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Italian Florentine Cookies are lace cookies made from chopped almonds with orange & vanilla. They are then sandwiched with chocolate and you get the most delicious cookies. Serve with hot espresso or coffee to transport you right to Florence, Italy. Crunchy and almost toffee-like, the flavor combinations are just perfect.

A stack of Florentine cookies on a white plate

My husband is Italian and so we have a great love for Italy and have been fortunate to have been to many cities there many times. Lake Como and Florence are our favorite and so are Florentine cookies that originated there in the Renaissance period.

What are Florentine Cookies?

Sometimes called lace cookies, Florentine cookies are made of finely chopped almonds with a hint of orange and vanilla, then baked into lace cookies. You can eat them plain or sandwich with chocolate.

4 white chocolate Florentine cookies on a grey board with a latte

I recently posted a White Chocolate Florentine Cookies (picture above) and for Christmas, you may want to try my festive Peppermint Florentine Cookies (picture below).

Crushed candy canes on top of lace sandwich cookies displayed on a grey plate

Our love of this Italian delicacy came about on one of our annual trips to Carmel-by-the-Sea in Central Coast California and they are one of their signature dessert items. So after many years of eating them, I finally have my own Florentine cookie recipe.

Can you freeze Florentine Cookie?

Yes! They freeze very well for up to 3 months when well wrapped. Just defrost at room temperature and enjoy.

Candied orange peel

The candied orange is a delicious addition, as would many dried fruits. You can also leave it out and they will still taste good.

Taking a bite out of a Florentine cookie

How to make Florentine Cookies

  1. Add peeled/blanched almonds to a food processor and blend
Blended almonds in a bowl

2. To a bowl, mix almonds, flour and orange peel.

Ground almonds, flour and orange peel in a bowl

3. To a pan add sugar, heavy cream corn syrup and butter. Melt and cook for 1 minute.

Melted butter in a pan

4. Add the melted mixture to the almond mix along with the vanilla. Stir until combined. Allow to cool until it is cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes.

Florentine cookie dough mix in a bowl

5. Roll 1 teaspoon measurements of the dough into balls.

Rolling Florentine cookie dough into a ball

6. Bake until they spread into lace cookies

Lace cookies on a baking sheet

7. Add melted chocolate to 1 half of the cookies, then top with the other half.

Lace cookie coated with melted chocolate

How to make candied orange peel:

  • 3 oranges
  • 2 cups granulated sugar, plus extra for rolling
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) water

  • Cut the top and bottom off the oranges. Score the skin from top to bottom around the orange and peel. Cut the peel into strips, about ¼-inch ( ½ cm ) wide.
  • Add water to a medium saucepan and bring to boil. Add the orange slices and blanch (boil) for 2 minutes.
  • Drain, discard water and repeat 2 more times. This is to reduce the bitterness.
  • In the same saucepan, whisk the sugar and the 3/4 cup water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and is simmering.
  • Add the orange peels and reduce heat to continue to simmer until the peels are translucent, about 45 minutes. DO NOT STIR. This will produce sugar crystals, but you can swirl the pan if needed to move the peels around.
  • Drain the peels onto parchment paper and discard the syrup.
  • Roll the peels in the sugar and allow to dry on a rack for 4 to 5 hours or overnight.
  • Store in an air tight container until needed.
  • When preparing the dough to make the cookies, make the balls as round as possible, this will make nice round cookies. The dough will spread as they bake.
  • To drizzle chocolate over the cookie, put the melted chocolate into a small ziploc bag. Snip of a very tiny piece of the corner and pipe over the cookie. This will allow you to get the perfect drizzle.

A Florentine cookie on the saucer of a cup of coffee

The recipe calls for peeled almonds, which isn’t an easy thing to do so I have a post here on how to do that, How to peel almonds.

This recipe yields 30 sandwiched cookies that are 2-inches/5 cm in diameter.

Yield: 30 sandwiched cookies

Florentine Cookies

Florentine cookies are lace cookies made from  chopped almonds with orange & vanilla. They are then sandwiched with chocolate and you get the most delicious cookies.

Florentine cookies are lace cookies made from  chopped almonds with orange & vanilla. They are sandwiched with chocolate and you get the most delicious cookies.

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (145 grams) raw almonds or almond flour (see note)
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons dried oranges (optional)
  • ¾ cup (140 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup or light agave syrup
  • 5 tablespoons (71 grams) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ¼ pounds (567 grams) dark or milk chocolate cut into small chunks

Instructions

  1. Position oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat oven to 325°F/163°C. Line a large 17 x 12 inch (43 x 30 cm) baking or cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
  2. To peel the almonds: Over high heat, bring a saucepan of water to a boil.
    Add the almonds and boil for 1 minute (no longer because they will soften). Drain and rinse with cold water to cool and stop them from cooking. Spread onto a towel and rub them until the peels come off. Dry well.
  3. Add the almonds to a food processor or blender and pulse until finely chopped.
  4. In a mixing bowl, stir together the almonds, flour and orange peel.
  5. To a small saucepan add the sugar, heavy cream corn syrup and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the mixture comes to a rolling boil and the sugar is completely dissolved. Continue to simmer for 1 minute.
  6. Remove from the heat and add the mixture to the almond mix along with the vanilla. Stir until combined. Allow to cool until it is cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes.
  7. Using a teaspoon measuring spoon, portion out 1 teaspoon of dough and roll into a ball using your hands. Roll the balls as round as you can, this will ensure nice round cookies. If the dough seems dry and crumbly, simply put a ball of the dough your warm hand it will soften so you can shape.
  8. Place the dough balls 6-inches (15 cm) apart on to the prepared baking sheet. They spread to 3-inches (7 ½ cm) in diameter. You'll need to work in batches to fit your baking sheet.
  9. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. If they join together, use a sharp knife to separate while they are hot and soft on the baking sheet as they will harden very quickly.
  10. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes until they are no longer soft, then transfer to a cooling rack. Repeat with the remaining dough.
  11. In a microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate and microwave in 10 second increments, stirring in between until melted. Be careful not to burn.
  12. Take a cooled cookie, spread the chocolate on one side, take another cookie and make a sandwich, press carefully as they are delicate. Repeat with all cookies.
  13. If you would like to drizzle chocolate on the top, put the melted chocolate into a small ziptop bag. Snip of a very tiny piece of the corner and this will allow you to get the perfect drizzle.
  14. Allow the cookies to cool and store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

If you can find already peeled almonds, skip step 2

Nutrition Information

Yield

30

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 145Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 12mgSodium 19mgCarbohydrates 22gFiber 1gSugar 19g

This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.

© Culinary Ginger
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Dessert