Easy Cookie And Baking Recipes: Best Biscotti Recipe

Another addition to Christmas cookies and candy offerings that can be part of a gift basket, a stand-alone gift in a pretty gift bag or tin, or a yummy addition to any get-together.  Biscotti is surprisingly easy to make and so delicious!  This one is my favorite but there are so many varieties it is hard to know which one to make and share first! 

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup sugar
• 3 egg whites
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Directions:

• You will chill the dough about 45 minutes after adding all ingredients.
• Mix together sugar, egg whites, melted butter and almond extract.
• Mix together flour, baking powder, salt and almonds.
• Combine the sugar mixture with the dry mixture.
• Now chill the dough for about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Roll the dough into a log.  Pat down to 1/2-inch thickness.  Place on cookie sheet.
• Bake 30 minutes until golden.
• Reduce oven temperature to 275 degrees.
• Slice the large cookie (diagonally) into 1-inch slices.
• Bake them on their side in the 275 degree oven on 1 side for 15 minutes.
• Turn them over and bake 5 minutes more.
• For the crispiest biscotti, leave the biscotti in the oven after turning it off and remove when the oven has cooled.

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 15 minutes

Saucepan Method:

• Place almonds in a heavy ungreased skillet.
• Stir often over medium heat until golden brown.

Oven method:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Spread nuts in 1 layer on ungreased shallow baking pan.
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden.

Microwave method:

• Place 1/2 cup slivered almonds and 1 tablespoon margarine or butter in a 9-inch microwave-proof pie plate.
• Microwave on high, stirring every minute until brown, 4 to 5 minutes.

Tips:

• Toasting nuts intensifies their flavor.
• Toasted nuts are less likely to sink in cake and bread batters.
• Almond yields: 1 pound = 3 cups halves or 4 cups slivered.

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, preferably Dutch-processed
• 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup hazelnuts (toasted and coarsely chopped)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• To toast hazelnuts, spread on a baking sheet and bake for 15 min or until lightly browned and skins begin to flake. Remove from the oven and place nuts in a dish towel. Roll up the towel and let the nuts 'steam' for 5 min and then briskly rub the towel with nuts inside to remove skins from nuts. Cool and chop coarsely. Set aside. (Or buy already skinned and roast as above only shorter time)
• Reduce temperature of oven to 300 degrees.
• Line large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In food processor fitted with metal blade, combine the coarsely chopped chocolate and brown sugar and process until the chocolate is very fine. Set aside.
• Sift or whisk together flour, cocoa, espresso powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
• In bowl of electric mixer, combine eggs and vanilla extract to blend, about 30 seconds.
• On low speed mix in the chocolate/sugar and flour mixtures until a stiff dough forms, adding in the hazelnuts about halfway through mixing.
• On floured surface, divide the dough in half. Form each half into a log 12 inches long. Do this by rolling dough back and forth into a cylinder shape with floured hands.
• Transfer the logs to baking sheet, spacing them well apart (width-wise on the pan) and pat to even the shapes.
• Bake until almost firm to the touch - 35-40 minutes. (Logs will spread during baking)
• Remove from oven, place on rack and let cool for 10 minutes.
• Using a long spatula, transfer logs to cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut the dough into slices 3/4-inch thick on the diagonal.
• Arrange the slices cut-side down on baking sheet - bake 15 minutes.
• Turn the slices over and bake until crisp and dry - about 15 minutes more.
• Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.