until top is lightly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.
Stir 1 tablespoon orange juice with 2 teaspoons orange zest in a small bowl; mix in confectioners' sugar to form a thin, runny glaze. Drizzle glaze on top of pistachio bars and spread to cover top. Cut into squares once cooled.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 292.4 calories, Carbohydrate 25.1 g, Cholesterol 51.4 mg, Fat 20.1 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 6.4 g, SaturatedFat 7.6 g, Sodium 272.2 mg, Sugar 16.1 g