Micheles Spiced Almond Biscotti Food

CLASSIC BISCOTTI RECIPE - 4 WAYS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until creamy.
• Add the eggs and vanilla extract. If you would like to add almond extract or anise extract, add it now. Mix until well combined.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, white whole wheat flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a ball and then use your hands to shape each ball into a log that is about 8 inches long.
• Place the logs on the prepared baking sheet. Use your hands to flatten the dough logs until they are about 3/4-inch thick. Gently press the sides and ends of the logs to even them out and flatten them.
• If desired, sprinkle the logs with turbinado sugar.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, until lightly golden and the center of the logs is almost firm and bounces back when touched.
• Let the logs cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes.
• Use a sharp knife to cut the logs into biscotti shape, on the diagonal. Press straight down with the knife, rather than sawing.
• Place the biscotti, cut side up, on the baking sheet. Bake for 12-16 more minutes, until dry. The centers of the cookies will be slightly soft and will crisp as they cool.
• Store biscotti in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for 3 months.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until creamy.
• Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, all purpose flour, white whole wheat flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Mix in the chocolate chips and nuts, if using.
• Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a ball and then use your hands to shape each ball into a log that is about 8 inches long.
• Place the logs on the prepared baking sheet. Use your hands to flatten the dough logs until they are about 3/4-inch thick. Gently press the sides and ends of the logs to even them out and flatten them.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, until lightly golden and the center of the logs is almost firm and bounces back when touched.
• Let the logs cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes.
• Use a sharp knife to cut the logs into biscotti shape, on the diagonal. Press straight down with the knife, rather than sawing.
• Place the biscotti, cut side up, on the baking sheet. Bake for 12-16 more minutes, until dry. The centers of the cookies will be slightly soft and will crisp as they cool.
• Store biscotti in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for 3 months.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until creamy.
• Add the eggs, almond extract and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, white whole wheat flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Stir in the chopped almonds.
• Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a ball and then use your hands to shape each ball into a log that is about 8 inches long.
• Place the logs on the prepared baking sheet. Use your hands to flatten the dough logs until they are about 3/4-inch thick. Gently press the sides and ends of the logs to even them out and flatten them.
• If desired, sprinkle the logs with turbinado sugar.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, until lightly golden and the center of the logs is almost firm and bounces back when touched.
• Let the logs cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes.
• Use a sharp knife to cut the logs into biscotti shape, on the diagonal. Press straight down with the knife, rather than sawing.
• Place the biscotti, cut side up, on the baking sheet. Bake for 12-16 more minutes, until dry. The centers of the cookies will be slightly soft and will crisp as they cool.
• Store biscotti in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for 3 months.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until creamy.
• Add the eggs, vanilla extract and orange zest. Mix until well combined.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, white whole wheat flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl and mix on low speed until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Mix in the dried cranberries.
• Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a ball and then use your hands to shape each ball into a log that is about 8 inches long.
• Place the logs on the prepared baking sheet. Use your hands to flatten the dough logs until they are about 3/4-inch thick. Gently press the sides and ends of the logs to even them out and flatten them.
• If desired, sprinkle the logs with turbinado sugar.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, until lightly golden and the center of the logs is almost firm and bounces back when touched.
• Let the logs cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes.
• Use a sharp knife to cut the logs into biscotti shape, on the diagonal. Press straight down with the knife, rather than sawing.
• Place the biscotti, cut side up, on the baking sheet. Bake for 12-16 more minutes, until dry. The centers of the cookies will be slightly soft and will crisp as they cool.
• Store biscotti in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for 3 months.

GINGERBREAD BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet.
• In a large bowl, mix together oil, sugar, eggs, and molasses. In another bowl, combine flours, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg; mix into egg mixture to form a stiff dough.
• Divide dough in half, and shape each half into a roll the length of the cookie. Place rolls on cookie sheet, and pat down to flatten the dough to 1/2 inch thickness.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool.
• When cool enough to touch, cut into 1/2 inch thick diagonal slices. Place sliced biscotti on cookie sheet, and bake an additional 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or until toasted and crispy.

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.

SPICY ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Set rack at the middle level of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
• Prepare a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan by lining with parchment.
• Combine sugar and 1 1/4 cups almonds in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade; grind to a fine powder.
• In a large mixing bowl, stir together ground almonds, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pepper, ginger, cinnamon, coriander and cloves. Stir in the remaining 2 cups whole almonds.
• Stir water, honey and orange zest together; add to bowl and mix until dough holds together. Scrape dough onto a floured work surface, slightly kneading it until it holds together. Divide dough in half and roll each half into a cylinder, slightly shorter than one of your baking pans. Transfer logs to the pan, keeping them well apart from one another and the sides of the pan.
• Bake the logs until they have puffed and spread and feel firm when pressed with a fingertip, about 30 minutes. (Note: About halfway through the baking time, place the pan from the lower rack on the upper one and vice versa, turning the pans back to front at the same time. If you know that your oven gives strong bottom heat, bake the pan on the lower rack stacked on a second one for insulation.).
• Let cool, then slice into 1/4- to 1/2-inch-thick slices with a serrated knife. Return slices to pan (2 parchment lined pans may be required) and bake until they are slightly toasted, 20 to 25 minutes.

CINNAMON SUGAR BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Sift together the flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, baking powder and salt, set aside. In a medium bowl, cream together the 2/3 cup sugar and butter. Beat in 1 egg, egg yolk and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients.
• On a lightly floured surface, divide dough into two pieces. Roll each piece into a log about 9 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Place logs on the prepared baking sheet and flatten slightly. Brush with the beaten egg.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden and firm to the touch. Cool for 15 minutes.
• On a cutting board, slice each log crosswise at a diagonal into 1/2 inch slices, using a serrated knife. Place back on the baking sheet, cut side down, and sprinkle with a mixture of the remaining cinnamon and sugar. Return to the oven for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, until toasted. Cool on wire racks, and store in an airtight container.

HAZELNUT ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar and extracts until well-blended. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually stir into egg mixture. Stir in nuts (mixture will be stiff)., Divide dough in half. Using lightly floured hands, shape each portion into a 9x2-in. rectangle on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes., Cool on pans on wire racks until firm. Reduce oven setting to 325°. Transfer baked rectangles to a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut diagonally into 3/4-in. slices. Place on baking sheets, cut side down., Bake until lightly browned, 5-7 minutes per side. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

ANISE WALNUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F ( 190 degrees C ).
• In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar Gradually add the vanilla and eggs while mixing. Sift together the flour and baking powder; stir into the egg mixture. For plain biscotti, do not add anything else (see Cook's Note). Stir in the anise extract and anise seed. Add walnuts if desired.
• Wet or grease your hands and shape dough out into 4 logs as long as your baking sheet will allow. Pat each one to about 3/4 inch in height, and 3 inches wide. Brush with beaten egg yolks.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, until golden brown. Slice logs at an angle, cutting pieces into 1/2 to 3/4-inch wide cookies. Place slices back onto the cookie sheet, standing upright, if possible; leave a gap between the slices. Return to the oven and bake until cookies are dry and lightly toasted, about 10 minutes more.