Kahlua Almond Biscotti Food

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.

ALMOND AND LEMON BISCOTTI DIPPED IN WHITE CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt. In another large bowl, beat the sugar and eggs with an electric mixture until pale yellow, about 3 minutes. Mix in the lemon zest and then the flour mixture, and beat until just blended. (The dough will be sticky). Stir in the almonds. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes.
• Divide the dough evenly into 2 equal mounds and place on the prepared baking sheet. With moist hands, space the dough evenly apart and form into 2 (9 by-3-inch) logs. Bake for 35 minutes until lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes. Using a serrated knife, cut the logs crosswise into 3/4-inch-thick diagonal slices. Arrange the biscotti cut side down on the same baking sheet. Bake until the cookies are pale golden, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Place the chocolate chips in a medium bowl. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the pan does not touch the water. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Dip the end of each biscotti in the chocolate. Transfer the dipped biscotti to a wire rack, set over a baking sheet, until the chocolate has hardened. Store in an airtight container.

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.

KAHLUA ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, mix sugar and melted butter.
• Add Kahlua and anise extract.
• Beat in the eggs and stir in the nuts.
• Sift dry ingredients together in separate bowl.
• Gently stir dry ingredients into sugar mixture until well blended.
• Cover and chill about three hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 F.
• Shape dough into three loaves 2 inches wide and 1/2-inch thick.
• Place loaves well spaced on greased cookie sheet.
• Bake 20 minutes or until brown.
• Cool 5 minutes, cut in diagonal slices 1/2-inch thick.
• Arrange slices on cut sides.
• Bake 8 minutes each side at 375F until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.

ORANGE ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Mix the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt with an electric mixer in a medium bowl. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the extract, orange zest and almonds, mixing to make a somewhat sticky dough.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead just until it comes together. Halve the dough and shape into 2 logs, approximately 12 by 2 inches. Transfer the logs the prepared pan, spacing them about 3 inches apart. Brush the dough all over with the beaten egg and sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired. Bake until they are firm and golden in color, about 45 minutes. Transfer the logs with a metal spatula to a cutting board and cool for a few minutes.
• Cut the logs with a serrated knife on an angle into 1/2-inch slices. Lay them cut side down on the pan. Return to the oven and bake until golden brown on 1 side, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, flip biscotti and continue to bake until golden, about 10 minutes more. Transfer to a rack to cool.
• Store biscotti for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
• Cook's Note: These biscotti are traditional and very crunchy. They are made for dunking.
• Tip: Serve with Kahlua Eggnog.

TOFFEE ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Line cookie sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, almonds, and toffee bits; set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat together eggs, Amaretto, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer.
• Mix in dry ingredients with eggs, mix until combined. Dough will be sticky, but do not add more flour.
• Flour surface of parchment paper lined cookie sheet, roll dough out on surface into a log about 3 inches in diameter.
• Bake about 50 minutes, or until firm and dry.
• Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
• Use a serrated knife and cut into 1/2-inch slices.
• Lay slices cut side down on cookie sheet and return to even for 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven and turn slices over and bake another 20 minutes.

HONEY ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a baking pan 13-15 inches long with either cooking spray and foil or parchment.
• Combine honey and water, stirring to form a solution; stir in almond extract and/or vanilla if desired and set aside.
• Combine the dry ingredients (including the ground and the whole almonds) and stir for a minute or so to combine.
• Add honey-water and stir until all the ingredients are incorporated into a thick dough.
• Divide the dough in half and form or roll into 2 logs about 12 inches long (they'll spread out as they bake so place well apart from each other in the pan)--Tip: Lightly moisten your fingers with water to prevent the dough from sticking to them. It's easier to shape the logs.
• Bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes; they should be well risen, firm, and a dark golden color. It is important that the logs bake a half hour or very close to it.
• After cooling for 5-10 minutes, slice the logs diagonally at 1/2 inch intervals with a sharp knife.
• Place the biscotti on their sides and bake about 15 minutes at 300°F until lightly colored and dry.
• If they need to bake longer than 15 minutes, turn them over to avoid over-browning the side on bottom.
• Allow to cool in the pan and store in a tin or tightly closed container.
• (Note: I usually buy raw almonds and roast them myself in a 300°F oven for 15-20 minutes, stirring after the first 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature before using in a recipe).

