Chef John's Orange-pistachio "greenies"

ingredients

• servings: 1
• wet ingredients:
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated orange zest
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• dry ingredients:
• 2 cups shelled dry-roasted pistachio nuts
• 1/2 teaspoon salt to taste (see footnote)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips (optional)
• glaze:
• 1 tablespoon orange juice, or as needed
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
• 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, or as needed

recipe

preparation time: 15 mins cook time: 20 mins ready time: 35 mins


• 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 .
• 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.