Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup half and half
  • 3 ounces good-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Baker's), chopped
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup unsalted pistachio nuts
  • 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 5 large egg whites
  • 3 1-pint baskets strawberries
  • 1 7-ounce package marzipan
  • 2 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups chilled whipping cream
  • Makes about 3 cups
  • 1 1/4 cups half and half
  • 3/4 cup unsalted pistachio nuts
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Butter and flour two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high-sides.
  • Bring half and half to simmer in small saucepan.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Add chocolate and vanilla and stir until smooth; cool to room temperature.
  • Finely grind pistachios with flour and baking powder in processor.
  • Using electric mixer, beat butter and 3/4 cup sugar in large bowl until fluffy.
  • Add yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Beat in flour mixture alternately with white chocolate mixture in 2 additions each.
  • Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form.
  • Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beating until stiff but not dry.
  • Fold whites into batter in 2 additions.
  • Divide batter between prepared pans.
  • Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
  • Cool 10 minutes.
  • Cut around pan sides to loosen cakes.
  • Turn out cakes onto racks; cool completely.
  • Hull and slice 2 baskets strawberries.
  • Place 1 cake layer on platter.
  • Spread 1 cup buttercream over.
  • Arrange enough berry slices over to cover.
  • Spread 1 cup buttercream over.
  • Arrange another layer of sliced berries over to cover.
  • Spread thin layer of buttercream over second cake layer and place cake, buttercream side down, atop berries.
  • Press gently to adhere.
  • Spread remaining buttercream over top and sides of cake.
  • Chill cake until buttercream is firm, about 1 hour.
  • Knead marzipan in medium bowl to soften.
  • Shape marzipan into disk.
  • Dust work surface with 2 tablespoons powdered sugar.
  • Roll out marzipan disk on powdered sugar to 9 1/2-round.
  • Place on cake; press to adhere to top and gently press overhang onto sides of cake.
  • Beat whipping cream and remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar in large bowl to firm peaks.
  • Transfer to large pastry bag fitted with medium star tip.
  • Pipe cream in side-by-side columns up sides of cake.
  • Pipe border of rosettes around top edge of cake.
  • Refrigerate cake until cold, at least 2 hours.
  • (Can be prepared 1 day ahead.
  • Cover with cake dome and keep refrigerated.
  • Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before continuing.)
  • Arrange remaining whole strawberries in center of cake.
  • Bring half and half and pistachios to boil in heavy small saucepan.
  • Remove from heat; cover and let stand 1 hour.
  • Whisk sugar, yolks and flour in medium bowl to blend.
  • Bring half and half mixture to simmer; gradually whisk into yolk mixture.
  • Return to same saucepan; stir over medium heat until mixture bubbles thickly, about 5 minutes.
  • Mix in vanilla.
  • Transfer to processor; blend until nuts are very finely chopped.
  • Transfer pistachio pastry cream to bowl.
  • Cover and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours.
  • Using electric mixer, beat unsalted butter in large bowl until fluffy.
  • Add pastry cream by 1/4 cupfuls, beating well after each addition.
  • (Can be prepared 2 days ahead.
  • Cover and refrigerate.
  • Bring to room temperature before using.)