Divine Panforte – Traditional Italian Christmas Dessert

Panforte is an Italian festive Christmas treat. A dense, slightly chewy fruit cake that lasts brilliantly and is perfect alongside a coffee or a Christmas tipple. This one is a gluten free panforte, and it’s effortless to make. Perfect to give as a gift or have on hand to serve to guests.

Prep

25 min

Time

35 min

Serves

12

Ingredients

  • 1 cup hazelnuts
  • 1 cup almonds
  • 1 cup of dried fruit (diced apricots, figs, dates, cranberries, raisins…)
  • 1/4 cup cocoa
  • 3/4 cup gluten free flour mix
  • 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 cups chocolate baking bits

  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar
  • 1/3 cup runny honey

    Note: Panforte is a very decadent desert and could be gifted to your loved ones as Christmas treat.

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 150 ºC. Place in the nuts in an ovenproof dish and roast for 15 minutes. Use baking paper to keep them separated.
  2. Lay the hazelnuts in a tea towel and rub to remove as much of the skin as possible (which can be discarded).
  3. Roughly chop the nuts and set aside.
  4. Combine the nuts, dried fruit, cocoa, gluten free flour mix and cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix well.
  5. Gently heat the chocolate baking bits, coconut sugar and honey in a medium saucepan until liquid. Add the dry ingredients to the saucepan and spend a few minutes mixing it well. This will be very sticky and you may need to use your hands for the last part.
  6. Grease and line a 23cm round cake tin. Press the mixture very firmly and evenly into the tin. Use the back of the spoon to smooth out the top. Bake for 35 mins.
  7. Cool completely before removing from the tin and sprinkling with icing sugar.