Fat Friday #25 Mini Florentine Bites





 

Yay its Friday! Its time for this weeks Fat Friday. This week its a petit four called Mini Florentine Bites. Most of us know that Florentines are caramel that traditionally have almonds and cherries in. However, this recipe calls for a sweet pastry which provides a base for the Florentine mix. Also, the pastry is covered in a layer of dark chocolate, this makes it look very impressive.

 

Florentine Bites  (recipe kindly provided by my pastry chef)
Recipe: Makes 40 small pieces (depending on cutting size)

For the pate sucre

· 260g plain flour, plus a little extra

· 100g icing sugar, plus a little extra

· 30g ground almonds

· 125g unsalted butter

· 2 eggs

· 1 tsp milk

Florentine mixture

· 52ml Whole milk
· 79g granulated sugar
· 42g glucose
· 42g honey
· 105g unsalted butter
· 126g sliced almonds
· 42g pistachios
· 42g Candied peel
· Pinch of salt

Equipment:
· Saucepan
· Whisk
·  Mixing bowl
· Fork
· Wooden spoon
· Sieve
· Rolling pin
· Knife
· Baking sheet lined with silicone paper
· Baking beans
· Saucepan
· Sugar thermometer
· Wooden Spoon

 For the pate sucre:
1. Place the flour, icing sugar, almonds and butter in a mixing bowl, rub the mixture together
2. Add the 2 eggs and mix well. Cover and rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 180c/350f/ Gas Mark 4.
4. Dust the work surface with icing sugar. Roll out the pastry to about 2mm thick.
5. Line the tray with the pastry, letting it hand over the sides. Cover with silicone paper and fill the tart base with baking beans.
6. Bake blind for 20 minutes or until the case is cooked through and lightly golden. Remove the baking beans and silicone paper.

 

For the Florentine mixture:

1. Combine the milk, sugar, honey and glucose in a saucepan and heat to dissolve the sugar.

2. Heat until the mixture reaches 120c on a sugar thermometer. Remove from heat.
3. Stir in the butter and salt until completely melted.
4. Stir in the almonds and pistachios and peel.

To assemble:

1. Pour the florentine mixture into the blind baked pastry and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
2. Turn the cooked Florentine out onto parchment paper and a chopping board.

3. Melt some dark chocolate and smooth on top of the pastry and using a textured buttercream smoother, swirl a design on it.
4. Place in the fridge to set.
5. Once set cut into pieces.

What is your take on these updated Florentines? Would you make them?

Have a great weekend!