Chocolate Italian Panforte

DIFFICULTY
Average Average
COOK TIME
Under 1 hr. Under 1 hr.
SERVES
10+ 10+
Chocolate Italian Panforte
Main INGREDIENTS
  • Dairy
Ingredients
Method

Ingredients

  • 250g mixed nuts (without shells and husks), Brazils, hazelnuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios are all suitable
  • 115g plain flour
  • 25g cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 85g glacé cherries
  • 85g candied orange and lemon peel
  • 100g dark chocolate, melted
  • 2 tablespoons brandy or rum
  • 200g honey
  • 200g light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon icing sugar for dusting
  • A little butter for greasing
  • Rice paper

  • Method

  • 1
    Oven: 170°C / Fan 150°C / Gas Mark 3, pre-heated. Place the nuts into the frying pan over a low to medium heat and toast until lightly golden, remove onto a plate, cool and reserve.
  • 2
    Combine the flour, cinnamon, cocoa and orange zest in a medium size, heatproof bowl and stir in the cooled nuts along with the glace cherries and candied orange and lemon peel. Set to one side.
  • 3
    Break up the chocolate into small pieces, place into a heatproof bowl and sit over a pan of hot water to melt.
  • 4
    Place the honey and sugar with the brandy or rum into a small pan over a low heat. Once the sugar has melted bring the contents to a slow simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • 5
    Stir the hot honey syrup and the melted chocolate into the flour and nuts. Combine all the ingredients well.
  • 6
    Lightly grease the frying pan with a little butter and line the base with a disc of edible rice paper. Tip the mixture into the frying pan and use a spatula to smooth over the top.
  • 7
    Bake in the centre of the oven for 30-35 minutes, the mixture will firm up as it cools.
  • 8
    When the panforte is cool, before removing from the pan, dust with icing sugar and serve cut into thin slices.
  • 9
    Cook's Notes
  • 10
    Rice paper makes the sweet easy to handle and is edible. If not available you can use baking parchment but remember to remove it before slicing and serving.
  • 11
    Stored in airtight container this sweet will keep for several weeks.