Italian Biscotti Food

TRADITIONAL ITALIAN BISCOTTI RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cream butter and sugar well with an electric mixer. Add sour cream, well-beaten eggs, and anise seeds, mixing between each ingredient.
• In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
• Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until the dough is sticky (do not add more flour).
• Grease one cookie sheet with butter.
• Divide the dough into 3 loaves. Wet fingers very lightly to shape dough without it sticking to your hands. Put all 3 loaves in one pan.
• Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from the pan and let cool on a cooling rack.
• Slice into ¾" slices at an angle.
• Lay sliced biscotti on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes until brown, then turn over and bake for another 4.
• Serve dipped in chocolate or dunk in coffee if you so desire. Enjoy!

ITALIAN BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F ( 165 degrees C ).
• In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time; beat until fluffy. Stir in the anise and vanilla extracts. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt; Add them to the egg mixture along with the chopped almonds. Stir with a spoon and as the dough comes together, Knead by hand.
• Divide the dough into 4 parts. Roll each piece into a log about 15 inches long. Place logs onto cookie sheets, 2 to a sheet, the long way. Flatten the logs out until they are about 3 inches wide with a slight hump going down the middle. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, loaves should be firm. Cut the loaves into diagonal slices 1/2 inch wide, place the slices onto the cookie sheets and return to the oven. Toast on one side, then turn them over to do the other side. This will take about 7 to 10 minutes.

AMARETTO BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, liqueur, and almond and vanilla extracts until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated. Fold in the raw and chocolate-covered almonds.
• Dust your hands and the dough with flour; divide in half and shape into two 3-by-12-inch logs on the prepared baking sheet, about 3 inches apart. Bake until puffed and set, about 25 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a cutting board.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees F. Slice the logs crosswise into 1-inch-thick pieces; arrange cut-side down on the baking sheet. Return to the oven and bake, flipping halfway through, until dry and golden, about 45 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheet.
• Place the white chocolate and semisweet chocolate in 2 small microwave-safe bowls; microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted. Drizzle on the biscotti; let set 30 minutes.

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN ANISE BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C). Position rack in the center.
• Grease and flour (or use non-stick spray) three 8.5 x 4.5 inch loaf pans.
• In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, or bowl of electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment beat the eggs on medium speed until light and frothy (about 2-3 minutes).
• Add the sugar gradually and whisk for another minute or so.
• Add the oil and extracts. Whisk for another minute.
• Incorporate the flour mixture. Mix until combined.
• Pour mixture in the 3 prepared loaf pans.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until firm to the touch
• Remove from loaf pans and let cool for a few minutes.
• Transfer to cutting board.
• Using a serrated knife, slice cookies about 1/4 inch thick (or thicker).
• Place slices flat down on parchment lined baking sheets, and bake for about another 5-8 minutes or longer, depending on your personnel preference and your oven (the longer they stay in the oven, the crispier they get). Make sure to turn the slices over to ensure even toasting.
• Can be stored at room temperature for a few weeks...if they last that long.

ITALIAN BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Cream butter, sugar and 1 tablespoon anise seed.
• Add eggs and vanilla.
• Combine flour, baking powder and 1 tablespoon Anise seed.
• Add to cream mixture.
• Add nuts, mix in, and form dough into 2 or 3 long thin rolls.
• Place rolls on a ungreased baking pan or cookie sheet and bake cookie rolls at 350 degrees 15-20 minutes , or till light brown.
• Remove from oven and cut diagonally into 1/2-3/4 inch slices.
• Put back in oven and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or till Biscotti is lightly toasted.
• You want the biscoti to dry slightly.
• It will look somewhat like a elongated piece of french bread, except smaller.

