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Zuccotto fiorentino
Chilled sponge dome with cream
Zuccotto: Florence's chilled sponge dome filled with cream, nuts and chocolate
Zuccotto is said to have been inspired by the dome of Florence Cathedral, or by the shape of a cardinal's skullcap (zucchetto). It is a dome of sponge or savoiardi soaked in syrup, filled with whipped cream studded with chocolate, toasted nuts and candied fruit, half of it flavoured with cocoa, and chilled until set. Florentine families make it for summer Sunday lunch or a birthday. The traditional soak uses alchermes or brandy; this version uses an orange syrup so it is alcohol free. Contains nuts. Chef's tip: line the bowl with cling film first and leave the sponge to set overnight; it turns out cleanly with a neat dome.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
- ¾ cup orange juice
- 1 ⅜ oz caster sugar
- 2 cups double creamwell chilled
- 2 ⅛ oz icing sugarplus extra for dusting
- 1 ¾ oz toasted almondschopped
- 1 oz toasted hazelnutschopped
- 2 ⅛ oz dark chocolatefinely chopped
- 1 ⅜ oz candied orange peeldiced
- 2 tbsp cocoa powderplus extra for dusting
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Warm ¾ cup orange juice with 1 ⅜ oz caster sugar until dissolved, then cool.
Step 2: Line a 1.5 litre bowl with cling film. Slice 10 ½ oz plain sponge cake or savoiardi biscuits 1 cm thick and line the bowl, cutting pieces to fit and leaving no gaps. Brush with the orange syrup until moist. Keep some sponge for the top.
Step 3: Whip 2 cups double cream with 2 ⅛ oz icing sugar to soft peaks. Fold in 1 ¾ oz toasted almonds, 1 oz toasted hazelnuts, half of 1 oz dark chocolate and 1 ⅜ oz candied orange peel.
Step 4: Spread half the cream over the sponge in the bowl, leaving a hollow in the middle. Fold 2 tbsp cocoa powder and the rest of the chocolate into the other half and fill the centre. Common mistake: overwhipping the cream; it turns grainy.
Step 5: Cover with the rest of the sponge, brush with syrup, cover with cling film and chill overnight, or freeze for 4 hours for a semifreddo.
Step 6: Turn out onto a plate and dust in alternating segments with icing sugar and cocoa. Slice like a cake.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 450 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 30 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does zuccotto fiorentino take?
- About 45 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of orange juice?
- Mandarin or pineapple juice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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