LIGHT ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Place almonds in a small pan.
• Bake about 6 minutes or until golden brown (watch carefully).
• Set aside to cool.
• Beat margarine and sugar in a medium bowl with a electric mixer until smooth.
• Add egg whites and almond extract; mix well.
• Combine flour and baking powder in a large bowl; mix well.
• Stir egg white mixture and almonds into flour mixture.
• Blend well.
• Spray two 9x5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray.
• Divide dough evenly between the 2 pans.
• Spread dough in pans with wet fingers.
• Bake 15 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove from oven.
• Turn on to a cutting board.
• Cool slightly.
• Once loaves are cool enough to handle cut each loaf in to 16 slices.
• Place slices on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake 5 minutes.
• Turn bake 5 minutes more or until golden.
• Serve warm or cool completely and store in air tight container.

ORANGE ALMOND BISCOTTI II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, almonds, and orange zest. Make a well in the center and add the eggs oil, and almond extract. Stir or mix by hand until the mixture forms a ball.
• Separate dough into 2 pieces and roll each one into a log about 8 inches long. Place logs on prepared baking sheet and flatten so they are about 3/4 inch thick. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly, and remove from baking sheets. Slice diagonally into 1/2 inch slices with a serrated knife. Set cookies on side back onto the cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 15 more minutes, turning over after half of the time. Finished cookies should be hard and crunchy.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Spray large baking sheet (12x19-inch) with Pam or oil.
• If using whole, unblanched almonds, boil 2 cups water in microwave and place almonds in water for about 5 minutes. Remove skins and chop coarsely.
• Combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and set aside.
• Cream sugars and butter until creamy and smooth using an electric mixer.
• Add eggs, almond and vanilla extracts, stir until well mixed.
• Add the dry ingredients, including the almonds and mix well. Dough should be very thick and sticky. If it is too sticky to hold a shape you can use powdered sugar to thicken it - just be sure to mix the powdered sugar into the dough thoroughly.
• Coat a flat surface (counter or cutting board) with powdered sugar and place dough onto it.
• Divide dough into two balls and form roughly into a rectangle about 5x10-inch. Brush off excess powdered sugar and place biscotti dough onto the baking sheet.
• Repeat with the other dough ball and place both logs side by side on the cookie sheet.
• Bake 30 minutes until dry. Allow to cool 10 minutes.
• Slice each log into 18 slices, about 1/2 inch each.
• Place sliced biscotti back onto cookie sheet and bake an additional 10 minutes. Turn slices over and bake 10 more minutes (if desired).
• Cool biscotti on a rack.
• Can dip or stripe in white or dark chocolate.
• Note: Store biscotti in an airtight container to retain freshness. If biscotti loose their crispiness, just pop them into a 300F oven for 5-10 minutes!

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.

HEALTHY ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Put almonds in a shallow pan. Toast at 350°F for 10 minutes. Turn oven down to 300°F Cool almonds and chop coarsely or pulse in food processor.
• Mix flour, Splenda, baking soda and nuts in a large mixing bowl.
• In a separate bowl, beat remaining ingredients for about one minute. Add flour mixture into liquid.
• Cut dough in half. On a baking sheet with parchment paper, pat dough into two logs- 1/2" thick x 1 1/2" wide x 12" long and place 2 " apart.
• Bake at 300°F for 40 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool on a rack for 5 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Cut loaves at a 45 degree angle, 1/2" thick with a serrated knife.
• Lay slices flat on baking sheet and bake an additional 15 minutes, turning once. Store in an airtight container.