These Chocolate Florentine Lace Cookies are a delightful combination of nutty and chocolate flavors. This easy-to-make cookie recipe not only tastes wonderful but also looks stunning, making it an excellent choice for both desserts and gifts.
Recipe Details
These Lace Cookies with Chocolate, often referred to as Florentine Cookies, are a fantastic festive treat to try. I enjoy presenting these delicate goodies to guests due to their wonderful taste and attractive appearance. They have become some of my favorites, and I hope you’ll love them as much as I do!
- TASTE: The recipe features delicious ingredients such as melted chocolate, chopped almonds, and brown sugar, creating a sweet and nutty flavor with rich chocolate notes.
- TEXTURE: These Florentine cookies provide an ideal crunch from the honey-sweetened almonds used in the base. Once baked, they turn thin and are sandwiched together with melted chocolate.
- TIME: You can prepare these scrumptious cookies in just 38 minutes.
- EASE: This recipe is straightforward and requires only a handful of ingredients.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Almonds- These are ground to create the almond meal used as the base for these cookies.
- All-purpose flour– This contributes to the elasticity in a dough that is primarily made from almond flour.
- Butter- Make sure to use unsalted butter.
- Golden brown sugar– This enhances the cookies’ sweetness.
- Honey- This ingredient adds natural sweetness.
- Vanilla extract– A touch of vanilla flavor is included here.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips– These will be melted and used as a filling.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Make them gluten-free- Substitute brown rice flour or oat flour for the all-purpose flour for gluten-free florentine cookies.
- Add orange flavor- Include orange extract or zest in the batter for a citrus kick.
- Try a different filling- Experiment with fillings like Nutella, white chocolate, or peanut butter.
- Add dried fruits- Consider adding dried cherries, cranberries, or figs for additional flavor.
How to Make Lace Cookies with Chocolate
- Chop the almonds. Put the almonds into a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Set aside for later.
- Combine butter and sugar. In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter, brown sugar, and honey together while stirring with a metal whisk. Once the mixture boils, remove it from heat.
- Incorporate vanilla and flour. Next, add vanilla extract and flour into the saucepan and stir to combine.
- Mix in the almonds. Using a spatula, fold in the chopped almonds.
- Portion the dough. Using a spoon, scoop out 1/2-tablespoon-sized amounts of cookie dough onto a baking tray lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper, ensuring to space each scoop at least 3 inches apart.
- Prepare the oven. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, roll each scoop of cookie dough into a ball and then return them to the baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies. Insert the baking sheet into the center of the oven and bake for 8 minutes, flipping them halfway through at the 4-minute mark.
Pro Tip: Be sure to space the cookie dough a few inches apart, as they will significantly spread while baking.
- Melting the chocolate: While your lace cookies are in the oven, melt some chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Remember to stir it occasionally to avoid burning.
- Putting together the Florentine cookies: Take a cookie, smear some melted chocolate on its bottom, and then place another cookie on top of it, face down on the chocolate.
- Let it set: Allow the chocolate to harden for about 1-2 hours before serving.
Helpful Tips for the Recipe
- Opt for almond flour: Using almond flour or freshly ground almonds not only enhances the flavor but also contributes to the ideal texture of these lace cookies. Substituting with regular flour may prevent them from becoming thin and crispy, so stick to almonds.
- Trim cookie edges: If your cookies turn out oddly shaped, you can trim the edges with scissors to create a round shape for better sandwiching.
- Watch the chocolate: When melting chocolate in the microwave, pause every 15-30 seconds to stir it. This prevents burning and ensures it doesn’t overheat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your cookies might not be spreading because you used too much all-purpose flour, which can hinder spreading. Almond flour is essential because it doesn’t have the elasticity that gluten in regular flour has. A higher ratio of almond flour will encourage your cookies to spread.
The chewiness of cookies is largely influenced by moisture content. Using brown sugar provides more moisture compared to white sugar, and almond flour retains more moisture than regular flour. Additionally, ingredients like melted butter and honey contribute to that desirable chewiness.
Suggestions for Serving
These Lace Cookies with chocolate combine a crispy exterior with gooey chocolate and a rich taste. They are perfect additions to a dessert platter, alongside cakes, pies, and other sweet delights.
- Cookies: Create a cookie selection featuring these Lace Cookies alongside Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Monster Cookies, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies, and Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies.
- Cakes/Pies: Pair them with slices of New York Style Cheesecake, Chocolate Cream Pie, Flourless Chocolate Cake, or Tiramisu Cake (VIDEO).
- Sweet Treats: Relish the flavors of these Florentine Cookies with Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bars, Candied Pecans, Apricot Rugelach (VIDEO), or Chocolate Dipped Almond Biscotti.
- Beverages: Complement them with an Iced Matcha Latte, Hot Chocolate, Pumpkin Spice Latte, or an Iced Caramel Macchiato.
Preparing This Recipe Ahead of Time
Making Ahead: You can prepare the cookie dough in advance by wrapping the cooled mixture in plastic wrap and refrigerating it for up to 3 days. Allow it to reach room temperature before finishing the baking and adding the chocolate filling.
Storing: To keep these Florentine cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container with parchment paper between each layer. They will stay good at room temperature for up to 3 days or can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
Freezing: For longer storage, place the baked and filled lace cookies in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow them to thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
Delicious Cookie Recipes
Check out the complete video tutorial on how to create these Florentine Lace cookies!
Detailed Recipe Instructions
Chocolate Lace Cookies (Florentine Cookies)
These Chocolate Florentine Lace Cookies are irresistibly rich and delightful. The blend of nutty, chocolaty, and sweet flavors makes them the perfect holiday cookie.
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Servings: 25 chocolate sandwiched cookies
Calories: 161kcal
Notes
- Opt for almond flour- Using almond flour or freshly ground almonds gives these lace cookies not only their lovely taste but also their unique texture. If you swap almond flour for regular flour, the cookies won’t spread out to be thin and crispy, so stick with almond flour.
- Trim your cookies’ edges- If your cookies are a bit uneven, trim them with scissors into circles to help them sandwich together perfectly.
- Watch your melted chocolate closely- When melting chocolate in the microwave, pause every 15 to 30 seconds to stir it. This prevents the chocolate from burning and ensures it doesn’t overheat.
Nutrition
Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g |
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Protein: 2g | Total Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 111mg | Dietary Fiber: 2g | Sugars: 12g | Vitamin A: 117IU | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
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