Christmas and New Year’s holidays are mostly associated with the smell of citrus, a Сhristmas tree and sweets. I suggest you to cook very simple and incredibly delicious pastries – Panforte, which consists of a mixture of nuts, spices, honey and candied fruits. The name of this delicacy comes from the Italian word «pane» – «bread» and «forte» – «strong». They are cooked simply and quickly and moreover can be stored for a long time (in a pot with the lid in the refrigerator – for few months). Although it is difficult to store them for a long time, because they are eaten immediately 🙂
Ingredients:
- hazelnuts (roasted) – 110 g;
- almonds (roasted) – 110 g;
- lemon or orange zest- 4 table spoons .;
- candied citrus fruits – 125 g;
- candied pineapple – 100 g;
- wheat flour – 75 g;
- cinnamon (ground) – 1 tea spoon;
- clove (ground) – 1/4 of tea spoon .;
- coriander (ground) – 1/4 of tea spoon.;
- muscat nut – 1/4 of tea spoon ;
- White pepper (ground) – 1 pinch;
- honey – 4 table spoons
- sugar (I used brown sugar) – 150 g;
- butter – 50 g;
- powdered sugar – to taste (sprinkle over already cooked Panforte).
If you do not like a lot of spices, just reduce their amount. Alternatively you can add candy dried figs, dried apricots, but they need to be pre-cut into small pieces. There is also a chocolate Panforte recipe.
Preparation:
- Prepare a baking dish. At the bottom of the form put oiled baking paper, leaving the borders at least 2-3 cm.
- Preheat oven to 150 degrees.
- Mix in a bowl nuts, candied fruits, herbs, spices and flour.
- In a saucepan with a thick bottom mix the butter, sugar and honey. Put it on a low heat, stirring constantly. When the sugar has dissolved, boil it to the state until a drop of mixture dropped into the water immediately solidifies.
- Pour the syrup into a mixture of nuts and candied fruits, quickly stir, put into the form and level with a spoon.
- Bake it in the oven for 30 minutes at a temperature of 150 degrees. After that Panforte should be cooled, sprinkled with powdered sugar and cut into small pieces.
That’s all, Panforte or Christmas candies are ready for eating!
Now you can not only serve the table with this dessert or keep in reserve in case the guests arrive, you can put it in a nice jar and present to friends or relatives, as well as to wrap candies into a plastic foil / paper and decorate a Christmas tree!
Bon Appetit!
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