TRADITIONAL ITALIAN BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a stand mixer or in a baking bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, whole eggs, and the yolk, beating together to form a smooth dough.
• Add the chopped skin-on almonds and using your fingers, gently knead the nuts into the mixture.
• Tip the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and roll into a ball and divide into 4 evenly sized pieces.
• Roll each quarter of dough into even-sized cigar-shaped logs 2 inches wide and 6 inches long.
• Preheat oven to 450 F. Cover a heavy baking sheet with lightly greased baking parchment, sit the logs on the sheet making sure they are at least 2 inches apart (they will spread when cooking and you need each log to stay separate).
• Paint the glaze all over the surface and sides of the logs using a pastry brush. Sprinkle with the fine sugar.
• Bake until golden, about 20 minutes.
• Lower the oven to 300 F. Cut the logs into 1-inch slices while still warm. Lay each slice back on the baking sheet and bake for another 15 minutes.
• Remove from the tray and place onto a cooling rack and leave to cool completely.
• Store the biscotti in an airtight container and they will keep for several weeks, though they're so delicious they will probably be eaten long before that time.

EASY BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4, and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Put the flour, sugars, baking powder and a large pinch of salt in a large bowl and stir together.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, egg, vanilla and 3 tbsp hot water. Gradually mix the wet ingredients into the dry until the mixture comes together into a dough. Gently knead the dough until smooth - it will be quite dry, so add another 1 tbsp water if it's too difficult to knead after a few minutes. Divide the dough into two equal pieces, shaping each into a 25 x 8cm log. Put the logs on the prepared baking tray and bake for 25-30 mins. Remove from the oven and leave to cool on the tray for around 15 mins.
• Using a sharp knife, cut the slightly cooled logs into 1-2cm-thick slices crosswise. Return the biscotti to the lined baking tray and bake for 15-20 mins more (the oven should still be at 180C/160C fan/gas 4), turning the tray around halfway through. Leave to cool slightly on the tray, then transfer the biscotti to a wire rack and leave to cool completely. If you like, dip one end of each biscotti into some melted chocolate, then leave to set on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Will keep in an airtight container for up to five days.

ITALIAN PISTACHIO BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• In a mixing bowl whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder, make a well in the middle and add the sugar, butter, egg, zest (if using) and vanilla. Mix with the flat beaters until almost combined, then add the pistachios (or pistachio/chocolate chip mixture). If too dry than add 1-2 tablespoons of milk, a tablespoon at a time.
• Move the dough to a flat surface and form into a log, about 2 ½ inches (6 cm) wide. Place it on the prepared cookie sheet and bake for approximately 20 minutes, remove from the oven, let sit 5-10 minutes then slice into thin slices (¼ -½ inch, I did some of each)place the slices cut side up back on the cookie sheet and bake again for 15 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on the cookie sheet then move to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

LEMON BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and mix together thoroughly.
• In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sugar for 3-4 minutes, until thick and pale. Gradually beat in the oil and the lemon zest.
• Add the flour mixture, alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour.
• Scrape out the dough with a rubber spatula onto a clean counter. Spray hands with cooking spray (or rub on some olive oil)and divide the dough into 2 equal pieces. Shape each portion into a flattened logs that are about 3.5 inches wide.
• Place the first logs one of the prepared baking sheets (if you're using 1 baking sheet, space the logs out about 2-inches apart, they will expand a little while baking). Score the biscotti logs with a very sharp knife about 1/2-inch apart (this will help to slice them when they're totally cooled down to prep for the second part of baking).
• Bake until they are golden and firm, about 25 minutes, turning the tray halfway halfway through baking time. Cool on the sheet on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Transfer sheet to a wire rack and let logs cool completely (could take a full 30 minutes). Reduce oven temperature to 325F degrees.
• Transfer the first loaf carefully to a cutting board. When the logs have completely cooled down, begin slicing the first biscotti log approximately 1/2 inch apart by pressing a very sharp knife straight down into the dough (if you scored the dough, you'll be slicing where you marked with the knife before baking).
• Place the cookies back on the baking sheet, cut sides up. Keep in mind that the when you slice on a bigger angle, you will get much longer cookies. If you slice short angles, you'll get small biscotti.
• Place the second log on the cutting board and repeat process cutting out the cookie pieces and placing on the baking sheet. It should yield approximately 35-37 biscotti.
• Bake 7 minutes, flip biscotti, and bake 7 minutes more (it may only take 5 minutes on each side, every oven is different). Let cool completely (they will also dry out a bit more) on wire rack. Enjoy!
• For the Glaze
• In a small bowl, stir together the lemon juice with the powdered sugar. It should become a thick and pourable glaze (if it's too thick, add bit more lemon juice one teaspoon at a time. If it's too confectioner's sugar a tablespoon at a time).
• Drizzle on the glaze and let it completely cool down. You could place the glaze in a zipped lock bag. Close the bag and cut a tiny triangle off a bottom corner of the bag. Gently squeeze the bag to add the glaze to the biscotti.

