Snack

Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate Cake and Cupcakes

Name: Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate Cake and Cupcakes
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 185 min
Total time: 225 min
Cuisine: Saudi Arabian
Ingredients: 6 tablespoons white chocolate; 1 cup unsalted pistachios; 3 tablespoons condensed milk; 5 tablespoons milk; 25 Oreo cream biscuits; 1/2 cup milk, warm; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon vinegar; 1 pinch salt; 150g sevaiiya; 1 tablespoon ghee; 120ml dark chocolate; 4 tablespoons malai, strained; silver balls, for garnish

A festive Saudi Arabian-style chocolate cake layered with pistachio kunafa and dark chocolate ganache, with an optional cupcake variation.

3 hr 45 min
510 kcal
Vegetarian
Saudi Arabian
Dessert
Cake

Mellowpan tip: Makes 8 servings, plenty to share.

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Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate Cake and Cupcakes

Ingredients

For 8 servings

Steps

Step 1:
Gather the ingredients for the chocolate cake.
Step 2:
Grind the Oreo cream biscuits to a powder, add the salt, and mix in warm milk as needed to make a cake batter.
Step 3:
Add the baking powder and vinegar, and mix.
Step 4:
Grease a loose-bottomed tin.
Step 5:
Pour in a 1 cm-thick layer of batter.
Step 6:
Bake in a preheated 160°C oven for 7–8 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean.
7–8 min
Step 7:
Cool the cake on a wire rack.
Step 8:
Gather the ingredients for the homemade pistachio paste.
Step 9:
Slightly melt the white chocolate over a double boiler.
Step 10:
Coarsely grind the pistachios in a mixer.
Step 11:
Add the condensed milk.
Step 12:
Add the slightly warmed, slightly melted white chocolate and milk as required, then blend to a smooth paste. Green food coloring may be added, if desired.
Step 13:
For the kunafa, heat the ghee in a kadhaai and roast the sevaiiya over low heat, stirring continuously until it releases a pleasant roasted aroma.
Step 14:
Cool the roasted sevaiiya.
Step 15:
Add the homemade pistachio paste and mix well.
Step 16:
Spread a 2 cm layer of kunafa over the cooled chocolate cake.
Step 17:
Melt the dark chocolate with the strained malai to make a chocolate ganache.
Step 18:
Cool the ganache and pour it over the kunafa layer.
Step 19:
Garnish with chopped pistachios and silver balls, then refrigerate for 2–3 hours.
2–3 h
Step 20:
Unmould the kunafa cake.
Step 21:
For kunafa cupcakes, portion the mixture into cupcake-sized servings.
Step 22:
Cut and enjoy the cake with family and friends.