Pistachio Cannoli Cake

Ingredients

Cake

•     10 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans

•     1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for pans

•     1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons shelled unsalted pistachios (3 1/2 ounces)

•     1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

•     1/4 teaspoon baking soda

•     1 teaspoon kosher salt

•     1 cup granulated sugar

•     1/4 teaspoon orange-flower water (optional)

•     2 large eggs plus 2 large yolks, room temperature

•     1 cup sour cream, room temperature

Filling

•     2 3/4 cups fresh ricotta (about 1 1/2 pounds)

•     3/4 cup heavy cream

•     1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

•     1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

•     1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

•     3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus more for serving

•     4 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup), plus 2 1/2 ounces more, melted (1/2 cup)

•     4 ounces candied orange peel, cut into a 1/4-inch dice

Directions

    Step 1Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans. Line pans with parchment; butter parchment. Dust with flour, tapping out excess. In a food processor, finely grind pistachios. Remove and reserve 1/4 cup ground pistachios, then add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to processor and pulse to combine.

    Step 2 Beat butter with granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add orange-flower water; beat to combine. Beat in eggs and yolks, one at a time, thoroughly combining after each addition and scraping down bowl as needed. Add pistachio mixture in three batches, alternating with sour cream and beginning and ending with pistachio mixture.

    Step 3 Divide batter evenly between cake pans; smooth tops with an offset spatula. Bake, rotating pans once, until tops spring back when lightly touched, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack; let cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack; remove parchment and let cool 1 hour. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

    Step 4 Filling: Meanwhile, combine ricotta and cream in bowl of food processor; process until smooth. Add salt, vanilla, cinnamon, and confectioners’ sugar; process to combine. Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in chopped chocolate and orange peel. Refrigerate in an airtight container at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.

    Step 5Cut each cake horizontally into 2 layers. Stack on a cardboard cake round or a plate; brush edges with melted chocolate, then pat some of reserved ground pistachios onto chocolate. Separate, then refrigerate in a single layer until set, 10 minutes. Place one cake layer on a cake stand, bottom-side down; spread 1 1/2 cups filling evenly over top, then place second layer on top. Repeat with remaining filling and cakes, finishing with a cake layer, bottom-side up. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to overnight. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar and remaining reserved ground pistachios.