Chef John's Orange-Pistachio "Greenies"

Are you tired of blondies or bored with brownies? Then it's time to try these Greenies, a brownie-like confection made with pistachios and flavored with orange zest.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 292 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon milk
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup butter, melted
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, or as needed
• 1 tablespoon orange juice, or as needed
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated orange zest
• 2 cups shelled dry-roasted pistachio nuts
• ½ teaspoon salt to taste (see footnote)
• ½ cup miniature chocolate chips (Optional)
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; generously butter a 9x9-inch square baking dish.

Step 4

Spread batter into prepared baking dish. Tap the dish several times on a sturdy work surface to eliminate air bubbles.

Step 5

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.

Step 6

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.