Gluten-Free Florentines

Thin, lacy almond Florentines made from sliced almonds bound in a honey-butter caramel with a hint of orange, baked until golden and finished with dark chocolate on the flat side. A classic holiday cookie that needs only two tablespoons of flour.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 25 min Total: 90 min Serves: 24

At a glance: This medium baking recipe yields 24 servings in about 1h 30m (15 min prep, 25 min cook). It uses 10 ingredients — including unsalted butter, granulated sugar, honey — and walks through 7 steps. Updated October 24, 2026. Browse more baking recipes or return to all gluten-free recipes.

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Cross-Contamination Warning for Gluten-Free Florentines: When preparing this baking recipe, sliced almonds and dark chocolate are often processed on shared lines with gluten-containing foods, so check both labels. Flour dust travels. Bake this on a day the kitchen is not also handling flour that contains gluten, use clean bowls, beaters and baking sheets, and keep the gluten-free flour blend in its own sealed container.

Gluten-Free Notes for Gluten-Free Florentines: Florentines are mostly nuts, butter and sugar; the small amount of flour is replaced with a gluten-free flour blend. Use almonds, chocolate, vanilla and a flour blend labeled gluten-free.

Scale Recipe:

servings

Ingredient amounts update automatically

Instructions

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) with racks in the upper and lower thirds. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
2 In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir the butter, sugar, honey, cream and salt until the butter melts. Bring to a boil and let it bubble for 1 minute.
3 Remove from the heat and stir in the almonds, gluten-free flour blend, orange zest and vanilla. Let the mixture cool for 5 minutes so it thickens slightly.
4 Drop level tablespoons of the mixture onto the sheets, about 3 inches apart, only 6 per sheet. Flatten each mound into a thin, even round with the back of a wet spoon.
5 Bake for 9-11 minutes, switching the sheets halfway, until the cookies have spread into thin, lacy rounds and are an even golden brown.
6 Cool on the sheets for 5 minutes. While still warm, you can nudge any ragged edges back into a circle with a round cookie cutter. Cool completely, then peel off the paper. Repeat with the remaining mixture on cool sheets.
7 Melt the chocolate gently in a heatproof bowl over barely simmering water or in short microwave bursts. Spread a thin layer on the flat back of each cookie and set chocolate side up until firm, about 30 minutes.

Tips & Notes

Bake only 6 Florentines per sheet. The almond caramel spreads to about 3 inches across, and crowded cookies run together into one sheet.
Pull the Florentines when they are evenly golden from edge to center. Pale centers stay chewy and sticky instead of crisp and lacy.
Store the finished Florentines in a single layer or between parchment in an airtight tin. Humidity makes them soft, so keep them away from steamy kitchens.

Common questions

How long does Gluten-Free Florentines take?

Gluten-Free Florentines takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, including resting time: 15 minutes to prep and 25 minutes to cook, for 24 servings.

What should I check before making Gluten-Free Florentines with celiac disease?

Written with gluten-free ingredients. Use products labeled gluten-free, check labels, and ask your clinician about your own needs.

What cross-contamination risk is specific to Gluten-Free Florentines?

Check unsalted butter, granulated sugar, honey before they go into Gluten-Free Florentines. Sliced almonds and dark chocolate are often processed on shared lines with gluten-containing foods, so check both labels. Flour dust travels. Bake this on a day the kitchen is not also handling flour that contains gluten, use clean bowls, beaters and baking sheets, and keep the gluten-free flour blend in its own sealed container.

Which gluten-free swaps does Gluten-Free Florentines use?

Gluten-Free Florentines relies on a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Keep those gluten-free-labeled products in place of a gluten-containing flour or sauce. If the blend already lists xanthan gum, do not add a second binder unless this recipe says to.

How should leftover Gluten-Free Florentines be stored?

Store the finished Florentines in a single layer or between parchment in an airtight tin. Humidity makes them soft, so keep them away from steamy kitchens.

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Gluten Free Recipes team

Gluten-free recipe development since 2026

Recipes include certified gluten-free ingredient guidance and cross-contamination notes. Check every label and use certified gluten-free products. Learn more about us.

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