Pistachio Torte

 

 

With pistachios in the batter and on top, our fudgy cake is truly holiday-worthy.

 

Ingredients

For the Cake

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, plus more for pan
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 3/4 cup shelled, unsalted pistachios, coarsely chopped

For the Chocolate Ganache and Topping

• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup shelled unsalted pistachios, coarsely chopped

Directions

1. Step 1

   Make cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour an 8-inch round cake pan; line bottom with parchment or waxed paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.

2. Step 2

   In a large heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water, melt butter and chocolate, stirring frequently, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove bowl from pan. Whisk in sugar and vanilla, then eggs, buttermilk, and pistachios. Fold in flour mixture just until combined.

3. Step 3

   Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 60 to 70 minutes. Let cool in pan 5 minutes; run a knife around edge, and invert onto a wire rack. Remove paper, and let cool completely, about 3 hours. (To store, wrap in plastic, and keep at room temperature, up to 3 days).

4. Step 4

   Make ganache: In a small saucepan, bring cream to a simmer; remove from heat. Add chocolate, and let stand 5 minutes; whisk until smooth. Let cool until mixture falls back in ribbons when lifted with a spoon, 2 to 6 minutes.

5. Step 5

   Set cake on a serving platter; tuck strips of parchment paper under edge of cake to prevent ganache from dripping on platter. Pour ganache onto center of cake; using a table knife, spread evenly over the top and down the sides. Let set, about 30 minutes. Remove paper from under cake; sprinkle top with pistachios.