Pistachio Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:

For the Pistachio Cake:

• 250ml Milk (unsweetened almond milk or any plain milk of choice)
• 2 tsp White Vinegar
• 150g Granulated Sugar
• 80ml Oil (sunflower, canola, or vegetable oil)
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 220g All-Purpose Flour
• 30g Corn Starch
• 1 ½ tsp Baking Powder
• ¾ tsp Baking Soda
• 90g Pistachio flour (pistachio powder/ground pistachio) Note: To prepare homemade pistachio flour, use a food processor. Blend 90g of whole pistachios with 20g of granulated sugar until it forms a powder.

For the Chocolate Buttercream:

• 110g Butter (vegan butter sticks or regular butter)
• 40g Powdered Sugar
• 40g Dark Chocolate chips, melted
• 15ml Whipping Cream (for mixing with chocolate)
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

Pistachio Cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch square cake tin and line it with baking paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda, and pistachio flour. Set aside.
3. In another bowl, combine warm milk and vinegar. Allow it to sit for about 5 minutes until it slightly curdles. Add the oil, vanilla extract, and sugar to the milk mixture. Whisk until smooth.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from oven and let it cool completely.

Chocolate Buttercream:

1. In a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
2. In a separate microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips with whipping cream. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir to ensure it’s smoothly combined. Allow it to cool.
3. Slowly blend the cooled chocolate mixture into the butter mixture. Continue mixing for 2-3 minutes until fully incorporated.

To Assemble:

1. Once the cake has cooled, evenly spread the chocolate buttercream over the top.
2. Chill the frosted cake in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
3. Garnish with chopped pistachios before serving.

Enjoy this delightful combination of nutty pistachio and rich chocolate!