Florentines

Candy cookies? These sweet chocolate-orange cookies are so luscious and chewy, they taste just like candy.

Makes 5 dozen cookies

3/4 cup whipping (heavy) cream
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 pound candied orange peel, very finely chopped
1/4 cup Gold Medal all-purpose flour
2 bars (4 ounces each) sweet baking chocolate

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease and flour cookie sheet.

2. Stir whipping cream and sugar together until well blended. Stir in almonds, orange peel and flour. Dough will be very thin.

3. Drop by scant teaspoonsful onto cookie sheet. Flatten with knife or spatula.

4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or just until cookies brown lightly around edges. Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.

5. Melt chocolate bars over low heat. Turn cookies over; spread with chocolate. Allow to dry 8 hours at room temperature or until chocolate becomes firm. Store in covered container or in refrigerator.

(Total time will vary; cook or bake time is per batch.)

Nutrition Information: 1 Serving: Calories 50 (Calories from Fat 35 ); Total Fat 4 g (Saturated Fat 2 g); Cholesterol 5 mg; Sodium 0mg; Total Carbohydrate 3 g (Dietary Fiber 1 g); Protein 1 g

Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 2 %; Calcium 0%; Iron 2 %

Exchanges: 1 Fat

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Substitution:
Florentines were invented by Austrian bakers and traditionally contain butter, sugar, cream, honey and candied fruit. Often, one side is dipped in chocolate.

Success:
Watch these cookies carefully because they brown quickly.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Betty Crocker 2007/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved