Aunt Sassy Cake, Or Pistachio Layer Cake With Honey Buttercream
Medically reviewed by Christiana George Updated Date: June 8, 2023
The search for the perfect wedding cake continues. Today I introduce to you, Aunt Sassy, the pluckiest pistachio cake you’ll ever meet, flavored with real pistachios (as opposed to pistachio extract, which a recipe my sister found called for) that impart the barest of green to four dreamy layers of cake. She’s wearing her Sunday’s finest, a lush buttercream laced with glossy honey (that I sort of butchered because I lack cake decorating skills. Sorry Aunt Sassy.)
In truth, the cake is not as forwardly pistachio-tasting as you might think. What it really reminds me of is a nut bread, dense yet moist, and textured in that whole-grainy way. This may, in part, be due to the fact that I hand-ground, using a mortar and pestle, the pistachios, an imprecise process that yielded not the fine grain that the recipe called for, but something a little coarser, more similar to sand. But no matter. I liked it, a lot. Chris did too, and I gave him all the cake tops to take to work so I wouldn’t end up snacking on them throughout the day.
But the true gem was the honey buttercream. It was superb, absolutely superb! It was wistfully velvety with the slight aftertaste of honey (meaning, not too sweet) and a lightness kind of sort of like whipped cream. I found ample excuses to conduct multiple taste tests: while scraping down the bowl, while filling the cake, while frosting the crumb layer (which I liberally applied for that very purpose), while cleaning out the bowl that I used to hold the crumb-filled frosting. And all the while, my brain kept saying ‘no, no, no, put down the spatula, Linda!’ because, being the sensible organ that it is, you can’t get past it the fact that the frosting is made almost completely of butter(!).
Other thoughts. It reminded me of a Swiss meringue buttercream, but did not turn stale-buttery or yellow over time. This is valuable information. Also, it’s egg-less. Actually, this is where I wish I could talk food history, because the method of making this frosting seems quite unusual. At its base, it’s a mixture of sugar, milk/cream, and flour that’s cooked over a low heat until it thickens. Is flour a common frosting ingredient? What is its history? Is it an old-fashioned Southern technique? That would excite me greatly.
Finally, regarding the cake as a whole, I’m thinking a three-layer cake, two of pistachio, one of chocolate, with this very buttercream frosting might be just the ticket.
PISTACHIO LAYER CAKE WITH HONEY BUTTERCREAM
Adapted from Baked Explorations, via Oprah
Makes 1 six-inch 4-layer cake
Note: The original recipe called for vegetable shortening, which I decided not to use, because anything with the word ‘shortening’ in it sounds highly suspect to me. If you do decide to use it, replace half of the butter (1/2 cup) with 1/2 cup of vegetable shortening.
Ingredients:
For the pistachio cake:
1 cup shelled pistachios
2-1/2 cups cake flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup butter, softened
1-3/4 cups sugar, divided
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1-1/2 cups ice water
3 large egg whites, at room temperature
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
For the frosting:
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups whole milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
3 sticks unsalted butter, softened, and cut into small pieces
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 Tbsp good honey
Directions:
For the cake:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter four 6″ cake pans (or however many you have, but you’ll have to work in batches). Line the bottoms with circles of parchment paper, dust the pans with flour and knock out the excess.
In a food processor, pulse the pistachios into a coarse grind, remove 2 Tbsp, and set them aside in a medium bowl. Process remaining pistachios just until finely ground to a powder. Sift cake flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into the same bowl with the 2 Tbsp chopped pistachios. Stir in pistachio powder.
In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add 1-1/2 cups sugar and vanilla and beat until fluffy, 4 minutes. Scrape down the bowl, and with mixer on low speed, beat in eggs one at a time until well blended. Beat in the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the cold water, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat until blended, scraping bowl; then beat batter 15 more seconds. Scrape into a large bowl.
With a clean bowl and using the whisk attachment, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until foamy. With mixer on medium-high speed, add remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat just until soft peaks form, taking care not to over beat. (For some reason, I did this by hand. It took some serious arm power, and I’m not sure I attained the foaminess that the recipe called for. Use your mixer if you can.). Gently fold whites into batter just until no white streaks remain.
Divide batter between prepared pans (or about an inch into each pan) and spread evenly. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of cakes comes out clean. Transfer pans to wire racks and let cool 20 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks, remove parchment paper, flip them over, and let cool completely.
