Panforte is an Italian Christmas cake made with chocolate, nuts, fruits and a bit of spice. This vegan recipe is easy to make for a last-minute festive dessert.
I have a new favourite Christmas dessert. This vegan Panforte.
What is Panforte?
Panforte is a traditional Italian dessert made with fruits, nuts and spices.
It dates back to the 13th century in Siena, Tuscany, hence why it’s also sometimes called a Siena cake or Panforte Di Siena.
The texture is somewhere between a fruitcake and a candy and the flavour is sweet, festive and completely delicious!
Panforte keeps really well (it will stay fresh in an air-tight container for a few weeks) so it’s perfect for gift-giving.
You can either serve it in slices or cut it into squares or strips.
A dusting of icing sugar on top not only makes it look pretty but turns it into a real festive show-stopper.
I love to add fresh holly leaves on top for a simple added decoration.
Compared to most other Christmas treats, Panforte can be a fairly healthy option.
With fruits, nuts, natural sugars, minimal flour and just a small amount of oil. It’s easy to make gluten-free too! (Just use gluten-free flour).
More treats to make
Candied Peanuts with Sesame Seeds
Vegan Chocolate Orange Christmas Pudding
📖 Recipe
Vegan Panforte
Panforte is a traditional Italian dessert made with fruits, nuts and spices - somewhere between a fruitcake and a candy!
Ingredients
- 310 g / 2 ½ cups mixed roasted nuts, chopped and skins removed (I used hazelnuts, almonds and macadamias)
- 280 g / 1 ½ cups mixed dried fruit
- 90 g / ½ cup mixed candied citrus peel
- 4 tbsp cacao powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground mixed spice
- 100 g / 1 cup plain flour, (or gluten-free plain flour)
- 120 ml / ½ cup maple syrup, (or agave nectar)
- 100 g / ½ cup brown sugar, (or coconut sugar)
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 120 ml / ½ cup boiled water
To serve
- Icing sugar, (confectioners sugar)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 170 degrees C. Oil the sides and line the base of a 30cm spring-form tin with non-stick paper.
- Mix the nuts, fruit, peel, cacao powder, spices and flour in a large bowl.
- In a small saucepan, add the maple syrup, brown sugar and olive oil. Mix on a medium heat until the sugar has been dissolved. Stir in the hot water.
- Stir the wet into the dry and mix until everything is well combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the baking tin and press down evenly with a spoon or wet hands.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until you can see the sides of the cake start to bubble slightly.
- Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before removing and allowing to cool completely.
- Dust with icing sugar and serve.
Notes
You can either serve it in slices or cut it into squares or strips. A dusting of icing sugar on top not only makes it look pretty but turns it into a real festive show-stopper. I love to add fresh holly leaves on top for a simple added decoration. This delicious vegan Christmas cake recipe can be kept in an air-tight container for a few weeks.
Kathy says
Oh, light bulb moment! I suppose Allspice (here in the U.S.) would be close?!
Kathy says
I’m a fairly experienced cook/baker (stressing fairly), but I’m not familiar with one listed ingredient!
Please … what “mixed spice” do you use? Or is there something called by this name in grocery stores?
This looks and sounds awesome! Thanks very much for posting all these G/F recipes!
Aimee says
In the US, you can use pumpkin pie spice mix (basically Mixed Spice is usually a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves) Hope you enjoy!
Hana | Nirvana Cakery says
This looks so moreish Aimee! Perfect Christmas recipe:) xx
nadia says
I don’t think I’ve ever had Panforte but it looks and sounds absolutely delicious :D The shots are beautiful x
Dianne says
I’ve never heard of panforte, but it looks like something I’d love! I’m going to have to check out the recipe.