Pistazien Cream Bars

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x9-inch baking dish.

2. In a food processor, pulse the shelled pistachios until finely ground. Transfer the ground pistachios to a bowl and mix in the flour and powdered sugar.

3. Add the softened butter to the pistachio mixture and mix until well combined. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the crust.

4. Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until lightly golden. Let it cool completely.

5. In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.

6. Add the granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract to the cream cheese and beat until creamy and well blended.

7. If desired, add a few drops of green food coloring to the cream mixture to achieve a pistachio-green hue.

8. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the cooled pistachio crust and spread it evenly.

9. Bake in the oven for about 25-30 minutes or until the edges are set and the center is slightly jiggly.

10. Let the bars cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until chilled and set.

11. Once chilled, cut the Pistazien Cream Bars into squares.

12. Garnish each bar with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of chopped pistachios before serving.