I’m dreaming of an Italian Christmas,
Day Nineteen on the Advent Calendar
and
Panforte
19th December
2011
Window nineteen is a
Christmas Angel
Nigella is back on Maison Cupcake! An international challenge has been posted by Sarah for Christmas and I am SO up for this festive event, as I have been perusing Nigella’s Christmas cookbook for the last week, sifting through it in order to bake up a storm……and first on my list for the Forever Nigella challenge is an Italian fruit and nut extravaganza, a Panforte.
I LOVE Panforte and Christmas is just the time to indulge in this traditional Italian treat; Panforte is a cross between a rich fruit cake and a nougat slice…..it is heavily spiced and packed full of citrus peel, nuts and honey. It is a regional speciality of the beautiful hill town of Siena in Tuscany; tradition dictates that a true Panforte must contain seventeen ingredients to represent the seventeen districts (contrade) that make up the town of Siena. The recipe that I am using from Nigella’s Christmas cookbook only has fourteen ingredients, although I added an ingredient to make it fifteen, but it’s still a wonderful adaptation of this famous Italian sweet cake.
This would be an ideal after dinner treat to enjoy with coffee throughout the Christmas period, but it must be cut into very slim slices as it is a very rich and decadent sweet……I made it almost to the recipe’s specifications with a few small alterations, due to ingredient issues. I particularly love the addition of the dried figs in this version, it adds another flavour dimension. This would also make a great gift for a sweet toothed friend, all wrapped up in white paper with red, green and white ribbon for that Italian feel…….it would look (and taste) stunning.
Here is the recipe, with the ingredient changes highlighted in red, do try to make this for Christmas, it is very sweet but packed full of fruit and nuts with festive spices and honey…..a very special “once in a while” treat!
See you later,
Karen
Panforte
Ingredients:
125g Whole almonds
100g Blanched almonds
125g Whole Hazelnuts
125g Whole Hazelnuts
225g Mixed Citrus peel, roughly chopped
75g Dried figs roughly chopped
50g Plain Flour, sifted
1 tbsp Cocoa
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Mixed Spice
1/2 tsp Mixed Spice
1/4 tsp Freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp Cloves
A pinch of white pepper
150g Sugar
150g Honey
30g Butter
8 inch (20 cm) Loose bottomed sandwich tin lined with baking parchment.
Pre-heat your oven to 160˚C (325˚F or gas mark 3 )
Method:
Heat the sugar, honey and butter together in a saucepan over a low heat until melted and frothy.
Place all dry ingredients, spices, nuts and fruit into a large bowl.
Add the hot butter, honey and sugar mixture and mix well.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top with the back of an oiled spoon, pressing it down firmly.
Bake for 25 to 35 minutes until the top is bubbling. Remove and allow to cool in tin.
Remove from tin and sprinkle icing sugar over the top before wrapping in greaseproof paper and storing in a cool and dry place. Lasts for up to 4 weeks.
wow this looks awesome Merry Christmas
Gorgeous, I must look through Nigella's book today and try something new! Your photos are superb, and right now I'd happily swap my breakfast yoghurt for a delicious slice of your panforte. Jude x
Mmmm I love the fact that it's packed with hazelnuts. I know I'd just live this. I need to take part in this challenge. I think I'll get the cookbooks down this week! Can you believe it's the 19th already? Unbelievable eh? Xxx
Looks and sounds great! I have that book and am now wondering why I've never cooked anything from it? I dunno!! Wot am I like? xxoo
Karen, you are a star – very apt for this festive season – the words you have used to evoke this panforte are as rich and decadent as the cake itself.
Yes, I will be trying this recipe soon.
How are you coping with the run-up to Christmas, Karen? I bet you are enjoying yourself!
Oh my, more Christmas goodness. Karen you are a danger to my already ample waistline, but I love you for it ;D
Such a beautiful Christmas post – sounds and looks simply delicious
Mary oxo
I've never even tied Panforte, but it looks delicious. I have the Nigella Christmas Cookbook, too (which I found on the bargain rack at Barnes & Noble), but I haven't gotten much of a chance to look through it. Christmas is at my parents' house, so I really don't have to do any holiday preparations besides get some presents wrapped!
Goodness, where is the time going?? This looks so perfectly festive, packed full of nuts and spices…..Mmmmm! Again, your photos are stunning 🙂 xx
This looks gorgeously rich and festive – could happily munch a slice now after my lunch 🙂
This looks wonderful! I've always wanted to make panforte, I love seeing it for sale in shops at Christmas and never managed to do it at home. Thank you for taking part in the Festive Forever Nigella!
This looks really rich and decadent and very Nigella! 🙂 I've been browsing through Nigella's Christmas as well so I was really excited when I saw the announcement by Sarah about Forever Nigella. Still have not decided what to make yet!
Such lovely photos – mind you when there is chocolate involved … and Nigella … and Christmas … well then, photos are bound to appeal to me lol. Yummy stuff.
Karen will you stop doing this to me. I think I have a plan and you keep tempting me with all these amazing things. Fantastic photos, sounds gorgeous and I'd like a slice wrapped in paper and tied with red and green ribbons please.
I just love nuts and dried fruit – this looks amazing – I don't think I'd be able to stop eating it.
I followed Annie's link to your blog and I'm so pleased I did. This panforte looks delicious and I shall have to come back and savour the other goodies you have here.
Happy Christmas!
Kate
Never tried this before! Sounds nice