These traditional Italian biscuits are made from a combination of a caramel biscuit mix crammed full of fruit and nuts, and a thick chocolate base. Topped with edible gold decorations, they are the perfect home-made Christmas gift.
Ingredients
-
50g/1¾oz butter
-
50g/1¾oz demerara sugar
-
50g/1¾oz golden syrup
-
50g/1¾oz plain flour
- 2tsp mixed spice
-
25g/1oz glacé cherries, roughly chopped
- 50g/2oz dried berries & nuts (I used cranberries, blueberries & sultanas in this berry & nut sprinkle pack from Waitrose)
-
25g/1oz almonds, finely chopped
-
200g/7oz milk chocolate
- edible gold stars and gold balls
Method:
- Line two baking trays with silicon sheets or grease and flour (don't use greaseproof paper as the biscuit will stick to it).
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
- Heat the butter, sugar and syrup in a small saucepan and stir together until the butter is melted. Remove from the heat and add in the flour and mixed spice, stir through thoroughly.
- Add the dried fruit and nuts to the pan. Stir well to mix.
- Place six desert spoon sized dollops of mixture onto each baking tray, leaving plenty of room around each one for it to spread during cooking.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until golden-brown.
- Leave the florentines to cool before lifting onto a cooling rack using a palette knife.
- Use a bain marie or place a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water (without letting the bowl touch the water) to melt the chocolate over the heat.
- Spread a teaspoon of melted chocolate onto another silicon baking tree, spreading it around to create a flattish disc. Place each biscuit part of the florentine onto a chocolate disc. Add the gold balls and decorations to the biscuit topping while still soft.
- Chill to set the chocolate and remove from the silicon tray.
- Store in an airtight container.
Waitrose have conducted a survey which shows that people enjoy giving homemade Christmas desserts and baked treats as a gift at Christmas. The majority of respondents thought that a homemade gift means more than a bought one as it shows more thought and effort has been put into it. Waitrose have a wide range of tasty treats and DIY desserts which are ideal for gifts this Christmas.
—
I was sent a gift voucher in order to purchase the ingredients for this post.
Co-hosted by
Zing Zing Tree, Bluebearwood, Rainy Day Mum, The Boy and Me, The Sensory Seeker, Adventures Of Adam, Thinly Spread, Best Toys For Toddlers, The Gingerbread House, My Little 3 And Me, The Mad House
Deeeeeeelicous!!!! You just want to lean in and pick one. My favourites xx
These look delicious. I've never tried making Florentines but may do now! X
These look delicious I shall have a go! x
Pinning these straight onto my edible gifts Pinterest board – I always make a mountain of homemade sweets and treats for my very large family at Christmas and these will be a fab one for the children to help with!
How yummy do these look! My stomach is growling in protest now 🙂
Delicious, florentines are one of my favourite treats.
Ohhh they look lovely, I've never made them and will have to give them a try with my kids they love cooking and Christmas cooking the most.
mmmmm i do like a florentine x
These look sooo yummy!
These are on my list to make. My MIL loves them
Oh they look yummy. Think I shall have to make some of those for our Christmas day snacks.
These look delicious – i'm just about to make mine now! Such a lovely Christmas treat 🙂
2 tsp Mixed Spice – we don't have that in the shops here. What's in it? I could make my own. Guessing cinnamon might be one ingredient, maybe pimenta, cloves?
It's ok, found it via websearch, for others also wondering, here it is:
Here is a typical blend of spices used to make mixed spice:
1 Tbs ground allspice
1 Tbs ground cinnamon
1 Tbs ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground mace
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground Ginger
Blend all spices together, and store in a sealed jar away from light.