Daring Bakers: Panna Cotta and Florentine Cookies

The February 2011 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mallory from A Sofa in the Kitchen. She chose to challenge everyone to make Panna Cotta from a Giada De Laurentiis recipe and Nestle Florentine Cookies.

It's been a long time since I've participated in a Daring Bakers challenge. I'm so glad that I decided this month was the month to rejoin. The challenge was to make Panna Cotta and Nestle Florentine Cookies.

We were given a basic Panna Cotta recipe and a Chocolate Panna Cotta recipe. We were also give pretty much free reign on putting our own twist on the Panna Cotta, along with a suggestion of adding a Gelee to it.

But the challenge doesn't end there. It is called Daring Bakers after all, and neither Panna Cotta or Gelee are baked. So we were given the assignment to make Nestle Florentine Cookies to go along with it. To make a great balance of creamy and crunchy.

Pictures are sparse this time around because of the renovation going on in my kitchen. Hopefully that change for next month.

A huge thank you to Mallory from A Sofa In The Kitchen for hosting this months Daring Bakers challenge.

Again due to the kitchen issues we have going on, I only had time to make one Panna Cotta recipe. Just the basic one. It wasn't our favorite thing, but we did all like it on some level. I can't wait to try it with some variations. I'm really wishing I would have thought to add some vanilla extract in it. Jade and I have come up with a few flavor variations we would like to try, like vanilla and cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.

I wasn't overly fond of the Gelee recipe. But the kids loved it, so I may try it again. It's basically Jell-O made from scratch.

Now for the cookies. They were wonderful. Crunchy, chocolaty, sweet. What more could you want from a cookie. The best part for me was that they were very rich in flavor so I really didn't want more than one at a time. It made them last longer and it helped to keep me from over indulging.

In the end, I'm glad I made these. I will make each of these things again. The Panna Cotta and Gelee are great base recipes to build on. Both offer a lot of room for experimentation.

Be sure to check out the Daring Bakers Blog Roll to see what others did. You'll find some wonderful and very creative variations to inspire you.

Giada's Panna Cotta

Ingredients

1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
1 tablespoon (one packet) (15 ml) (7 gm) (¼ oz) unflavored powdered gelatin
3 cups (720 ml) whipping cream (30+% butterfat)
1/3 cup (80 ml) honey
1 tablespoon (15 ml) (15 gm) (½ oz) granulated sugar
pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Pour the milk into a bowl or pot and sprinkle gelatin evenly and thinly over the milk (make sure the bowl/pot is cold by placing the bowl/pot in the refrigerator for a few minutes before you start making the Panna Cotta). Let stand for 5 minutes to soften the gelatin.
2. Pour the milk into the saucepan/pot and place over medium heat on the stove. Heat this mixture until it is hot, but not boiling, about five minutes. (I whisk it a few times at this stage).
3. Next, add the cream, honey, sugar, and pinch of salt. Making sure the mixture doesn't boil, continue to heat and stir occasionally until the sugar and honey have dissolved 5-7 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, allow it to sit for a few minutes to cool slightly. Then pour into the glass or ramekin.
5. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight. Add garnishes and serve.

Nestle Florentine Cookies

Recipe from the cookbook “Nestle Classic Recipes”, and their website.

Ingredients:
2/3 cup (160 ml) (150 gm) (5.3 oz) unsalted butter
2 cups (480 ml) (160 gm) (5 2/3 oz) quick oats
1 cup (240 ml) (230 gm) (8 oz) granulated sugar
2/3 cup (160 ml) (95 gm) (3⅓ oz) plain (all purpose) flour
1/4 cup (60 ml) dark corn syrup
1/4 cup (60 ml) whole milk
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1½ cups (360 ml) (250 gm) (9 oz) dark or milk chocolate

Directions:
Preheat oven to moderately hot 375°F (190°C) (gas mark 5). Prepare your baking sheet with silpat or parchment paper.

1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan, then remove from the heat.


2. To the melted butter add oats, sugar, flour, corn syrup, milk, vanilla, and salt. Mix well. Drop a tablespoon full, three inches (75 mm) apart, onto your prepared baking sheet. Flatten slightly with the back of your tablespoon, or use a spatula.


3. Bake in preheated oven for 6-8 minutes, until cookies are golden brown. Cool completely on the baking sheets.


4. While the cookies are cooling melt your chocolate until smooth either in the microwave (1 1/2 minutes), or stovetop (in a double boiler, or a bowl that fits atop a saucepan filled with a bit of water, being sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl).


5. Peel the cookies from the silpat or parchment and place face down on a wire rack set over a sheet of wax/parchment paper (to keep counters clean).


6. Spread a tablespoon of chocolate on the bottom/flat side of your cookie, sandwiching another (flat end) cookie atop the chocolate.

This recipe will make about 2 1/2 - 3 dozen sandwiched Florentine cookies. You can also choose not to sandwich yours, in which case, drizzle the tops with chocolate (over your wax paper).

Fruit Gelée

Recipe by Mallory

Ingredients:
1 cup (240 ml) (230 gm) (8 oz) fruit (strawberries, raspberries, mango, blackberry, etc.)
*Note: Certain fruits interact with gelatin and stop it gelling like pineapple and kiwi etc.
3 tablespoons (45 ml) water
1/4 cup (60 ml) (60 gm) (2 oz) granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons (7½ ml) (3½ gm) (1/8 oz) unflavored powdered gelatin

Directions:

1. Sprinkle gelatin over water.
2. Place fruit and sugar in a small saucepan and simmer until sugar has dissolved. Now mix the gelatin into the strawberry mixture and stir until gelatin has dissolved.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool (close to room temp, again, if you're planning on layering on pouring on top of your Panna Cotta, a hot mixture will also heat up your chilled Panna Cotta).