A Sweet Start

Classic Italian Panforte

Ingredients

150g roasted hazelnuts

150g roasted almonds

½ cup plain flour

2½ tbsp cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla essence

1½ tsp cinnamon

½ cup dried figs, chopped ½ cup dried apricots, chopped ½ cup mixed peel

Honey Syrup

1 cup honey

½ cup white sugar 100g dark chocolate

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees. Grease a loaf tin and line with baking paper.

2. Roast the hazelnuts and almonds on a baking tray for 8 minutes. Remove the skins

from the hazelnuts. Set aside to slightly cool.

3. Roughly chop the figs, apricots and place in a large bowl. Add the mixed peel,

roasted hazelnuts, and almonds to the bowl.

4. Add cocoa powder, mixed spice, flour, cinnamon, vanilla and stir well to

combine all of the ingredients.

5. In a saucepan on low heat, melt the sugar, honey and dark chocolate until it is a

smooth consistency. Turn off the heat just as the mixture comes to the boil. 6. Working quickly, add the chocolate to the fruit and nut mix and stir extremely well

to combine.

7. Add the panforte mixture to the loaf tin and place in the oven to cook for 30-35

minutes.

8. Once cooked set aside to cool. To serve, dust with icing sugar and cut into slices.