Florentines (Italy)
Recipe by:
Food Network Kitchens
20
30
5 doz
Med
- 140g sliced, blanched almonds
- 3 tbsp plain flour
- Finely grated zest of 1 orange (about 2 tbsps)
- 1/4 tsp fine salt
- 165g granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp double cream
- 2 tbsp golden syrup
- 75g unsalted butter
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla essence
- For chocolate topping, optional:
- 55 to 110g milk chocolate, chopped
1) Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 180C/Gas Mark 4. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
2) Pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely chopped, but not pastey. Stir together the nuts, flour, zest and salt in a large bowl.
3) Put the sugar, cream, golden syrup and butter in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a rolling boil and sugar is completely dissolved. Continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, then pour mixture into almond mixture and stir just to combine. Set aside until cool enough to handle, 30 minutes.
4) Scoop rounded tsp (for 7-cm cookies) of batter and roll into balls. Place on prepared baking sheet, leaving about 7 to 10 centimeters between each cookie since they spread.
5) Bake 1 pan at a time, until the cookies are thin and an even golden brown colour throughout, rotating pans halfway through baking time, about 10 to 11 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve.
6) Optional chocolate topping:
Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 2.5-cm or so of water to a very low simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 to 2 minutes more.)
7) For sandwiches: Drop about 1/2 tsp chocolate onto on the flat side of half of the cookies and press together with remaining halves. Return to rack and let chocolate set.
8) For chocolate decor: Drizzle melted chocolate over Florentines as desired. Set aside at room temperature until chocolate is set.
Busy baker's tips: Store baked cookies carefully, separated by parchment or waxed paper, in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. Florentines are best stored separated from moist cookies and cakes.
Copyright (c) 2007 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved
2) Pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely chopped, but not pastey. Stir together the nuts, flour, zest and salt in a large bowl.
3) Put the sugar, cream, golden syrup and butter in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a rolling boil and sugar is completely dissolved. Continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, then pour mixture into almond mixture and stir just to combine. Set aside until cool enough to handle, 30 minutes.
4) Scoop rounded tsp (for 7-cm cookies) of batter and roll into balls. Place on prepared baking sheet, leaving about 7 to 10 centimeters between each cookie since they spread.
5) Bake 1 pan at a time, until the cookies are thin and an even golden brown colour throughout, rotating pans halfway through baking time, about 10 to 11 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve.
6) Optional chocolate topping:
Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 2.5-cm or so of water to a very low simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 to 2 minutes more.)
7) For sandwiches: Drop about 1/2 tsp chocolate onto on the flat side of half of the cookies and press together with remaining halves. Return to rack and let chocolate set.
8) For chocolate decor: Drizzle melted chocolate over Florentines as desired. Set aside at room temperature until chocolate is set.
Busy baker's tips: Store baked cookies carefully, separated by parchment or waxed paper, in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. Florentines are best stored separated from moist cookies and cakes.
Copyright (c) 2007 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved
