Family friendly Dessert Italian

Quick chocolate panforte

Name: Quick chocolate panforte
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 40 squares
Cuisine: /italian
Ingredients: 1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar; 1/2 cup (175g) honey; 50g unsalted butter; 300g good-quality fruit mince; 1 2/3 cups (250g) plain flour, sifted; 1 cup (100g) cocoa powder; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; ! tsp mixed spice; Grated zest of 1 orange; 2/3 cup (100g) each roasted hazelnuts, slivered pistachios and macadamias; 1/2 cup (100g) chopped dried figs; Icing sugar, to dust

1 rating

05m

25m

40 squares

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This cheat’s version of the classic Italian sweet uses ready-made fruit mince instead of soaked dried fruit.

1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar
1/2 cup (175g) honey
50g unsalted butter
300g good-quality fruit mince
1 2/3 cups (250g) plain flour, sifted
1 cup (100g) cocoa powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
! tsp mixed spice
Grated zest of 1 orange
2/3 cup (100g) each roasted hazelnuts, slivered pistachios and macadamias
1/2 cup (100g) chopped dried figs
Icing sugar, to dust

Method

1.

Preheat oven to 160°C and line an 18cm x 28cm lamington pan with baking paper.
2.

Stir sugar, honey, butter and mince in a pan over low heat for 3-5 minutes until sugar dissolves. Sift flour, cocoa and spices into a large bowl. Add zest, nuts, figs, mince mixture and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine well – it’ll be quite stiff. Tip into the prepared pan and use wet hands to press the top all over until smooth.
3.

Bake for 15-18 minutes until firm on top. Cool in pan, then invert onto a board and dust with icing sugar. Cut lengthways into 5 thin sections, then cut widthways into 8 sections to form about forty 3cm squares.
4.

Keep for up to 1 month in an airtight container in the fridge, then pack into muslin gift bags or cellophane.