Panforte
Panforte is a chewy Italian dessert containing fruit and nuts. It is similar to a Florentine but is much thicker. Known throughout Italy, it is an Italian Christmas tradition associated especially with the province of Siena.
History
Panforte dates back to at least the 13th century, in the Italian region of Tuscany. Documents from 1205, conserved in the State Archive of Siena, attest that bread flavored with pepper and honey was paid to the local monks and nuns of the monastery of Montecellesi as a tax or tithe which was due on 7 February that year.Literally, panforte means 'strong bread', derived from the Latin fortis, which refers to the spicy flavour. Originally, the Sienese called it panpepato, due to the strong pepper used. The original dessert was composed of wheat flour, honey, spices, dried figs, jam and pine nuts and was flavored with pepper.