Indulge in the delightful symphony of flavors and textures that is Florentine cookies, also known as florentines. These delicate treats, often served at special occasions in Florence, Italy, are a true testament to the culinary artistry of the region. A crispy, nutty base topped with a layer of rich, velvety chocolate and finished with a touch of candied orange peel creates a flavor profile that is both sophisticated and satisfying. With variations ranging from classic to modern interpretations, this article offers a collection of recipes that cater to every palate and skill level. From the traditional almond florentines with their subtle sweetness to the innovative pistachio and dark chocolate version, each recipe promises a unique culinary adventure. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting your baking journey, these florentine recipes will guide you towards creating exquisite cookies that will impress and delight your friends and family.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
FLORENTINE COOKIES
Florentine cookies are lace cookies made from chopped almonds with orange & vanilla. They are sandwiched with chocolate and you get the most delicious cookies.
Provided by Culinary Ginger
Categories Dessert
Time 42m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Position oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat oven to 325°F/163°C. Line a large 17 x 12 inch (43 x 30 cm) baking or cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- To peel the almonds: Over high heat, bring a saucepan of water to a boil.Add the almonds and boil for 1 minute (no longer because they will soften). Drain and rinse with cold water to cool and stop them from cooking. Spread onto a towel and rub them until the peels come off. Dry well.
- Add the almonds to a food processor or blender and pulse until finely chopped.
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the almonds, flour and orange peel.
- To a small saucepan add the sugar, heavy cream corn syrup and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the mixture comes to a rolling boil and the sugar is completely dissolved. Continue to simmer for 1 minute.
- Remove from the heat and add the mixture to the almond mix along with the vanilla. Stir until combined. Allow to cool until it is cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes.
- Using a teaspoon measuring spoon, portion out 1 teaspoon of dough and roll into a ball using your hands. Roll the balls as round as you can, this will ensure nice round cookies. If the dough seems dry and crumbly, simply put a ball of the dough your warm hand it will soften so you can shape.
- Place the dough balls 6-inches (15 cm) apart on to the prepared baking sheet. They spread to 3-inches (7 ½ cm) in diameter. You'll need to work in batches to fit your baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. If they join together, use a sharp knife to separate while they are hot and soft on the baking sheet as they will harden very quickly.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes until they are no longer soft, then transfer to a cooling rack. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- In a microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate and microwave in 10 second increments, stirring in between until melted. Be careful not to burn.
- Take a cooled cookie, spread the chocolate on one side, take another cookie and make a sandwich, press carefully as they are delicate. Repeat with all cookies.
- If you would like to drizzle chocolate on the top, put the melted chocolate into a small ziptop bag. Snip of a very tiny piece of the corner and this will allow you to get the perfect drizzle.
- Allow the cookies to cool and store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 189 calories, Carbohydrate 17 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 6 milligrams cholesterol, Protein 2 grams protein, SaturatedFat 6 grams saturated fat, ServingSize 1 cookie, Sodium 6 milligrams sodium
FLORENTINES
Enjoy these classic florentines at Christmas time. Jewelled with cherries and pistachios and coated in chocolate, these biscuits are the perfect festive gift
Provided by Katy Gilhooly
Time 45m
Yield Makes 20
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat oven to 180C/160C/gas 4. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment.Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a small saucepan over a low heat, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and whisk in the flour then add the cherries, flaked almonds, pistachios and orange zest.
- Scoop 10 flat tbsp of the mixture onto the baking sheets, leaving room for them to spread. You will need to do these in batches. Bake for 10 mins until golden. Leave to cool for 2 mins until firm enough to lift onto a wire rack. Cool completely. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
- Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a simmering saucepan of water or in the microwave in 30 second bursts. Turn the florentines over on the wire rack. Spoon chocolate onto the base of each florentine and gently spread to the edges. When the chocolate is firm enough to hold its shape, use a fork to draw wavy lines across the chocolate. Leave to set and then store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 138 calories, Fat 8 grams fat, SaturatedFat 3 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 14 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 10 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 2 grams protein, Sodium 0.1 milligram of sodium
FLORENTINES
Categories Cookies Chocolate Nut Dessert Bake Christmas Tree Nut Almond Party Kidney Friendly Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes about 2 dozen cookies
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a saucepan, mix together 1/2 cup each of heavy cream and sugar and 3 tablespoons butter and bring the mixture to a boil. Remove it from the heat and stir in 1 1/4 cups finely chopped almonds, 3/4 cup finely chopped candied orange peel, and 1/3 cup flour. Drop the batter from a tablespoon into mounds about 3 inches apart on oiled and lightly floured cookie sheets and flatten each cookie with a wet spatula. Bake the cookies in a moderate oven (350°F) for about 10 minutes. Remove them from the oven and let them stand for about 5 minutes. Remove the cookies to a wire rack, let them cool completely, and spread them with chocolate glaze. Chill them.
- Chocolate Glaze
- Melt 1 ounce each of unsweetened chocolate and sweet cooking chocolate over simmering water. Add 2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon honey and stir the glaze until the butter is melted. For an easier glaze, use melted bittersweet chocolate.
FLORENTINES
Delicate but very flavorful florentine cookies.
Provided by Anonymous
Categories Desserts Fruit Dessert Recipes Orange Dessert Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 30
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease baking sheets with shortening and dust with flour.
- Stir cream and sugar together in a bowl. Stir in orange peel, flour, and almonds until combined. Drop batter in teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, keeping each cookie well apart from each other.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes.
- Spread bottoms of cooled cookies with melted chocolate using a spatula, or spear cookies on a fork and dip bottoms into chocolate. Let dry, bottoms-up, on waxed paper.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 65.3 calories, Carbohydrate 8.4 g, Cholesterol 5.4 mg, Fat 3.5 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 0.8 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 1.7 mg, Sugar 3.2 g
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the taste of your Florentines.
- Make sure your butter and sugar are at room temperature before you start. This will help them to cream together smoothly.
- Don't overmix the dough. Overmixing will make the cookies tough.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. This will help the cookies to hold their shape.
- Bake the cookies until they are golden brown. Overbaking will make them dry and crumbly.
- Let the cookies cool completely before you dip them in chocolate. This will help the chocolate to set properly.
- Use a variety of toppings, such as chopped nuts, dried fruit, or sprinkles.
Conclusion:
With their chewy texture, nutty flavor, and chocolatey coating, Florentines are a delicious and elegant cookie that is perfect for any occasion. By following the tips above, you can easily make these cookies at home. So what are you waiting for? Give them a try today!
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