Ings Recipe of the week - Grounded Pleasures Florentines
Grounded Pleasures Florentines Recipe: A Sweet Treat for Every Occasion
If you're looking for a sweet treat that combines the perfect balance of crunchy, chewy, and chocolatey goodness, look no further than these delicious Florentines. Packed with flaked almonds, dried fruits, and a drizzle of chocolate, these little bites are perfect for a holiday treat, a special gift, or simply to enjoy with your afternoon tea. This recipe brings together rich flavours with a hint of luxury thanks to the addition of Grounded Pleasures’ Panela sugar and vanilla extract. Plus, the toppings of marshmallows, pistachios, and glittery cachous make these Florentines as beautiful as they are tasty.
Ingredients
- 150g flaked almonds
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 40g cranberries, roughly chopped
- 35g golden raisins, roughly chopped
- 45g unsalted butter
- 80g Grounded Pleasures Panela Sugar
- 1 tsp Grounded Pleasures Vanilla Extract
- 1 tbsp honey
- 240g milk/dark chocolate
- 4 Grounded Pleasures Marshmallows
- 1 tbsp pistachios, finely chopped
- Gold and pink cachous for decoration (optional)
Method
- Prep Your Pans: Preheat your oven to 160°C and lightly spray two 12-hole muffin or cupcake trays with cooking spray. Line the base of each hole with a strip of baking paper to help you remove the florentines later.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the flaked almonds, plain flour, cranberries, and golden raisins. Set aside.
- Make the Sweet Syrup: In a small saucepan, melt together the butter, Grounded Pleasures Panela sugar, vanilla extract, and honey over low heat, stirring until combined and smooth.
- Combine the Ingredients: Make a well in the centre of your dry mixture and pour the melted syrup in. Stir until everything is well combined.
- Shape the Florentines: Spoon the mixture into each muffin tin hole, making sure it just covers the base. Don’t worry about making them look perfect; they’ll spread while baking.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for 15 minutes, rotating the trays halfway through to ensure they bake evenly. Keep an eye on them towards the end—they’re ready when they turn a deep golden brown but be careful not to let them burn.
- Cool Down: Remove from the oven and let them cool in the tray for about 10 minutes. Then, carefully lift them out using the baking paper and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Chocolate Coating: Once the Florentines are cool, melt the chocolate (either using a double boiler or microwave). Dip the base of each Florentine into the melted chocolate and smooth it out with a palette knife. Let the chocolate set for a few minutes or place the Florentines in the fridge for quicker results.
- Decorate: While the bottoms are setting, chop the marshmallows into small pieces (about 16 pieces per marshmallow). When the chocolate has set, flip the Florentines over. Using a piping bag or zip lock bag with the tip cut off, drizzle some chocolate over the top. Stick 2-3 pieces of marshmallow onto each Florentine using the melted chocolate as glue. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios and drizzle with more chocolate. Add any additional decorations, like gold and pink cachous, if desired.
- Let It Set: Allow the chocolate to set at room temperature or pop them in the fridge to speed up the process. Once set, these Florentines can be stored at room temperature.
Makes 24 Florentines
These Florentines are perfect for gifting or for enjoying yourself. With the delightful combination of crunchy almonds, sweet dried fruits, and smooth chocolate, they’re sure to be a hit at any gathering. Plus, they’re so easy to make—thanks to Grounded Pleasures’ high-quality ingredients, these treats come together in no time!
A special thank you to Kath, Grounded Pleasures wonderful consultant, for her help in perfecting this recipe! For more delicious inspiration, check out her blog, Kulinary Adventures of Kath.
Enjoy baking and indulging in these scrumptious Florentines!