Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups (6 ounces) whole unblanched almonds
- 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces ) whole unblanched hazelnuts
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting
- 1 1/4 pounds dried fruits, preferably organic?any combination of black currants, white or black raisin, black mission figs, white figs, sour cherries, plums, prunes, pears, peaches, nectarines, or cranberries and apricots and candied ginger
- 2/3 cup mild-flavored honey, such as clover
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Special Items:
- Candy thermometer (check your thermometer's accuracy in boiling water; it should read 212 degrees) or small bowl of ice water
- 9-inch cake ring or flan ring or several 4-inch flan rings placed on parchment-lined baking sheet, generously coated with melted butter and dusted with unsweetened cocoa powder
- Sheet of rice paper
Directions
Place the ring or mold over the sheet of rice paper on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Spread the nuts on a baking sheet in 2 separate piles, and toast in the oven until lightly browned, about 10 to 15 minutes. Shake the pans halfway through to ensure that the nuts toast evenly. Allow to cool a few minutes. Gather the hazelnuts into a kitchen towel and rub them together to remove the skins. Turn the oven down to 300 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine the nuts with the cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, pepper, flour, and cocoa powder.
Cut the fruit into 1/2-inch pieces and toss with the nut mixture.
In a small saucepan, stir together the honey and sugar. Over high heat, bring to a boil without stirring. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, brush the sides of the pan to remove any un-dissolved sugar granules. Cook until the sugar reaches 224 to 240 degrees (soft ball stage) on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat and pour into the fruit mixture. Stir to combine as well as possible. The mixture will be very thick and sticky.
Dip your hands in water and press the fruit mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 1 hour, until the top is slightly puffed and the surface is matte. Remove from the oven and cool completely in the pan. Trim the rice paper around the edge of the mold. Store at room temperature, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, for several weeks.
In a small saucepan, stir together the honey and sugar. Over high heat, bring to a boil without stirring. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, brush the sides of the pan to remove any undissolved sugar granules. Cook until the sugar reaches 224 to 240 degrees (soft ball stage) on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat and pour into the fruit mixture. Stir to combine as well as possible. The mixture will be very thick and sticky.
Dip your hands in water and press the fruit mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 1 hour, until the top is slightly puffed and the surface is matte. Remove from the oven and cool completely in the pan. Trim the rice paper around the edge of the mold. Store at room temperature, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, for several weeks.
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By ndr67_6302411
Springfield, MO
on January 09, 2007
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I absolutely love this. I think that it could be made into bars for snacking. It is the best of a fruitcake without all the yucky stuff that makes fruitcakes inedible. I make it every year at Christmas and wonder why I don't make it more often!
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