Walnut Panforte

By Christina Tosi
Total Time
1 Hr
Serves
16
Course
Desserts

DESCRIPTION

Panforte (“strong bread”) is a dense nut, fruit & spice cake classically served at Christmas time in Siena. 

Prep Time
20 Mins
Cook Time
40 Mins
Total Time
1 Hr
Calories
230 cal
Total Fat
9 g
Polyunsaturated Fat
5 g
Cholesterol
4 mg
Sodium
3 mg
Carbohydrates
38 g
Dietary Fiber
2 g
Protein
3 g

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups California walnuts
  • 1/2 cup yellow raisins
  • 1/2 cup currants
  • 1/2 cup chopped dried figs
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • Zest of one lemon
  • Zest of one orange
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • A pinch of white pepper
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Preparation

  1. Heat the oven to 300ºF. Prepare a spring form pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment, and then spray the parchment.
  2. Coarsely chop the walnuts.
  3. In a bowl, mix the walnuts with the raisins, currants, figs, flour, orange and lemon zest, and spices.
  4. In a small saucepan on medium heat, heat the sugar, honey, and butter stirring constantly, until it reaches between 242ºF and 248ºF on a candy thermometer (soft ball stage). Immediately pour into the walnut mixture and stir together quickly. Then pour it into the prepared pan and smooth it with a spatula. It hardens quickly, so work fast.
  5. Bake about 30 to 40 minutes, until set.
  6. Once cool, remove from the pan, peel off parchment and cut into 16 pieces.