Description
Quick and easy florentines, featuring a caramelized almond base topped with a smooth dark chocolate coating. Perfectly crisp, sweet, and nutty, these bite-sized treats are ideal for a delightful snack or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Florentine Base
- 100g caster sugar
- 40g honey
- 60g butter
- 75g double cream
- 200g flaked almonds
- 60g ground almonds
Chocolate Coating
- 100g dark chocolate
Instructions
- Prepare caramel mixture: In a small pan, heat the caster sugar, honey, and butter together with the double cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and let it cook for 5 minutes to achieve a rich caramel consistency.
- Add almonds: Remove the pan from heat and stir in the flaked almonds and ground almonds until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Shape florentines: Preheat the oven to 180°C (fan 160°C), gas mark 4. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Using two teaspoons, carefully form around 35 small heaps of the almond mixture and place them spaced apart on the sheet.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until the florentines are lightly caramelized to a golden color. If the mixture spreads or separates during baking, use the spoons to reshape them into neat piles while still warm.
- Cool: Allow the florentines to cool completely on a wire rack. This will enable them to set and become crisp.
- Melt chocolate: Melt the dark chocolate either in a microwave in short bursts or using a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water.
- Apply chocolate coating: Using a pastry brush, coat the underside of each chilled florentine with the melted chocolate. Place them chocolate-side up on a clean surface and let the chocolate set completely before serving.
Notes
- If the caramel mixture separates, simply reshape the florentines with spoons during or after baking.
- Double cream can be substituted with heavy cream if unavailable.
- Use good quality dark chocolate for the best flavor.
- Store florentines in an airtight container to maintain crispness.
- These can be made ahead and kept at room temperature for several days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: florentines, almond cookies, caramelized almonds, quick dessert, chocolate coated florentines
