This is for those of you who have seen biscotti pictures on my blog and asked for the recipe. :)
There’s no great secret – I just got this recipe online, I think. It takes a little bit of time to make, but oh so worth it! Take it from me – I’m not much of a baker, but I’ve had biscotti on hand almost every single day since November of last year when my friend Bek first sent me some. That’s dedication. My morning fix.
To sit in my living room, surrounded by soft morning light, soft music, soft couch, in the mornings before my children awake, and to sip hot coffee and have a delicious biscotti… Ahhhh, this is the start of a good day!
Chocolate Chip Biscotti
2 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (don’t forget this… like I did once. ruins your batch. :( )
1/4 teaspoon salt
Combine dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Set aside.
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar (I usually cut in half)
3 eggs
3 Tablespoons amaretto (almond flavor, which I omit and add 1 Tbs. vanilla instead because I’m not an almond fan)
1 Tablespoon water (mixed with 1 Tbs. instant coffee if you want mocha biscotti)
Beat butter and sugar in large bowl wih electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add liqueur and water. Gradually add flour mixture.
1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus 1/2 cup for coating
1 cup sliced almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped
Stir in 1 cup chips and the almonds.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Divide dough into two parts. Spread each half on a greased baking sheet with floured hands, shaping into a log about 4 inches by 12 inches (this takes a little experimenting to get the shape right: too thin = too flat, but too thick = too fat because it will raise? rise? (someone help me out!) a bit from the baking powder.) I fit both logs on cookie sheet the short way.
If it helps you shape them, greased a sheet of wax paper and roll the dough back and forth in that until you get the desired shape. I did this for a long time.
(I did say two logs. Below is a double batch, just in case you were wondering.)
Bake approximately 1/2 hour, until the top of the logs are firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and cool.
(I made big batches, thus the long way on the cookie sheets. I’m really going to confuse everyone…)
Cut each log with serrated or electric knife into 1-inch thick pieces. Return slices, cut side up, to cookie sheets.
Bake until the top of slice are firm and hard to the touch. Turn slices over and bake again until cookies are completely dry. Cool on wire racks (or countertops on cookie sheets).
Side notes: I usually do the second baking overnight on warm or 200 degrees. It never burns that way, and I don’t even have to turn them over.
Final step: ice and decorate as you desire! The fun part, even though it takes a little time.
I drizzle a bit of olive oil over the chocolate before melting it in the microwave.
You can ice just the bottom…
… or you can be creative and add fun words or names of boys to send to your sister. :) I used a plastic sandwich bag with the corner cut off for this, since I don’t have all the fancy shmancy baking items.
Another kind of biscotti with white chocolate.
And it makes a lovely gift! Leftover chocolate is great for throwing a few strawberries on the plate.
There are endless options with biscotti. Take the basic recipe and add your favorite cookie flavor: lemon, white chocolate macadamia, orange and cranberry… I also double the recipe all the time – we go through the biscotti so fast around here since both of the girls already ask for it, and I love to give it away.
So there it is, ladies with a biscotti craving! Have fun with it!
ok, wow, that`s so cool it`s not even right. somehow it`s so “you” to make biscotti (fitting) and i do not even know you.
btw- you were missed last weekend!! i was so SAD you didn`t come… it was full, lovely and i wished for more… but with more sleep. i was pretty smashed the whole weekend- sleep wise. will put up pics one day.
i miss seeing your girls. more pictures?
oh and drooling over the new header too.
totally inspiring! funny, i had ‘make biscotti’ on my mental list for this week because of a ladies brunch i’m doing the start of next week…these pictures just confirm in my mind i must get it done!
i echo what Jenny said… so SAD you did not make it to FFE! i thought of you many times and prayed that whatever kept you away was a good thing, and that you were not too sad at not being able to be there. those sort of disappointments are sometimes hard…hopefully next time? you can come!
lovely week to you!
♥~Rb
aw! thank you for posting this. can’t wait to try it. maybe when i can drink coffee again?!?!?! or maybe i could have it with my morning glass of milk? hmmm…
i think i’m having a boy this time. my morning sickness just doesn’t seem to end. blah. that’s how it was with Jason too. i’d love to have a boy, and the morning sickness would totally be worth it, but i’m 14 weeks pregnant now and i still can’t drink coffee. boo hoo!:)
when are you guys coming up again? i’d love to see you if we can fit something in. if i remember right it’s over the same time that joey and nica are going to be here, so a busy time for us. but let me know.
I am so glad you posted this. Yesterday at WalMart I found “Biscotti” for 1/2 price, so I bought two boxes. I opened it up on the way home and discovered that it was not biscotti at all but a soft squishy version called tuscony. So gross. Now all I can think about is eating some real biscotti, and wondering if it’s ok to throw the tuscony stuff away. So anyway – Great timing!
