Almond Florentines
Almond Florentines! These classic Tuscan cookies are made with almond flour and a hint of orange and bake into a beautiful, thin and lacy treat.
Servings: 5 dozen
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups almond flour
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons orange zest finely grated
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
- Combine almond flour, orange zest, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside
- In a small saucepan, melt sugar, cream, corn syrup, and butter over medium heat. Bring to a rolling boil, then cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat, add vanilla, then stir and pour into almond mixture and mix until just combined. Set aside to cool, about 15-20 minutes.
- Using a teaspoon measure {will yield 3 inch cookies} sprayed with a little non-stick cooking spray for easy removal (or a small, spring-loaded cookie scoop), scoop a teaspoon of mixture and roll into a ball. Place 3 to 4 inches from each other on baking sheet {they will spread a lot}.
- Bake cookies for 10 to 11 minutes until they are thin and lacy with an even golden color. Be careful not to over bake.
- Remove cookies from oven and allow to cool slightly on baking sheet before gently removing them with a spatula and transferring to a baking sheet.
- Drizzled with melted chocolate if desired. Allow to set before serving.
Notes
Tip: If, after a while, your mixture has hardened and it hard to scoop, heat in the microwave on high for 30 second intervals until it reaches a softened state once again.
Variations
- Citrus Twist Florentines: Instead of orange zest, experiment with lemon or lime zest for a tangy twist.
- Spiced Florentines: Incorporate warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or a dash of cardamom into the sugar mixture while melting.
- Fruity Florentines: Add a burst of sweetness by incorporating finely chopped dried fruits like apricots, cranberries, or cherries into the almond mixture.
- Gluten Free: I have not tried making these using 1:1 gluten free flour, but I suspect that it may work.