Soft, sweet and very moreish, these white chocolate and pistachio blondies are guaranteed to please. Plus they're gluten free too!
The kids are back at school and Easter is now officially over!
We still have a few more bits of chocolate left to eat, but the chocolate consumption is tailing off - along with the children's chocolate-induced hyperactivity.
I'm ashamed to say that I also haven't managed to make it to the gym in TWO WEEKS!
Trying to juggle the kids, the trail of mess that the kids constantly make, plus the blog and numerous family days out - and something had to give.
I may have been a little over-enthusiastic in choosing which thing had to go....
But it's time to get back on track now.
Time to start telling myself I love the gym.
It's me time.
I'll feel fantastic afterwards.
Yes definitely.
After these blondies have all been eaten (and possibly the raspberry ripple doughnuts I've got coming up on the blog soon too).
Definitely after that.
Pistachios are so underrated.
I've got to admit that on their own I find them a bit dull. Plus I usually end up over-examining them - the purply greenish hue always fools me into thinking they're mouldy!
Add a bit of sweetness though and the pistachio flavour seems to intensify. Pistachio ice-cream for example? or Pistachio fudge? Yes!
And then there's this White Chocolate and Pistachio Blondies Cake.
Just chewy and dense enough to call it a blondie (thanks to the ground almonds), but also sweet and rich (thanks to the white chocolate). The addition of a good handful of chopped pistachios in the mix, plus a few on top with an extra drizzle of white chocolate and we have the perfect sweet/chocolate/pistachio ratio.
These blondies are really easy to make. No mixer required!
They're so moreish that they'll be gone in no time - especially served with a cup of coffee for an afternoon pick-me-up.
I also find that cutting them into smaller, bite-size chunks, they make a great end to a meal (especially after Indian food).
Oh darn it.
Now I'm thinking about lovely creamy curries as well as cake.
I think I'd better go to the gym right now......
White Chocolate and Pistachio Blondies Recipe:
White Chocolate and Pistachio Blondies
Ingredients
- 150 g (5.3 oz) good quality white chocolate - usually gluten free, but check to be sure
- 125 g (½ cup + 1 tbsp) unsalted butter - softened
- 200 g (1 cup) golden caster sugar
- 150 g (2 cups minus 2 tsp) ground almonds/almond meal - not almond flour
- ½ tsp gluten free baking powder
- 50 g (â…“ cup + 1 tsp) coconut flour
- 2 large eggs - lightly whisked
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp milk
- 60 g (½ cup) chopped pistachios
Topping:
- 50 g (1.7 oz) white chocolate
- 2 tbsp chopped pistachios
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 160C/320F (fan) and line a 20cmx20cm baking tin with baking parchment.
- Melt one third of the white chocolate. You can do this in the microwave in 30-second bursts (stirring each time) or in a bowl over some simmering water. Put to one side.150 g (5.3 oz) good quality white chocolate
- Chop the remaining white chocolate into small chunks and put to one side.
- Place the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat together using a wooden spoon until pale and creamy.125 g (½ cup + 1 tbsp) unsalted butter, 200 g (1 cup) golden caster sugar
- Add in the almonds, baking powder, coconut flour, eggs, vanilla, and milk. Stir until just combined.150 g (2 cups minus 2 tsp) ground almonds/almond meal, ½ tsp gluten free baking powder, 50 g (⅓ cup + 1 tsp) coconut flour, 2 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2 tbsp milk
- Stir in the pistachios, the melted chocolate and the chopped chocolate and then spoon out the mixture into the prepared baking tin (it should be a thick mixture). Push the mixture to the corners and smooth it with the back of a spoon.60 g (½ cup) chopped pistachios
- Place in the oven and cook for 40-50 minutes - until an inserted skewer comes out clean. NOTE: The top goes dark quite quickly, so it's a good idea to cover it with some foil after about 15 minutes in the oven.
- Once cooked, take out of the oven and allow to cool completely in the tin.
- Take out of the tin and remove the baking parchment. Melt the white chocolate for the topping and drizzle over the top, then sprinkle on the chopped pistachios.50 g (1.7 oz) white chocolate, 2 tbsp chopped pistachios
- Allow the chocolate to firm up a little, then cut the blondies into 16 pieces and serve.
✎ Notes
Nutrition
Rhonda says
Absolutely beautiful flavours to the very last mouthful
Kath says
Gorgeous gluten free blondie, total hit in our house.
Anu says
Hi Nicky! These look amazing and I can't wait to try them out! Is there a substitute for the coconut flour? There are some picky eaters at my house that won't touch anything thats the least bit coconutty! Also, would substituting the almond meal for cake flour or all purpose result in a lighter/spongier cake?
Thanks so much! 🙂
Nicky Corbishley says
Hi Anu, You could replace the coconut flour with some plain gluten-free flour blend instead.
If you're not bothered about it being gluten free and you're looking for a lighter sponge - rather than a denser 'blondie' - I would replace the coconut flour and almond meal with 200g/7oz of cake flour, and up the quantity of the butter to 200g/7oz. I'd also add an extra egg.
That would probably take 10-15 minutes less in the oven.
Amy says
I think the lure of a blondie or a scoop of buttercream is the only thing that gets me to the gym sometimes! Nicky, these blondies look amazing! I love the addition of coconut flour and almond meal so that even I can eat them! I am a massive pistachio fan (pistachio gelato is my favourite ever) and add white chocolate and you have created a dessert with my name all over it! I can't wait to make these (and share them so I don't have to live on my treadmill...).
Nicky Corbishley says
Hope you enjoy them Amy. You've motivated me to get on that treadmill! If you can eat the sweet stuff and then persuade yourself to work-out then I can too!! 🙂