Best 6 Florentine Sponge Cake Recipes

FLORENTINES (ITALY)

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
• Pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely chopped, but not pasty. Stir together the nuts, flour, zest and salt in a large bowl.
• Put the sugar, cream, corn 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.
• Scoop rounded teaspoons (for 3-inch cookies) or rounded tablespoons (for 6-inch cookies) of batter and roll into balls. Place on prepared baking sheet, leaving about 3 to 4 inches between each cookie since they spread.
• Bake 1 pan at a time, until the cookies are thin and an even golden brown color 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.
• Optional chocolate topping: Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch 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.)
• For sandwiches: Drop about 1/2 teaspoon chocolate onto on the flat side of half of the cookies and press together with remaining halves. Return to rack and let chocolate set.
• For chocolate decor: Drizzle melted chocolate over Florentines as desired. Set aside at room temperature until chocolate is set.

TRADITIONAL SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sift flour and salt; set aside. , In a large bowl, beat yolks until slightly thickened. Gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating until thick and lemon-colored. Blend in water and vanilla. Add dry ingredients to yolk mixture; mix well. , In another bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold a fourth of egg whites into the batter, then fold in remaining whites., Gently spoon into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on the lowest oven rack until cake springs back when lightly touched, 55-60 minutes. Immediately invert the pan; cool completely. , Run a knife around side and center tube of pan. Remove cake to a serving plate. If desired, serve with ice cream topping.

SCHIACCIATA ALLA FIORENTINA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 360 degrees F. Butter a 9 by 13-inch baking pan.
• Add flour, sugar, baking powder, orange zest, orange juice, eggs, milk, and oil. Beat with a hand mixer until thoroughly mixed together, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the batter to the buttered pan and bake for about 25 minutes. Test the cake with a toothpick inserted into the center. If it comes out clean, the cake is done.
• Let cool for about 30 minutes on the counter, then flip the cake out of the baking pan. Slice and serve sprinkled with powdered sugar.

SCHIACCIATA ALLA FIORENTINA OR ITALIAN EASTER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 360 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter.
• Mix flour, sugar, milk, olive oil, orange juice, orange zest, eggs, baking powder, vanilla extract, and nutmeg in a large bowl until batter is well combined.
• Pour batter into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool before serving.

CHOCOLATE-GLAZED FLORENTINES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Combine the almond flour, all-purpose flour and salt in a large bowl; set aside. Combine the sugar, heavy cream, corn syrup and butter in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar is dissolved; continue to boil 1 more minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour the sugar mixture into the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Set aside until cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes.
• Roll rounded tablespoonfuls of dough into balls. Arrange at least 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies spread out and turn golden brown, 10 to 11 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• Make the glaze: Microwave the semisweet chocolate and white chocolate in separate microwave-safe bowls in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth. Transfer the white chocolate to a small resealable bag. Flip the cookies over so the smooth side is up. Spread each cookie with a thin layer of semisweet chocolate. Snip a corner of the white chocolate bag and pipe lines on the semisweet chocolate; drag a toothpick across the lines. Let set, about 2 hours.

FESTIVE FRUIT & NUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4/fan 160C and lightly grease and line the base and sides of a deep 22-23cm round loose-based cake tin with Bake-o-Glide or baking parchment (see overleaf). Beat the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, ground almonds and spices until thoroughly mixed and creamy, preferably with an electric beater or in a food mixer.
• Measure off 100g/4oz of the cake mixture, put in a bowl and set aside. Fold the fruit and rum into the remaining mixture, then gently stir in the marzipan. Spoon this mixture into the prepared cake tin and flatten with a spatula to make a smooth even surface, then make a slight dip in the centre of the cake. This simple trick will give the finished cake a nice flat top. Bake for 11⁄4 hours.
• While the cake is in the oven, make the fruit and nut topping. Mix all the nuts, cherries and syrup into the remaining cake mixture (see tip overleaf). Spoon the mixture on top of the part-cooked cake (once it has had its 11⁄4 hours), evenly distributing the mixture of nuts and cherries across the surface of the cake. Loosely cover the top of the tin with foil.
• Return to the oven for 40 minutes more, then take off the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes, so the nuts can turn golden. Keep an eye on them, so they don't get too dark. To test the cake mixture is cooked, insert a fine skewer into the cake - if it comes out clean then it's ready. Cool in the tin then turn out, keeping the lining on, and wrap with foil. (The cake will keep for up to 2 weeks or can be frozen for up to 2 months.)
• To serve, remove the cake from the foil and strip away the lining. Place on a board or serving plate and tie with a decorative ribbon.