Nut Free Florentines

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Resistance is futile! The temptation of a Florentine is now made even more difficult with this irresistible nut free option.

Gluten Free · Nut Free · Vegan Option

Makes 30 biscuits

Ingredients

Dry mix

170g / 2 cups Seedy Morning Muesli

60g / 1 cup GF rice bran

30g / 2 tblspn hemp seeds

100g / ⅔ cup raisins

70g / ½ cup cranberries

Wet mix

75g / ½ cup coconut sugar

70mls / ¼ cup + 2 tspn hot water

75g / ½ cup + 1 tblspns coconut cream/milk powder

20g / 1 tblspns coconut oil, melted

Topping

200g dark chocolate, melted

Method

Preheat oven to 150 - 160°C. Line 3 or 4 cookie trays with baking paper.

In a mixing bowl combine the Seedy Morning Muesli, rice bran, hemp seeds, raisins and cranberries, making sure the dried fruit is separated and not in clumps.

Place the coconut sugar, hot water, coconut cream powder and melted coconut oil in that order in the blender. Blend until smooth and the sugar has dissolved. It will be a thick sweet paste.

Scrape it (take the time to get all of it) into the mixing bowl of dry ingredients. Stir together really well to make sure everything is coated with the paste.

Using a dessertspoon (about 2 tspns) scoop
mix and place in heaps on each tray. Flatten each mound out to a circle with the spoon and bring together any bits that work loose. The mix is very sticky so it’s best to use the spoon and/or spatula for this.

Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, turning tray half way. They can burn easily in an oven that is too hot so probably best to bake the first lot at 150 degrees and test. They go golden brown when done.

Leave on trays for 5 minutes then slide with baking paper onto cooling racks.

Once cold, coat the flat (underside) with melted chocolate. Keeping the melted chocolate runny during this process is easy if the container of melted chocolate is put on top of a bowl of hot water. Once the chocolate has firmed up a just a little, run a fork through it to create the waves that are traditional for Florentines.

Store in an airtight container. Probably not for long.…. they are so irresistible!

Notes

Florentines are well known as a nut based biscuit so while these are called Florentines they are really pretending to be!

The sweet paste can be made the day before and refrigerated. Gently heat it before using.

Coconut cream powder or coconut milk powder is most likely available in a health food outlet or Indian specialist store.