Florentines

Directions

1. 1
   Line 2 large cookie sheets with baking parchment.
2. 2
   Heat the butter and superfine sugar in a small saucepan until the butter has just melted and the sugar dissolved.
3. 3
   Remove the pan from the heat.
4. 4
   Stir in the flour and mix well.
5. 5
   Stir in the chopped almonds, mixed peel, raisins, cherries, and lemon peel.
6. 6
   Place teaspoonfuls of the mixture well apart on the cookie sheets.
7. 7
   Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly golden.
8. 8
   As soon as the florentines are removed from the oven, press the edges into neat shapes while still on the cooking sheet, using a round cookie cutter.
9. 9
   Leave to cool on the cookie skeets until firm, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. 10
    Spread the melted chocolate over the smooth side of each florentine.
11. 11
    As the chocolate begins to set, mark wavy lines in it with a fork.
12. 12
    Leave the florentines until set, chocolate side up.
13. 13
    Variation: Replace the semisweet chocolate with white chocolate.
14. 14
    For a dramatic effect, cover half of the florentines in dark chocolate and half in white chocolate.