The Sweet Adventure: Crafting My infamous Chocolate Florentines
There are some moments in life that are just pure joy, and for me, one of those moments was creating my chocolate Florentines. If you’ve never had the pleasure of enjoying these crispy, chewy, and chocolate-dipped delights, you’re missing out on something truly special. But let me take you through the fun journey of making them and why I couldn’t be more thrilled with the end result.
The Beginnings: A Spark of Inspiration
It all started with a craving years ago when I was following my Grandmother's recipe for chocolate Florentines. Whilst her recipe was absolutely delicious, I wanted to make my florentines with milk chocolate and without condensed milk or glace cherries.
I had just finished a batch of honey cakes (which, by the way, were delicious), but my mind kept wandering to something a little more elegant, something with a little more texture and a lot more flair. That’s when it hit me—Florentines! These delicate, nutty, and crispy treats are often the unsung heroes of the dessert world. They’re sophisticated yet simple, a perfect balance of flavour's and textures. But my goal wasn’t just to make the standard Florentine—I was on a mission to create something better, something unique.
The Recipe Development: Mixing Tradition with a Twist
I knew I wanted to stay true to the basic elements that make Florentines so amazing: the combination of nuts, sweetness and that beautiful glossy chocolate coating. But I felt like I could elevate the recipe by adding a few extra special touches.
First, I went for a mix of nuts including almonds and pecans as I wanted a new taste experience. Next, I played with the sweetness adding a touch of honey and syrup in place of condensed milk. The combination of honey and syrup added a subtle richness that was divine.
But what really sets these Florentines apart is the chocolate. Being an absolute chocolate lover myself, only the best will do.
The Fun Part: Assembling the Florentines
Here’s where the fun really started. The mixture of nuts, cereals, raisins and syrups were spread onto a baking sheet to be bake as one whole piece.
After baking the new mixture until it was golden and crisp, I let it cool completely. I then melted my favourite milk chocolate and spread it generously over the baked Florentine base. As the chocolate set, I could already tell I was in for a treat—literally. The contrast between the crispness of the Florentine and the smoothness of the chocolate was mouth-watering.
The Final Result: A Heavenly Creation
The end result? A tray of stunning, perfectly crisp, nutty chocolate coated Florentines ready for rough cutting. Taking that first bite was everything I had hoped for—and more. The nuts provided a lovely crunch, while the chocolate coating added just the right amount of richness. I couldn’t help but smile as I enjoyed my creation. It was everything I wanted it to be and more—a little piece of edible art that was fun to make and even more fun to eat.
Sharing the Love
The best part of making something delicious is sharing it. I couldn’t wait to add these to my store and share these with you. It’s amazing how food has the power to bring people together, and my Florentines definitely sparked some sweet moments of joy over the past 20 years or so.