Panforte

Method

1. 1 Roast the almonds and hazelnuts until fragrant, then leave them whole.
2. 2 Finely chop the dates and candied fruit, then mix them with flour, cinnamon powder, and spices.
3. 3 Cook the honey and sugar until it reaches a soft, stringy consistency; this is the crucial step in determining whether the cake will set properly.
4. 4 Quickly pour the nut mixture into the pot of sugar, stirring rapidly as the mixture hardens very quickly.
5. 5 Press into a paper-lined mold, bake at 150 degrees for 30 minutes, then let cool and sprinkle with a thick layer of powdered sugar.

With an appliance

• Air fryer 50 min

  Instead of step 5: spray a thin layer of oil onto the sides of the mold, use a 165-degree hot air oven for 20 minutes, rotating the tray at minute 10. The strong airflow shortens the time by about one-third compared to a conventional oven and browns the surface faster.