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

Panforte

Packed with nuts, dried fruit and spices, this dense and rich panforte is a decadent classic Italian Christmas cake. Dust with icing sugar, cut into wedges and serve with coffee.

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Serves 16

Prep

20M

Cook

20M

Total

40M

Ingredients

1 cup roughly chopped pitted dates

200 gram packet mixed, cherries, halved

1 cup toasted almonds

1/2 cup roughly chopped dark chocolate

1 tablespoon mixed spice

1 teaspoon ground black pepper (optional)

1 orange, finely grated zest

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup honey

40 gram unsalted butter

icing sugar, for dusting

Method

1.Preheat oven to slow, 150°C. Lightly spray and line the base and sides of a 20cm spring form cake pan with baking paper.

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

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

4.Bring to the boil and cook for 3-5 minutes, until a little of the caramel dropped into cold water forms a soft ball when moulded between fingers.

5.Working quickly, pour caramel over nut mixture, mixing well. pour into prepared cake pan. Smooth top with a spatula. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Allow lo cool. If the mixture has not set. place in fridge.

6.Dust with icing sugar. Cut into small wedges and serve with coffee.

Use any combination of nuts you like.
Note

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