Carquinyolis Almond Biscotti Food

CARQUINYOLIS - ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• First, preheat your oven to 375°F.
• Secondly, take a baking sheet, and line it with parchment paper and set it aside.
• Then, take a small bowl and beat 1 egg in it, and set it aside.
• Next fit your standing mixer with the paddle attachment.
• Place your sugar, flour, anise, cinnamon, yeast, and zest into a standing mixer bowl, and mix well with the paddle.
• Beat in the remaining 2 eggs one at a time, on high speed, mixing well after each addition.
• Remove the bowl from mixer and fold in your almonds.
• Then you will turn your dough out onto a well floured surface and divide it in half.
• Lightly flour your hands to prevent sticking and then shape the dough into 2 slightly flattened cylinders about 3 inches wide by 14 inches long.
• Be sure to brush off excess flour from the dough with a dry pastry brush.
• Then carefully transfer the dough cylinders to prepared sheet pan, placing them approximately 4 inches apart.
• Brush the dough cylinders with the beaten egg you have set aside at the beginning of the process.
• Bake for 30 minutes, misting the dough and oven with water from a spray bottle every 10 minutes or so until crust is shiny and dark brown (not burnt) in color.
• Remove from the oven when done, and allow them to cool slightly.
• Slice on the bias into 1/2 inch thick cookies and transfer the boscotti to a wire rack to allow them to cool completely.
• Biscotti can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Pour the flours into a big bowl and make a well in the center large enough to place the sugar, 3 of the 4 eggs, the 2 egg yolks, the baking powder, salt, vanilla and anise seed.
• Gently knead the dough for 5 minutes, This is a hard dough so it needs to be convinced to gather together (I have used my kitchen-aid mixer with the dough hook with good results).
• Slowly add the nuts (almonds are my favorite) and keep on kneading until well incorporated, You may need some additional flour to keep it from sticking to the bowl.
• Butter and flour 2 cookie sheets that are at least 15 inches, Divide the dough into 4 even pieces and roll each one into a log, Place the logs well apart, 2 to each sheet,.
• Beat with the remaining egg and brush the top of the logs with egg.
• Bake the biscotti loaves for 35 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 325.
• Slice the biscotti and return to the oven for an additional 15 minutes of baking time, Cool on racks.
• Variations: Melt a couple of bars of Gianduia chocolate or any Italian chocolate with nuts or praline in it, melt in a double boiler with a teapsoon of vegetable shortening, Dip half the biscotti into the chocolate and put it on a cooling rack until the chocolate hardens.

THE BEST ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Adjust rack to center position and heat the oven to 350 degree. Line a cookie sheet with wax or parchment paper.
• Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and nuts in a large bowl and stir to combine. In a small bowl combine the eggs, butter and vanilla and whisk to fully combine.
• Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the egg mixture. Using a rubber spatula, mix to combine until a rough dough forms.
• Dump the dough onto a work surface and knead a couple of times until the dough comes together, adding extra flour sparingly and only if necessary. Start to form the dough into a big, fat cigar and cut it in half. Form each half into a cigar about 1 inch thick, 2 inches wide and about 12 inches long. Place them onto the cookie sheet and lightly press with fingers to slightly flat cigars.
• Bake for 25 minutes reversing the pan halfway through. The bars will be firm to the touch and just slightly browned. Remove from the oven and lower the temperature to 300 degrees. Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for 15 minutes.
• Remove cookies to a cutting board using two spatulas. Using a serrated knife, slice the bars on an angle about 1/2 inch tick to form the biscotti. Lay them back on the cookie sheet with either cut side down and place back in oven for 15 minutes. Turn each cookie to expose the other cut side and place in oven for another 15 minutes. Let cool on a rack to room temperature. Place cookies in an airtight container.

VEGAN ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven the 325°F.
• Lightly oil two cookie sheets.
• Use double layer shiny ones, if you have them.
• If yours are very black, line them with foil.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, and salt.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, applesauce, oil (1 TBS for a hard biscotti, 2-3 TBS for a softer biscuit), and extracts.
• Stir the sugar mixture into the flour mixture, add the nuts; finish mixing with your hands.
• With floured hands, shape the dough into two 3-inch wide "logs" about 3/4 inch thick, with the ends squared off.
• Place these on the cookie sheets.
• Bake the logs for about 25 minutes.
• Remove the pans and reduce the oven heat to 300°F.
• Cool the logs on a rack for 15 minutes.
• Cut the logs carefully with a sharp knife straight across into 1/2 inch wide slices.
• Place the slices cut side down on the cookie sheets (you can remove the foil, if using).
• Bake 5-10 minutes, or until golden on the bottom.
• Turn the slices over and cook 5-10 minutes more, or until golden on bottom.
• Cool on racks, then store airtight for up to two weeks.

CHEF JOHN'S ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a mixing bowl.
• Place butter, 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, olive oil in a separate mixing bowl. Mix together thoroughly until mixture has a creamy texture. Add 1 egg; mix into butter/sugar mixture. Whisk in 2nd egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract; whisk until smooth. Add flour mixture. Mix until flour is incorporated. Add whole almonds and chopped almonds; mix in evenly. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat.
• Divide dough in half. Place each half on a length of plastic wrap and shape into a log. Wrap with the plastic wrap and press into a shape about 3 or 4 inches wide and about 1/2 inch high. Transfer both pieces to prepared baking sheet leaving about 3 or 4 inches of space between them to allow for spreading.
• Bake in center of preheated oven until turning golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before slicing.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Cut each piece at a slight angle into 1/2- to 1 -inch thick slices with a serrated knife. Transfer pieces back to baking sheet in a single layer. Bake 12 minutes; remove from oven and flip pieces over. Return pan to oven and bake until biscotti are golden brown and crunchy, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer biscotti to a cooling rack; let cool to room temperature.

ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Combine dry ingredients and set aside.
• Whisk the eggs, amaretto (if using, or the almond extract and rum), vanilla and anise extracts in your mixer until well blended.
• Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
• Dough should be thick and sticky at this point--do not worry, and DO NOT add more flour!
• Scrape the dough out onto a parchment lined sheet pan.
• Flour your hands and shape into a long flat loaf about 10 inches long and 5 inches wide.
• This will be kind of messy, so don't worry about how neat it is, just try to get it in that general shape.
• Bake until firm and dry, about 50 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and cool 10 minute.
• Use a long serrated knife and slice into 1/2-inch wide slices.
• Lay the slices cut side down on the baking sheet and bake another 20 minutes.
• Turn the slices over and bake 20 minutes more, or until the cookies are a light golden brown.
• Cool the biscotti on a rack; cool completely before storing.