ITALIAN FLORENTINE’S – Create Beautiful Desserts

Just look at these very delicate Florentine cookies or Cannoli horns . . . Handle them with care!

Now that you have all your cookies done, it’s time to Melt some Chocolate.

This is optional of course, but it sure does make them extra delicious!

Note: I simply melted 2 large size Symphony Bars.  Dark Chocolate or White Chocolate or both would also be scrumptious.  Before I melt the chocolate, I add 1 tablespoon of Crisco shortening.  This is optional of course, but it puts a very nice gloss in the chocolate, and it stays smooth and doesn’t seize up quickly.  You can work with it much longer. Use your favorite chocolate.

Now take another cookie . . . and give it a top.

You can also decorate the Florentine Horns or Cannoli’s, by dipping the ends of each horn in the melted Chocolate.  Sprinkle chopped Almonds, Walnuts or Hazelnuts over the chocolate.  Set on Parchment paper to setup.

 Just place them on some Parchment paper, and set the cookie sheet in a cool room, so that the chocolate can set up.  My garage is cold, and it only took seconds! To store these cookies, I just left them on Cookie Sheets, and simply placed the wax paper over the top.  When you are ready to make beautiful desserts, you can Whip up some Vanilla Bean or Almond flavored Whipped Cream.  If you prefer, you could make Italian Swiss Buttercream or fill the Cannoli’s with Bavarian Cream, and grab some raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, etc. to garnish with.

I put the Whipped Cream in a Pastry Bag, and used a Closed Star Tip to make it even prettier.

Hint:  Use Powdered Sugar instead of White Sugar to sweeten the Whipping cream.  It will hold it’s shape much longer.

CAUTION:  Extreme deliciousness!  You’ll feel like your eating a spectacular dessert in a fancy Restaurant!

ITALIAN FLORENTINES

Yield:  A single recipe made 40 cookies and 10 small Cream Horns

• 2/3 cup Butter
• 1 cup Oatmeal
• 1 cup chopped sliced Almonds
• 1/4 cup Toasted Coconut
• 1 cup Sugar
• 2/3 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup Cream + 1 Tablespoon (for the florentine cookie dough)  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 12 oz. bag of semi or Milk Chocolate chips + 1 Tablespoon Crisco Shortening
• Whipped cream sweetened with sugar for the center of the cookies or cream Horns

*I used 2 large size Symphony Bars + 1 Tablespoon Crisco Shortening instead

DIRECTIONS:

In a glass bowl, melt butter then add the Oatmeal, sugar, flour, cream and vanilla.  Stir well then add the corn syrup. Stir in the Sliced Almonds & Toasted Coconut just until mixed.  Line your pans with parchment paper or silpats.  Drop mix using only 1 Teaspoon of dough.  On a large Cookie sheet, do place more than 12 little cookies. They will spread out thin, so you need at least 2 to 2 1/2 inches between each drop of dough.  Spread with spatula, the back of a spoon, or the tips of moistened fingers.  Try to keep a round shape.

Bake for 6 minutes in a pre-heated 375 degree oven, or until golden.  Watch them carefully…..they burn easily!  Only cook on sheet pan at a time.

Let them cool just slightly, and with a turner, remove them from baking tray and place on parchment paper to thoroughly cool.  (Be careful….these are fragile little cookies!)

Now . . . Melt your chocolate.  I used Symphony Chocolate Bars.  Break up the chocolate in small pieces. This next part is optional, but it truly helps:  Add 1 Tablespoon of Crisco Oil to the chocolate.  Place your bowl of Chocolate in the microwave, and check it every 25 seconds . . . stirring after each segment, until the chocolate is melted.  Don’t let it get too warm, or you’ll ruin it.  Take it from the microwave, just before the last small piece of chocolate has melted all the way.  Just continue stirring until that small piece is melted.

Take a small spatula and spread chocolate onto the smooth side of one cookie.  Now sandwich another cookie on the top. Place the cookies on parchment paper lined baking trays.  Put them in the fridge or place in a cool room so that the chocolate can set up.  A cold Garage works in seconds.

Enjoy!  Store these on Cookie sheets with waxed paper in between each layer.  Top with another layer of wax paper.  They will keep for days.

Whip Cream to sandwich in between Florentines.  Add Raspberries, Strawberries, Blueberries, etc . . . to garnish.

Fill Cream Horns with Whipped Cream, Bavarian Cream etc.