YUM!!! I love biscotti. We’re Italian, and you can ALWAYS find biscotti in the cookie jar at my grandparents! I haven’t made them in a couple months, you’ve inspired me. =) I think I’ll make some this week, they’re one of my favorites. I like how you wrote on the cookies, I usually just dip them in chocolate, I’ll have to try that! Have a great day! =)
Oh, you didn’t make it to ffe either? I missed it too. =( I had to cancel at the last minute.
ok, that post had me drooling! the recipe sounds good and simple (other than c.chips not being available in this country…) and you made them look wonderful! I love the artistic side of you and the way you use it in everyday life! keep doing it!
I have a question?
Do you actually use 3 Tablespoons of vanilla? It seems like a LOT, but maybe it’s supposed to be that way. :)
And I can’t believe you don’t like ALMOND flavoring! :)
I think I’ll make some tomorrow! Thank you for sharing the recipe, and I liked the idea of doing the second baking during the night! I’m sending a hostess gift to colorado with Gaylord this weekend – I think it’ll be biscotti. Are you settled in your little cottage? I would love to come see you – cant wait to see more pictures! love to you…
I’ve made biscotti one time, about 2 years ago. I’m not sure why I haven’t since then because I keep thinking its about time I made more. So…guess what I’ll be making this week? :)
Yummy! I’m looking forward to making biscotti again . . . and your recipe for the first time, now that you’ve shared it! In other news . . . have you ‘blocked’ rss feed for your blog. Since xanga no longer tells me when you’ve posted, I’ve been trying the feed, but always tells me that I can’t add your site. Any suggestions? I don’t use the rss feed on IE, but on my blogger feed . . . and I have added other xanga sites just fine. So, I’m just wondering! Trying to get a hold of you again! =) Busy mothers we are . . . even when we’re doing ‘nothin’!
may I echo what Jenny and Rachel said too?! would have loved to have crossed paths with you irl!
yes! biscotti fits you somehow, even though I don’t really know you… yet.
looks yummy and beautiful! two of my fav things!
@baileyandme – I was sooooo sad too. Can’t even tell you how sad. :( And the new header? My techy sister. :)
@foreveranoatneygirl – I missed being there sooo much. Thanks for thinking of me! What kept me away did not justify itself, in my opinion, but that’s how it was so I tried to live with it without being too soggy all weekend…
@WasabiBek – With your milk? Hmmm, maybe hot tea?? :) We’re coming up the last weekend in July. Hopefully longer than a weekend, but that’s the plan at this point. I had a brilliant idea to come up last weekend with my sisters and stay for two weeks so I could reach around to everyone, but it didn’t work out…
@writersblock02 – What a bummer! I would be whole heartedly disappointed too! Try this recipe – I think it’s better than store-bought.
@Elizabethmarie_1 – You missed it too!? Awwww, I’m sorry! I thought too you were going to be there, but then saw pictures of when you went to the beach and wondered what happened. Maybe next time, right? :) And let next time come quickly!
@rachi882 – You’re so right – NOT 3 Tablespoons! Just one. :) I’ll have to change that.
@im_so_blessed – Sounds good! I’ve been giving biscotti for birthday gifts, hostess gifts, glad-you’re-my-friend gifts… :) People love it!
@FOREVERLANE – Yes ma’am! We need to talk! Today was busy with “nothin'” :) but tomorrow I have no big agenda. Both Ben and I are helping with VBS at church all week so that makes me feel busy even if I’m home all day… And I don’t think I’ve block the rss feed, but I’ll doublecheck. I’ll have to see if other people aren’t getting it either.
oh clarita…it’s all so very beautiful…and inspiring me to get back into making biscotti…i had to laugh when you mentioned the option of decorating the biscotti with boys names and sending them to your sisters…we used to do that with soft pretzels :)
Looks tasty!
Most Xanga cooks show their great creations without the recipe. Thanks!
Clarita, your biscotti is delicious, and I’m so excited to try it myself. Thanks so much for sharing!
they look wonderful!!!–making my mouth water!!!!!!!!!! :) ive got to try to make them sometime, but they seem alittle complicated and time consuming (and i dont have much patience!). but we shall see! thanks for the recipe!!!
@cupajava – they ARE rather time-consuming, and I’m not super-patience person either! But they are pretty easy to make, so that’s my saving grace. :)
@Jessie Patterson-Collins@facebook – Oh that’s fabulous! It’s been a no-fail recipe for me, and they can disappear after the first bake as well if I’m not careful. :) Enjoy!
Came online to get this recipe for the millionth time. I’m so glad you are my sister…
btw. I think These at Erv’s bebe shower are a swell idea!
And I’m so glad you are MY sister. ♥♥