Ellens Chocolate Biscotti Food

CHOCOLATE ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Position the oven racks so that they are evenly spaced, with one rack in the center. Preheat the oven to convection bake at 325°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Put the chocolate and 1/2 cup of the flour mixture in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process for 1 minute, until the chocolate is very finely ground. Remove from the processor and mix with the remaining flour mixture.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar together at high speed until pale and thick. Beat in the vanilla and almond extract. Reduce the speed and gradually mix in the flour and chocolate mixture. Turn off the mixer and stir in the almonds.
• Divide the dough in half. Shape each part into a log 12 to 14 inches long and 2 inches wide and place on the prepared cookie sheet, spacing the logs at least 4 inches apart. Bake in the center of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until firm to the touch.
• Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 275°F.
• Slide the baked logs onto a cutting board. Using a long serrated knife, cut each log diagonally into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange the biscotti cut side down on two or three cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Place them in the oven on multiple racks and bake for 7 to 8 minutes on one side, turning the cookies over to bake for 7 to 8 more minutes. Remove the biscotti to a wire rack and let cool completely. Store them at room temperature in an airtight container for about a month, or freeze them for up to 5 months.

CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHIP BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• Cream the sugar and butter together in a stand-up mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time and continue to beat for a few more minutes. Add the vanilla.
• Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt and add to the mixer. Combine well then stir in the chocolate chips.
• Shape the dough with lightly floured hands into a log, approximately 12 inches long and 3 inches wide. You may find it easier to divide the dough in half and form two shorter logs. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet flatten slightly and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool until you can handle it. Slice diagonally, into 1/2-inch slices and return to the baking sheet. Bake again until the cookies lightly brown, about ten minutes. Flip them over and brown another few minutes. Cool and enjoy with a cup of espresso!

SINFUL CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine vanilla extract and espresso powder in a small bowl; mix until espresso powder is dissolved.
• Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt into a bowl; mix in chocolate chips.
• Whisk vanilla mixture, sugar, eggs, and oil together in a large bowl. Add flour mixture; stir, by hand if needed, until dough comes together and is thick and stiff.
• Divide dough into 2 equal pieces and place onto the baking sheets. Shape each piece into a log as long as the baking sheet; press down with wet hands to about 1/2 inch thickness.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool until easily handled, about 5 minutes.
• Move cooled logs to a cutting board and slice into 1/2-inch long slices with a serrated knife. Return the slices to the baking sheets, placing them on their sides.
• Bake until dry, about 6 minutes per side. Remove from oven and let cool until hardened on wire racks.

DRIED CRANBERRY AND WHITE CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Using electric mixer, beat sugar, butter, 2 eggs and almond extract in large bowl until well blended. Mix in flour mixture, then dried cranberries. Divide dough in half. Using floured hands, shape each piece into 2 1/2-inch-wide, 9 1/2-inch-long, 1-inch-high log. Transfer both logs to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly. Whisk egg white in small bowl until foamy; brush egg white glaze on top and sides of each log.
• Bake logs until golden brown (logs will spread), about 35 minutes. Cool completely on sheet on rack. Maintain oven temperature. Transfer logs to work surface. Discard parchment. Using serrated knife, cut logs on diagonal into 1/2-inch-wide slices. Arrange slices, cut side down, on same sheet. Bake 10 minutes; turn biscotti over. Bake until just beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Transfer biscotti to rack.
• Stir chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water until smooth. Remove from over water. Using fork, drizzle chocolate over biscotti. Let stand until chocolate sets, about 30 minutes. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Freeze in airtight container. Thaw at room temperature.)

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in cocoa and baking powder. Beat for 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in flour by hand. Mix in white chocolate and chocolate chips. Cover dough, and chill for about 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Divide dough into two parts, and roll each part into a 9 inch long log. Place logs on lightly greased cookie sheet, about 4 inches apart. Flatten slightly.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool for one hour.
• Cut each loaf into 1/2 inch wide diagonal slices. Place slices on an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake at 325 degrees F ( 165 degrees C) for 9 minutes. Turn cookies over, and bake for 7 to 9 minutes. Cool completely, then store in an airtight container.

COCONUT CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing on medium speed after each addition until incorporated.
• Mix in the vanilla and then the coconut until well combined.
• With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture and mix just until combined.
• The dough will be sticky.
• With the mixer still on low, mix in the chocolate chips (and almonds, if using) .
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350°F.
• Line a large cookie sheet with parchment.
• Divide the dough into equal halves and place on the cookie sheet.
• Working on the sheet, shape each half into a loaf about 10 inches long, 3 inches wide, and 3/4 inch high.
• Bake until the tops are browned, cracked, and crusty, and spring back slightly when gently pressed, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Cool about 30 minutes on the cookie sheet.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.
• Transfer each loaf to a cutting board and with a sharp serrated bread knife, cut 1/2-inch slices crosswise on the diagonal.
• When slicing, hold the sides of the loaf near each cut to keep the slices neat.
• Put the slices cut side down on the cookie sheet and bake until the biscotti are dried and the cut surfaces are lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the cookie sheet to a rack and let the biscotti cool completely. The biscotti may give slightly when pressed but will harden as they cool.