ITALIAN LEMON BISCOTTI (CANTUCCI)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar until well combined 1-2 minutes. Add vanilla, then add the eggs beat, then add the lemon juice and beat to combine.
• In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder and zest.
• Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, when almost combined add the the nuts and combine.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Pre-heat oven to 300F (150C). Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Move the dough to a lightly floured flat surface, divide in two and form into 2 logs (about 12 inches/31cm long). Place on the prepared cookie sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes or until lightly brown.
• Remove from the oven and let sit 5-10 minutes.
• Cut the logs on the diagonal into 1/2 inch slices. Lay the slices cut side up back on the prepared cookie sheet and bake for approximately 8-10 minutes. Then flip the cookies over and bake again for approximately 5 minutes. Move the biscotti to a wire rack to cool and dry completely before serving. Enjoy!

CANTUCCI {ITALIAN ALMOND BISCOTTI}

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Lightly beat the eggs and add to dry ingredients. Add vanilla extract and/or lemon zest. Work with your hands or standing mixer until crumbly dough forms.
• TIP: take a small piece of dough and try to roll it into a ball. If the dough comes together nicely and you're able to form a sticky small ball than you're on the right track (see notes).
• Add almonds and continue to knead until almonds are well combined with the dough.It's normal for almonds to fall out at first, as you continue kneading you'll be able incorporate all of them (and maybe even more, if you prefer).
• Divide the dough into 3 parts.Dust work surface lightly with flour. Roll each part into a thin log - about 2 inch (5 cm) thick and 10 inch (25 cm) long.Arrange logs on a baking sheet well apart from each other. They will puff in the oven (see images).
• Brush with ½ beaten egg.
• Bake in a preheated to 350 F (180C) oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes until lightly brown.
• Once out of the oven let cool for 10 minutes. Cut with a sharp knife slightly on the diafgonal into about ½ inch (1.5 cm) thick slices.
• Place cantucci cut side up back on the baking sheet.
• Bake for the second time at 350 F (180C) for another 10-15 minutes. Biscotti should not brown but dry a little bit. They will still be soft straigh out of the oven but with harden as they cool.

ITALIAN BISCOTTI

Steps:

• In a large mixer bowl combine the eggs, egg whites, vanilla, and anise; mix until well-combined.
• Add the sugar, flour, soda, and salt; beat until a dough forms.
• Add the nuts.
• Turn the sticky dough onto a lightly floured board; knead several times.
• Divide the dough in half.
• With floured hands, form the dough into two flattish logs, about 15" long by 2" wide.
• Place the logs about 3" apart on a baking sheet that has been sprayed lighted with cooking spray.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 40 minutes.
• Remove and cool for 10 minutes.
• Reduce oven to 275 degrees.
• On a cutting board, cut the logs diagonally into 3/4" thick slices.
• Arrange the slices on the baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes; turn and bake another 10-12 minutes.
• Turn heat off and leave biscotti to crisp in the oven for another 15 minutes.
• Remove and cool completely.