Name: Panforte
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 16
Ingredients: 1 cup pitted dates, roughly chopped; 200 gram packet, halved mixed glacé cherries; 1 cup toasted almonds; 1/2 cup dark chocolate, roughly chopped; 1 tablespoon mixed spice; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 finely grated zest orange; 2/3 cup sugar; 1/3 cup honey; 40 gram unsalted butter; icing sugar, for dusting

Panforte

Panforte is a classic Italian Christmas treat. It's a very dense, rich confection loaded with nuts, dried fruit, and spices. It keeps so well that you'll have delicious leftovers.

Serves 16

Prep

20M

Cook

20M

Total

40M

Skip to Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup pitted dates, roughly chopped

200 gram packet, halved mixed glacé cherries

1 cup toasted almonds

1/2 cup dark chocolate, roughly chopped

1 tablespoon mixed spice

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 finely grated zest orange

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup honey

40 gram unsalted butter

icing sugar, for dusting

Method

1.Preheat oven to 150°C. Lightly spray and line base and sides of a 20cm springform pan with baking paper.

2.In a bowl, combine dates, cherries, almonds, chocolate, spices and zest.

3.In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, honey and butter. Heat on medium, stirring, until starting to melt – do not stir again or sugar will crystallise.

4.Bring to the boil and cook 3-5 minutes, until a little caramel dropped into cold water forms a soft ball when moulded between fingers. Working quickly, pour caramel over nut mixture, mixing well. Pour into prepared pan. Smooth top with a spatula. Bake 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool.

5.If mixture has not set, place in fridge. Dust with icing sugar, cut into wedges and serve with coffee.

Use a doily to create the pattern on the panforte. Place over the cake, dust liberally with icing sugar and carefully lift off. Use any combination of nuts you like.
Note

Woman's Weekly Food

From classic Kiwi favourites, quick weeknight dinners and elevated meals for special occasions, our recipes are local and delicious and thoroughly tested so you know you can trust them to work. Discover tips and tricks to enhance your cooking skills, learn about seasonal ingredients, and stay up-to-date with the latest food trends. We're more than just recipes; we're your trusted kitchen companion.

Ingredients

Method

Related stories

Subscribe and save up to 38%