Favourite Christmas Recipes


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Florentines

Ingredients:

100g (4oz) caster sugar
100g (4oz)butter
100g (4oz) shredded almonds
50g (2oz) sultanas
50g (2oz) chopped glace cherries
Dark (bitter sweet) chocolate

Putting it together:

Pre-heat your oven to 180c (350f, gas mark 4).
Line 4 or 5 baking trays with non stick baking paper.

Place the butter and sugar in a heavy saucepan and gently heat, stiring until the sugar has disolved and the mixture starts to boil.
Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining ingredients.
Place small teaspoonfuls of the mixture, spaced well apart on the baking trays.
Bake for approx. 10 minutes until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the trays for approx. 5 or 6 minutes.
Carefully remove the florentines from the baking tray and leave to cool on a wire rack.
Continue to bake the rest of the mixture in the same way.

After the Florentines are cool, gently melt some dark (bitter sweet) chocolate.
Spread the chocolate on the back (flat side) of the florentine and make a zig zag pattern with a fork.

Makes approx. 36 Florentines

Tips for Working with Chocolate;

  • chocolate is best melted gently in a bowl over a pan of hot water.
  • be careful water doesn't get in to the chocolate or it will spoil.
  • take great care not to over heat the chocolate or it will not set well.
  • if the chocolate gets too hot will need to temper it and this is rather fiddly.

Recipe sent in by Ruth, Lauder

 


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