Chef John’s Orange Pistachio “Greenies”

Ingredients

• 0.5 teaspoon double-acting baking powder 
• 0.5 cup butter melted
• 2 cups dry-roasted pistachio nuts shelled
• 2  eggs 
• 0.5 cup flour all-purpose
• 1 tablespoon milk 
• 1 tablespoon orange juice 
• 2 teaspoons orange zest freshly grated
• 0.5 teaspoon salt to taste (see footnote)
• 0.3 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 0.5 cup sugar white

Equipment

• food processor
• bowl
• oven
• whisk
• mixing bowl
• baking pan
• toothpicks

Directions

1. Whisk 2 tablespoons orange zest into melted butter in a mixing bowl, followed by white sugar, until sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes.
2. Whisk in eggs until light and fluffy, about 2 more minutes. Stir 1 tablespoon orange juice, milk, and vanilla extract into egg mixture.
3. Place pistachios into a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground.
4. 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.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; generously butter a 9x9-inch square baking dish.
6. Spread batter into prepared baking dish. Tap the dish several times on a sturdy work surface to eliminate air bubbles.
7. 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.
8. Stir 1 tablespoon orange juice with 2 teaspoons orange zest in a small bowl; mix in confectioners' sugar to form a thin, runny glaze.
9. Drizzle glaze on top of pistachio bars and spread to cover top.
10. Cut into squares once cooled.