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florentine petit fours

Florentine petit fours are a simple to bake sweet treat, packed full of almonds, hazelnuts and cranberries with a thick covering of dark chocolate.

Florentine petit fours always look impressive, I think it’s the decadent combination of nuts and fruits encased in dark chocolate that does it. However they are actually really simple biscuits to make. This is not a complex bake by any standards, which begs the question why I don’t make them myself. Instead I just badger Michelle until she makes them for me – she is a better baker after all!

Nutty florentine biscuits, some covered with chocolate and some not on a round cooling trivet with a blurred pot of chocolate in the background.

In our recipe we’ve used a combination of toasted hazelnuts and flaked almonds. In place of raisins we’ve used cranberries, but you could also add dried apricots or some candied peel to the mix as well. We chose to cover these with dark chocolate which better balances out the sweetness. However, if you would prefer milk chocolate that will also work too. In essence add the combination of nuts, dried fruits and chocolate that you want to eat!

Lots of Nutty florentine biscuits, some covered with chocolate and some not on a round cooling trivet, with a grey napkin under and a small pot of melted chocolate and brush.

We served these petit fours at one of our recent Supperclubs, they are delicious served with after dinner coffee. They have just enough sweetness, without being too much at the end of a large meal. That said I do have problems only eating one!

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Two pictures of Nutty florentine biscuits, some covered with chocolate and some not on a round cooling trivet, and a small pot of melted chocolate and brush.

Additional recipe suggestions:

If you enjoyed this recipe then why not try our Lemon Madeleines our Brandy Snaps with Clementine Cream or our Chocolate Truffles. Simple petit fours that are delicious served at the end of any meal. For another chewy sweet treat try our Apricot, Almond & Honey Flapjacks.

Nutty florentine biscuits stacked on a round trivet, some covered with chocolate and some not and a small pot of melted chocolate and brush.

Florentine Petit Fours

Florentine petit fours are a simple to bake sweet treat, packed full of almonds, hazelnuts and cranberries with a thick covering of dark chocolate.
5 from 5 votes
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Resting Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 12 portions
Calories: 130kcal

Ingredients

  • 50 g plain flour
  • 15 g butter
  • 45 g caster sugar
  • 2 tbsp double cream
  • 75 g flaked almonds
  • 35 g dried cranberries
  • 75 g dark chocolate (or use milk if you prefer)
  • pinch sea salt flakes

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 160C/140CFan. Prepare a baking sheet(s) with a silicone mat or baking parchment.
  • In a small saucepan, melt the butter, then add the sugar and flour and stir well to combine until smooth. Add the cream and stir quickly then remove from the heat. Stir in the nuts, dried fruit and sea salt. The mixture will be thick.
  • Spoon the mixture into 12 equal portions onto the silicone mat or baking parchment. Flatten each slightly using the back of a spoon. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. They will melt and flatten more in the oven and become lace like.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool. While cooling break up the chocolate into smaller pieces and melt in a heatproof bowl over simmering water.
  • Once the florentines are cooled and chocolate melted, use a pastry brush to paint the flat underside of the florentines with the melted chocolate.
  • Before the chocolate hardens use the prongs of a fork to make a wave like pattern in the chocolate. This part is completely optional and just for decoration.
  • Allow the chocolate to set and cool and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Notes

Feel free to mix up the nuts and fruits used here to either what you have or to your liking. If using whole nuts we suggest chopping them first. 
You can also change the chocolate to your preference to match the fruit and nuts. We like using a sea salted dark chocolate as we think it works well with the nuts.
 
Nutrition Facts
Florentine Petit Fours
Amount Per Serving (1 portion)
Calories 130 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 0.04g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 6mg2%
Sodium 10mg0%
Potassium 99mg3%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 71IU1%
Vitamin C 0.02mg0%
Calcium 24mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

• Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only •

Course : Petit Four
Cuisine : British
Keyword : after dinner, chocolate, fruit, nuts
Tried this recipe? We’d love to see your photos!Mention @lostinf00d or tag #lostinfood!
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Recipe Rating




5 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Roni

Saturday 10th of February 2024

I am wondering whether the recipe should say 50G of flour and not 5G. It does not seem a lot. As no-one else has raised this issue, I am presuming that my instinct is wrong. Any comments?

Lesley

Monday 12th of February 2024

Thank you for pointing out this error Roni and you are absolutely right it should read 50g of plain flour and not 5g. I was editing this recipe recently and have clearly hit delete by mistake so happy that you picked that up and I have now amended the recipe.

Choclette

Tuesday 10th of September 2019

Ooh, I haven't made florentines in such a long time. Every Christmas I keep telling myself this is the year. Maybe this Christmas! Your lucky supper guests. They sound a real treat.

#CookBlogShare

Michelle

Monday 16th of September 2019

They are so temptingly good! I can never stop before I’ve eaten too many!☺️ Michelle x

Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder

Sunday 8th of September 2019

Oh your lucky supper club diners! I would also have a problem stopping after just one as I love florentines. Your combination of fruits and nuts really suits my tastebuds and oh yes definitely with dark chocolate! Thank you for sharing with #BakingCrumbs :)

Lesley

Monday 9th of September 2019

Thank you very much Jo, you are more than welcome. I too love florentines, the problem is stopping at one! Lesley x

Jenny Walters

Thursday 5th of September 2019

I have never made florentines but now I so want to! These sound so delicious and I like that you can change the ingredients to suit plus there is chocolate! Thank you so much for sharing with #BakingCrumbs

Lesley

Friday 6th of September 2019

Thank you Jenny you are more than welcome. These are such a simple bake, the problem is stopping at one when they've been topped with chocolate! Lesley x

Anca

Thursday 5th of September 2019

I haven't made florentines before, but they are very easy to make. I think my husband would love these, so I need to keep them in mind.

Lesley

Friday 6th of September 2019

Thanks Anca, they are such an easy cook, very little preparation or baking time. Also very moreish! Lesley x

5 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)