Cake rounds can now be covered in plastic wrap and stored in the fridge overnight.
For the frosting:
In a heavy, medium saucepan, whisk sugar and flour until well blended. Add milk and cream and cook over medium heat until mixture thickens and comes to a boil, about 10 minutes. (This is where the quality of your pan comes through. Using a sub-standard saucepan like I did? Keep the heat on low and stir constantly.) Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring, for 2 more minutes.
Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer. With the paddle attachment, beat the mixture on high speed until it cools completely, about 10 minutes. On medium speed, beat in the butter. It’ll gradually start incorporating into the mix and look more and more like frosting; it takes about 5 minutes. Increase the speed to medium-high until the frosting is fluffy and smooth, about 1 minute. Beat in honey and vanilla until incorporated. Taste for the honey and add more if necessary.
The frosting can now be refrigerated, covered, but before you use it, let it come to room temperature and mix it until it regains its fluffiness.
Assembling the cake:
I found that there was just enough frosting to frost the entire cake. Use about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of frosting in between layers.
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11 Effective Homemade Drinks That Burn Fat While Sleeping
Indeed, there are a number of fat-burning supplements and beverages that are supposed to aid weight loss overnight, but most of them hardly help in melting those extra pounds. However, homemade drinks that burn fat while sleeping are safe and more effective than market fat-burning beverages.
So, what are the strongest, best, and miracle weight loss drink recipes?
Normally, there are some naturally occurring herbs, spices, fruits, and foods that act as fat burners, for instance, apple, cinnamon, lemon, chia seeds, and green veggies have significant anti-inflammatory and weight loss properties.
Using these ingredients in your natural homemade fat-burn drinks helps in reducing the fat even when you are doing nothing (sleeping or at rest).
Here we have compiled the 11 best and most effective homemade weight loss beverage recipes for faster and healthier weight management.
Homemade Drinks That Burn Fat While Sleeping
| Drink Name | Ingredients | No of Calorie | Best time to take |
| Chamomile And Cinnamon Tea | Chamomile flowers, cinnamon stick or powder, water, and honey | 0 | Throughout the day (preferably between the meals), Before bedtime |
| Protein Water | Water + Protein powder | 70 calories per 16-ounce | Anytime in the day, and night, post-workout |
| Greek Yogurt Protein Shake | Greek yogurt, milk, banana, peanut butter, leafy green veggies (optional), ice cubes | 140 | On the empty stomach (in the morning), before bedtime |
| Ginger, Lemon, Green Smoothie | Ginger, lemon juice, parsley, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon | Inputs vary depending on the recipe | On the empty stomach (in the morning), before bedtime |
| Hot Water With Lemon And Honey | Water, lemon, and honey | 16 | Between the meals, at night (after last meal) |
| Lemon Ginger Fat-Burning Drink | Lemon grin, lemon juice, ginger, water, honey, pepper (optional) | 4 | Bedtime tea |
| Apple Cider Vinegar Drink | ACV, water, honey (for better taste) | 3 | Between meals, before going to sleep |
| Cucumber, Lemon, And Mint Detox Water | Cucumber slices, lemon or lime slices, mint leaves, water | 2 | Throughout the day and night |
| DIY Fat Burning Drink | Cucumber, green apple, ginger, spinach, lemon juice, water | 110 | In the morning on an empty stomach, at night |
| Chia Lemonade | Chia seeds, lemon, water, honey (for flavor) | 40 | Before bedtime |
| Green tea with mint and lemon | Green tea leaves, mint , lemon and water | 2 | Throughout the day |
1. Chamomile and Cinnamon Tea
Chamomile and cinnamon-infused tea or plain herbal tea are superb detox drinks for fat burning. It is generally high in powerful antioxidants, flavonoids, essential minerals, and nutrients that are beneficially helpful for weight loss and maintaining overall health.
Cinnamon extract is naturally high in antioxidants, microbicidal, and anti-inflammatory properties which make it an excellent drink to boost the metabolism and generate heat from the stubborn fat areas.
Moreover, chamomile tea helps remove the toxin chemicals and excess water cells. Drinking it before bedtime improves sleep quality, and you lose weight.
How to Make?
For making cinnamon chamomile tea, add 3 to 4 chamomile flowers or 1 tea bag in boiling water. Add 1 cinnamon stick or 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder to the kettle.
Let it steep for 15 minutes. Next, strain the tea, add honey and drink it hot before bedtime.
