Biscotti Toscani Food

CANTUCCINI: CLASSIC TUSCAN BISCOTTI

Steps:

• You will also need: 2 cookie sheets or 2 jelly roll pans covered with parchment paper or 2 aluminum foil.
• Set a rack in the middle level of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
• In a bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon and stir well to mix.
• Stir in the almonds.
• In another bowl, whisk the eggs with the vanilla then use a rubber spatula to stir into the dry ingredients.
• Continue to stir until a stiff dough forms.
• Scrape the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and divide it in half.
• Roll each half under the palms of your hands into a cylinder a little shorter than your baking sheet.
• Place the logs of dough on the baking sheet, making sure they are neither too close to each other nor to the sides of the pan.
• Press down gently with the palm of your hand to flatten the logs.
• Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until the logs are well risen and have also spread to about double their original size.
• The logs are done when pressed with fingertip they feel firm.
• Place the pan on a rack and let the logs cool completely.
• Reset the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds but leave the temperature at 350 degrees.
• Place one of the cooled logs on a cutting board and cut it diagonally into slices 1/3-inch thick.
• Arrange the biscotti on the prepared pans, cut side down.
• It isn't necessary to leave space between them.
• Bake the biscotti for about 15 or 20 minutes or until they are well toasted.
• Cool the pan on a rack.
• Store the cooled biscotti between sheets of parchment or wax paper in a tin or plastic container with a tight-fitting cover.

ALMOND BISCOTTI TOSCANI (GLUTEN-FREE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F Cover baking sheet with parchment paper or grease and flour baking sheet.
• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, extracts, and orange zest.
• Combine flours together in a bowl. Slowly blend dry ingredients into creamed mixture. Stir in almonds. Add water if dough is too dry. Consistency should be similar to play dough.
• Roll half of mixture into a log approximately 12 inches long. Place on baking sheet and smooth into loaf about 1/2 thick and still 12 inches long. Repeat with other half of mixture side by side on same baking sheet.
• Bake for 25 minutes until set and lightly browned.
• Place on rack to cool for 5 minutes. Cut loaves diagonally into slices 1/2" thick.
• Place slices on their sides on the baking sheet. Return to oven for 5 minutes.
• Remove from oven, flip slices over and bake an additional 5 minutes.
• Cool completely and store in tightly covered container.

TUSCAN SPICE AND ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Finely grind 1/3 cup of the toasted almonds in a food processor.
• In a medium-sized bowl, combine the ground almonds, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and allspice.
• In a mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter.
• Add honey, egg, vanilla extract and almond extract to the creamed mixture.
• Gradually blend in dry mixture and remaining 2/3 cup almonds.
• On a well floured surface, shape dough into two logs.
• Transfer logs to a baking sheet or baking stone, leaving space between the two logs.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until firm and lightly brown.
• Cool logs on a wire rack for at least 5 minutes.
• Cut logs into 3/4-inch slices.
• Place slices in a single layer on the baking sheet, leaving space around each slice.
• Continue baking about 10-15 minutes or until desired crispness.
• Cool completely on a wire rack.