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Recipe Detail Page
Cherry, Almond & Lemon Florentines
Holiday 2014
The classic Italian lace cookie is almost candy-like and ultra-thin, but the batter spreads so much that it can be hard to make them look pretty. Using a muffin tin ensures that all cookies are perfectly round and gives them a bit of extra crunch.
Makes about 36 cookies
¼ cup (60 mL) whipping cream
¼ cup (60 mL) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
½ cup (125 mL) sugar
2 tbsp (30 mL) honey
2 tsp (10 mL) grated lemon rind
¼ tsp (1 mL) salt
¼ cup (60 mL) all-purpose flour
¾ cup (175 mL) sliced almonds
¼ cup (60 mL) dried cherries, chopped
6 oz (175 g) dark chocolate, chopped
1 Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
2 Combine cream, butter, sugar and honey in a small pot over medium-low heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and stir in lemon rind, salt and flour until smooth. Stir in sliced almonds and dried cherries.
3 Lightly butter the wells of a nonstick muffin tin. Spoon 1 tsp (5 mL) of batter into each well, and use the back of a spoon to spread into an even layer. Bake for 8 to 9 minutes or until golden brown and set. Let cool for 5 minutes to harden, then use the point of a butter knife to pop the cookies out of their wells, and let cool completely on a baking rack. Repeat with remaining batter.
4 Melt chocolate in a small heavy pan over low heat. Remove from heat. Dip cookies into chocolate to cover halfway, or drizzle chocolate overtop cookies. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and let stand until chocolate has set.
Makes about 36 cookies
TIPS
Little things can make a big difference in simple cookies. Look for sliced almonds with an edge of dark brown skin. Cut dried fruit like cherries with a pair of kitchen scissors for the best control over shape and size.
Remove chocolate from heat before fully melted, then stir until uniform for best results. Place cookies on a rack and use a small piping bag with the smallest tip for perfect drizzling. Or dip cookies in chocolate, and place on a textured surface (like the back of a silpat baking sheet) for a professional looking finish.