A Fancy Florentine Cookie

This is one of the really good holiday cookies that anyone can make. It does take about 2 hours and 20 minutes however one hour of that is for the dough to chill so you can do something else during that time. The actual working time is 40 minutes. It traditionally uses blanched almonds that are slivered but if you like another nut better you can use that one instead. It will make 48 cookies.

The Ingredient List for this simple cookie recipe:

• 1 Cup almonds, blanched and slivered
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ stick butter, unsalted, room temperature
• 2 T corn syrup – light
• 2 T cream – heavy
• ¼ t vanilla
• 1/8th or a pinch of salt, if desired Kosher
• 2 t flour – all purpose
• 4 oz melted chocolate, bittersweet, brought back to room temperature

TOOLS:

1. Parchment lined cookie sheets
2. Food processor
3. Small pan
4. Bowls
5. Wire racks
6. Pre-heat oven to 350 Fahrenheit

The working steps:

1. Using a food processor place the blanched, slivered almonds plus the granulated sugar into the bowl and process ‘til ground finely.
2. Empty the almond sugar mix into a small pan and mix well into tit the corn syrup, butter, vanilla, cream and salt. Cook while constantly stirring over medium heat until the sugar and butter are melted and incorporated which will take about 3 minutes or so.
3. Take off heat and then stir in flour. Place in a bowl and put in refrigerator for about 1 hour until it is firm.
4. Take about 1 teaspoon of dough and roll into small balls. Then put these on the cookie sheets about 3” apart. Dip your fingertips into water and use them to flatten balls into about ¼” thick pieces. In a normal size oven, bake only one of the cookie sheets at a time to bake this simple cookie recipe. Bake ‘til they are golden brown or about 7 – 9 minutes allow to cool one minute. Carefully place on racks to let completely cool.
5. Turn cookies over and spread this side with melted chocolate. With chocolate side placed down on parchment lined pans or plates and set in the refrigerator to allow the chocolate to completely set up. This will take about 5 to about 10 minutes. These cookies will stay fresh for about three days if you store them in a container that is airtight and at room temperature.