2. Protein Water ( Simple Homemade Drinks to Lose Belly Fat in a Week)
Unlike sparkling and detox water, drinking protein water helps greatly in getting a flat tummy. As it is incredibly rich in protein content which promotes muscle building while trimming the extra fat, therefore, it helps greatly in getting a lean body within weeks.
How To Make?
Mostly you can find protein water in the superstores, however, most of them contain stimulants, additives, or additional sugar which may hinder you from losing weight. It may also cause some side effects.
To make protein water at home, you can mix your favorite natural protein powder in mineral water and mix it finely. You can use collagen, whey, or any other available protein powder best for lean muscles.
3. Greek Yogurt Protein Shake
Greek yogurt protein shake is another best bedtime drink to lose belly fat overnight. This tasty smoothie beverage helps in the building and recovery of muscle protein.
Consequently, it helps in the continuous burning of calories which leads to fat burning while you are doing nothing.
Greek yogurt protein shakes provide you with a steady and effective dose of amino acids, which constantly burn fat from problematic areas.
How to Make?
For making a Greek yogurt protein smoothie, add ½ cup of plant-based milk (preferably almond milk) ½ cup of Greek yogurt, 1 banana, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter (or other nut butter of your choice), 1 cup of leafy green veggies (optional), and 6 to 7 ice cubes in the blender.
Blend the puree until the shakes smoothen fine, that is your energy booster miracle shake recipe for weight loss. For extra fat-burning results, add chia seeds or flaxseeds to your shake.
4. Ginger, Lemon, Green Smoothie (Drink to Reduce Belly Fat in 4 Days)
Belly fat is indeed one of the stubborn and most problematic to lose. However, with the high metabolic and antioxidant ingredients, it can be lost efficiently within a short time. Here is one of the best homemade drinks to trim belly fat in just 4 days.
How to Make?
Take half a cup of lemon juice, ½ cup of ginger pieces, half a cup of parsley leaves, 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1 cup of water, and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder. Add all these ingredients to a blender and blend it until smooth. After fine blending, strain the water and drink it twice a day.
You should drink it in the morning on an empty stomach and before bed, it helps in maximum heating of abdominal fat cells.
5. Hot Water With Lemon and Honey
Homemade hot water with lemon and honey is the best way to lose belly fat in a few weeks. Drinking it in the morning and at night specifically targets belly fat.
It boosts metabolism, aids digestion, supports detoxification, and encourages weight loss. This homemade drink is simple and convenient and can be used throughout the day for smooth body function.
How To Make?
Cut the lemon into slices, squeeze its juice, and add the lemon content to the boiling water. Let it set for some time then add honey. Drink it on an empty stomach to facilitate belly fat reduction.
6. Lemon Ginger Fat-Burning Drink
Ginger and lemon are highly researched and science-backed to help weight loss. These are the two most powerful and exceptionally efficient weight loss and fat melting agents.
Adding lemon juice and ginger to tea or juice helps in losing weight and shedding extra fat masses while strengthening your immunity and boosting your metabolism.
How to Make?
There are two ways of making lemon ginger fat-burning drink, one is detox water and the other is hot tea. For making the lemon ginger drink, take 1 liter of water, and add two lemon grinds, lemon juice, and 1-inch ginger to the water.
Also, you can add 1 tablespoon of pepper for an enhanced flavor. Bring it to a boil, until everything softens, after that strain the lemon ginger water, and let it cool down. Enjoy drinking it with honey or more lemon juice.
Moreover, you can also drink it hot as a fat burner bedtime tea.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar Drink
Drinking ACV mixture is the simplest and highly successful weight loss home remedy. It has powerful antioxidants which give an incredible boost to the metabolism and accelerate the fat-burning process efficiently.
How to Make?
You can’t drink apple cider vinegar directly, due to its strong taste and pungent smell. For weight loss, mix 1 tablespoon of ACV in a cup of water. For better taste and health benefits you can also add some honey.
8. Cucumber, Lemon, and Mint Detox Water
Cucumber, lemon, and mint-infused water are the best detox drinks out there. Besides detoxifying the body, it is exceptionally hydrating. Drinking this detox water aids in natural weight loss, improves skin texture, promotes digestion, and boosts immunity.
It is one of the best nighttime drinks to lose belly fat faster.
How to Make?
Finely slice the fresh lemons and cucumber. Add these slices to a jug of water with some mint leaves, and add some ice cubes for refreshes. Drink this throughout the day and night.
