This delicious cake is why I bake on my birthday – so I can treat myself with everything I love in a cake!

Ingredients:

Cake Batter:

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup + 1 tsp oil
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 cup chocolate powder
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 100g chocolate

Pistachio Layer:

• 1 tbsp butter
• 100g kataifi pastry
• 3 tbsp pistachio paste

Pistachio Cream Cheese:

• 150g cream cheese, softened
• 50g sour cream
• 1 1/2 tbsp powdered sugar (adjust to taste)
• 2 tbsp pistachio paste
• 300ml whipping cream

Optional Garnishes:

• Crushed pistachios
• Chocolate covered pistachios

Instructions:

1. Take the chocolate and a teaspoon of oil, and melt in a microwave with 30 second pulses
2. Whisk the egg, oil, sugar, and vanilla
3. Sift in all dry ingredients. Mix until smooth
4. Bake for about 20-25 minutes. The cake should be moist, so make sure not to overbake it
5. While still hot, poke holes with a fork and pour melted chocolate over the cake. Let it soak and cool
6. Melt butter and toast kataifi pastry in a pan until golden and crispy. Set aside to cool
7. Stir with pistachio cream until combined
8. Spread evenly on cake
9. Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, pistachio paste, and whipped cream until smooth and fluffy
10. Spread the mixture evenly on the cake
11. Sprinkle crushed pistachios and chocolate covered pistachios on top if you wish
12. Chill for at least one hour before serving