Pistachio cake

Heres the another cake out of my 6 Safari Theme Cake series.The cake is a pistachio cake with pistachios iced with a pistachio buttercream frosting, green sugar and a fondant monkey and tree topper.

Preparation time	60 minutes+time to decorate
Serves	12 slices, 2 6 inch layer cakes
Serving Size	1 slice
Calories Per Serving	Approximately 160 per serving without the icing
Difficulty	Difficult

Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 egg whites, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons Pistachio paste
1/2 pack pistachio pudding mix(1.7oz)
1/4 cup chopped pistachios

For the icing:

3 cups buttercream icing

1 teaspoon pistachio extract

Procedure:
1.Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 6-inch round cake pans.

2.In a bowl, sift the flour, pudding mix, baking powder and salt.

3.In another bowl beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the egg whites and vanilla and mix well until incorporated.

4.Add the milk and flour alternating in three different additions and fold until incorporated, do not over beat.Fold the pistachio nuts.

5.Transfer the batter to the pans equally and distribute evenly.

6.Bake for 25-35 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before transferring cakes from the pan.

7.For the icing whip the extract with the buttercream, you can add green color if you like.Place 1 teaspoon of icing on the cake circle and then place one layer of cake on the cake circle on it.Place about a cup of icing on top and spread evenly with spatula.Place the second layer on top(make sure the bottom smooth side is facing up so you have an even surface(If you have a cake that has risen and is not flat enough to ice it level it and then place it crumb side down).Place 1 1/2 more cups of icing on top and start spreading on the top pushing it to the sides and then ice the sides as well.Pipe your favorite design,I used colored sugar to coat the sides of the cake then used a brown icing with a round tip to pipe the details,the pattern on the top was done by piping drops of icing and swipe it inward with a small spoon repeat in concentric circles starting from the outside to the inside.The monkey and the tree were made with fondant.

Tips:

Do not over mix the eggs or batter.

You can use any flavor pudding mix to create your favorite flavors.