9. DIY Fat Burning Drink (Strongest Belly Fat Burner Drink Loses 10 KG in 10 Days)
It is not normally possible to lose 10 kg of weight in 10 days; it may be possible with a low-calorie diet, intense workouts, and some medical procedures, but losing 1 kilogram each day is not medically suggested. In fact, a healthy weight loss should be 1 to 1.5 pounds every week.
We’ve created the most potent fat-burning DIY drink recipe to help you lose weight faster. It consists of all-natural and effective substances that are backed by nutritionists to help with fat loss even from problematic places.
How to Make a Powerful Fat Burning DIY Drink?
For making the strongest fat-burning drink, take 2 finely sliced cucumbers, 2 green apples sliced with skin, 1-inch ginger peeled and sliced, lemon or lime juice, 2 cups of fresh spinach, and 3 to 4 cups of water. Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Add some lime juice and serve.
Ideally, drink this twice a day, preferably in the morning on an empty stomach and before bed, and see the results!
10. Chia Lemonade
One of the magical rapid weight loss drinks is chia lemonade. It aids in weight loss, stomach health, heart health, inflammation relief, obesity reversal, and muscle strength enhancement.
Drinking chia lemonade on a daily basis will help you lose weight steadily and permanently.
How to Make?
To make chia lemonade at home, take 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, 1 lemon or lime, honey for flavor, and water. Add all these ingredients to a jar and give it a good mix. Drink this detox and refreshing drink before bedtime to lose weight and improve your health while you sleep.
11. Green Tea With Mint and Lemon
You may get shocked that you can get an incredible weight loss with green tea. Yes, green tea is the most active ingredient for rapid fat burning. Here is our exclusive miracle weight loss drink recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 tea bag or 2 tablespoons of green tea leaves
- Juice of 1 whole lemon or lime
- 6 to 7 mint
- 1.5 cups of water
How to Make?
In a saucepan, combine the water, mint leaves, and green tea. Stir continuously until the water level decreases, then let it steep finely. After 5 minutes, strain the mixture and add the lemon juice. Drink it hot to see immediate weight loss results.
What Can I Drink Before Bed to Lose Belly Fat?
Below are a few highly efficient drinks you can drink before bed to lose belly fat:
- Raw vegetable juices
- Whole fruit juices
- Soaked fenugreek water
- Chamomile tea
- Turmeric milk
- Cinnamon tea
- Aloe Vera juice
- Cucumber-parsley juice
- Celery juice
- Kefir
- Kombucha
- Ginger tea
- Oolong tea
- Green tea
- Plenty of water
- Black tea
- Coffee
- Psyllium husk
- Pineapple juice
- Lemon juice
- Sparkling water
Author Tips: Delicious “Red Cocktail” Juice Melts Off 3 lbs Every 4 Days✔️
FAQs
Below are a few frequently asked questions regarding “homemade drinks that burn fat while sleeping”.
What Drink Burns Belly Fat While You Sleep?
Drinking fenugreek seeds water before bed helps in melting the fat overnight. It has strong anti-inflammatory and antacid effects, which help in generating heat which speeds up fat burning while you sleep.
Is There a Way to Burn Fat While Sleeping?
Making your body calorie deficient allows you to burn fat for energy while sleeping. Therefore, it is recommended to take low caloric and carbs throughout the day and especially before bedtime.
What Drink Burns Fat Overnight?
Drinking turmeric milk, chamomile tea, cinnamon tea, green tea, protein shake, green veg smoothies, and fiber-rich juice helps you burn significant fat overnight.
Author Tips: Fizzy juice “eats through” 62 lbs of stubborn fat✔️
What Burns Fat While Sleeping?
Taking lemon in water, tea, juice, or drinks helps greatly in burning the fat while sleeping. Since it has a strong alkalizing effect on the body, therefore it helps digestion, colon cleansing, and metabolism-boosting, which in return helps fat burn while you sleep.
What Can I Drink to Make My Stomach Flat?
Green tea, peppermint tea, ACV drink, pineapple juice, hot water with lemon, and mint are effective at burning belly fat.
Final Recommendation
Before bedtime, it is generally not good to drink high-calorie, carbonated, and sugar drinks as it can lead to unhealthy fat buildup.
Instead, it is good to make homemade drinks that burn fat while sleeping. Besides fat burner beverages, you can do exercise and diet to faster the weight loss results.
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