The Real Italian Biscotti Food

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.

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.

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.

BASIC BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Beat eggs and add sugar to blend. Add salt. Sift flour and baking powder and add all at once to eggs. Stir just to blend. Add flavoring or garnish. Spoon mixture lengthwise onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or greased. Spoon into a "log", shape as wide as you choose, the width of the "log" will determine the length of the cut biscotti. Make as many "logs" as you have mix. Allow logs to sit for about 10 minutes at room temperature before baking. Bake at 350 for approximately 20 minutes or until center of log springs back when touched. Remove from oven and let cool thoroughly. Cut logs into strips crosswise. Standard is about 1/2 inch. Place each biscotti cut side down onto cookie sheet lined with parchment or lightly greased. Bake again for approximately 15 minutes or until lightly browned on edges. Cool thoroughly, then store in airtight container;
• For Hazelnut: 2 cups roughly chopped, sliced, or whole hazelnuts .
• For Lemon/Poppy: grated rind of three lemons, 1 teaspoon poppy seeds .
• For Ginger: 1 1/2 cups chopped crystallized (candied) ginger.

THE REAL ITALIAN BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• In mixer beat eggs and anise flavoring together for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and sugar.
• Mix in the Crisco until it turns into small pieces.
• Add the egg mixture and combine (dough will be thick and sticky).
• Lightly grease cookie sheet.
• Roll dough into logs approximately the length of your cookie sheet, 1 1/2 inches thick and 1 inch high.
• Place logs on the greased cookie sheet about 4 inches apart.
• Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Remove from oven and slice diagonally.
• Lay cut side down in tray and bake about 10 more minutes.
• I have put almonds or walnuts (coarsely chopped) in batter and they do taste good., but I have found that if I put the nuts in dry mixture and then add the egg mixture it is so much easier.