Apricot Walnut Biscotti Recipes

AMAZING APRICOT AND TOASTED ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Line two, 18x12x1-inch cookie sheets with parchment paper or foil (I prefer parchment paper but if you use foil, butter and flour it first.). Combine the first 6 ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Process until it forms a fine meal. Add white chocolate chips and pulse a few times until roughly chopped. Add the toasted almonds and chop coarsely, using 6 to 8 on/off turns.
• Beat the eggs, brandy and almond extract together in large bowl. Add the flour mixture and the diced apricots and stir until a moist dough forms. Divide the dough into four portions.
• Form the dough into four, 14-inch-long by 2-inch-wide logs and place them on the two prepared sheets, spacing evenly. If the dough is too sticky, moisten fingertips before you shape it. Refrigerate until the dough is firm, about 30 minutes.
• While the dough is resting in the refrigerator, position a rack in the center of oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake one sheet at a time until light golden brown, or about 25-30 minutes. Transfer the sheet to a rack and cool completely. Repeat the process with the second sheet.
• Reduce the heat to 300°F. Transfer the logs to a work surface. Using a serrated knife, cut each log crosswise into ½- to ¾- inch wide slices. Arrange half of the biscotti cut side down on cookie sheet. Bake for about 8 minutes.
• Gently turn the biscotti over and bake 7-8 minutes longer. Do not over cook. Transfer to racks to cool. Repeat baking the remaining biscotti. Cool completely.

APRICOT AND WALNUT VARENIKIS

Steps:

• Make filling:
• Bring water and 1/4 cup sugar to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in brandy. Finely chop apricots in a food processor, then add sugar syrup and pulse until just combined (do not purée). Transfer to a bowl and stir in 1/4 cup walnuts. Cool.
• Roll out dough and fill varenikis:
• Halve dough and roll out 1 piece on a lightly floured surface into a 15-inch round, keeping remaining dough wrapped. Trim dough to a 13-inch square. Cut lengthwise into 4 strips, then crosswise into fourths to form 16 (3 1/4-inch) squares.
• Put 1 slightly rounded teaspoon filling in center of each square. Working with 1 square at a time, moisten edges with water and fold in half diagonally to form a triangle, pressing edges firmly together to seal. overlap bottom points of triangle and press to seal (dumpling will look like a pointed hat). Transfer vareniki to a flour-dusted kitchen towel. Repeat with remaining squares, then make more dumplings with remaining dough and filling.
• Cook varenikis in a large pot of lightly salted boiling water until tender, about 15 minutes. Make topping while varenikis cook:
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over moderate heat, then cook bread crumbs and remaining 1/4 cup walnuts, stirring frequently, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and season lightly with salt. Stir together cinnamon and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons cinnamon sugar over crumb mixture and toss.
• To serve varenikis:
• Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter, then drizzle about 2 tablespoons on a warmed serving platter. Transfer varenikis with a slotted spoon to platter and drizzle with remaining 4 tablespoons butter.
• Serve hot, sprinkled with bread-crumb mixture and remaining cinnamon sugar to taste.

APRICOT-WALNUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread out nuts on a baking sheet; toast in oven, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and golden brown, about 8 minutes. Remove from oven; reduce temperature to 350 degrees.
• Rub nuts between paper towels to remove loose skins; coarsely chop nuts.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl; set aside. Put butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Mix in vanilla. Mix in eggs in two batches, mixing each until just combined. On low speed, mix in flour mixture until just combined. Stir in walnuts and apricots by hand.
• Butter a large baking sheet; set aside. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface; divide in half. With floured hands, shape each half into an 8 1/2-by-2 1/2-by-1-inch log. Place logs at least 2 inches apart on buttered baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 30 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack; let logs stand 10 minutes.
• Transfer logs to a cutting board. Clean and butter the large baking sheet; set aside. Brush logs with egg white, and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Cut each log crosswise on the diagonal into 12 pieces (each 1/2 inch thick). Lay flat on buttered sheet. Bake 7 minutes; turn pieces. Bake until golden, 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool until crisp.
• Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Dip a flat side of 12 biscotti in melted chocolate, arranging cookies, chocolate sides up, on parchment paper as you work. Let stand until chocolate is set, about 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container, keeping chocolate-dipped ones in a single layer on top, up to 2 days.

MAPLE WALNUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
• Beat softened butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Beat one egg into butter mixture until completely blended, then beat in remaining egg, 1/2 cup maple syrup, and maple extract. Stir flour mixture into butter mixture just until dough forms; fold in walnuts until just combined.
• Divide dough in half. Shape each portion of dough into a log the length of a baking sheet, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Flatten each log into a rectangle 3 inches wide and 1-inch tall.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned on the bottom and slightly cracked on top, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven to cool for 15 minutes, but leave oven on.
• Slice logs diagonally into 1/2-inch thick slices, and lay slices on their sides on the baking sheet.
• Bake biscotti in the preheated oven until lightly browned and crisp on the outside, about 8 minutes. Remove from oven; cool for a few minutes.
• Stir together 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1/4 cup maple syrup in a bowl. Stir confectioners' sugar into mixture gradually until smooth. Drizzle maple glaze lightly with a spoon over warm biscotti.

APRICOT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Spread hazelnuts on a baking sheet and toast in oven 8 to 10 minutes, until fragrant. Let cool slightly. Place nuts in a dishtowel and rub together to remove some of the skin. Coarsely chop and set aside.
• Place butter in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until soft and creamy. Gradually add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add lemon rind and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and beat well.
• Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Stir to blend. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating on low until a smooth dough forms. Stir in hazelnuts and apricots.
• Divide dough in half. With lightly floured hands, form dough into two 10 x 2-inch logs. Place on an ungreased baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart. Bake 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool on the baking sheet 15 minutes. Transfer logs to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut straight down through the log to make 1-inch-thick slices; discard end pieces. Arrange on a baking sheet.
• Bake 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Turn biscotti over and continue baking until lightly browned on the other side, about 9 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheets before serving or storing. The biscotti store well for one week and freeze well. Makes about 20.

HAZELNUT AND APRICOT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, anise seeds, salt, and nuts. Add dried apricots after beating the dough for about two minutes. Transfer to mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add eggs; beat until a stiff dough comes together, about 3 minutes.
• Divide dough in half. Form each half into a 12-inch log. (Dough may be sticky; dampen your hands for easier handling.) Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and flatten so each log is 13 inches long, 2 1/4 inches wide, and 3/4 inch thick.
• Brush logs with beaten egg and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Bake until firm and very pale golden, about 35 minutes. Let cool on pans on a wire rack, 40 minutes. Meanwhile, reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
• Using a serrated knife with a sawing motion, cut logs into slices slightly thicker than 1/4 inch. Arrange, cut-side up, on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until dry to touch, about 30 minutes. Let cool completely on pans on racks, 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container up to 1 month.

CRANBERRY-WALNUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat sugar, eggs, oil, extracts, and orange zest together in a large bowl.
• Combine flour and baking powder; stir into egg mixture to form a stiff dough. Stir in cranberries and walnuts. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Form each piece into a roll the length of your cookie sheet. Use the parchment paper to help flatten the roll to about 1/2-inch thickness.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet to cool onto a wire rack until safe to handle, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Slice rolls crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Place slices back on the cookie sheet, cut-side up, and continue baking until lightly toasted, 5 to 7 minutes per side.

HONEY APRICOT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg whites, honey and extract; set aside. In another bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Make a well in the center; add egg white mixture. Stir until moistened. Fold in apricots., Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray; dust with flour. Divide the dough in half. On a prepared baking sheet, shape each portion 6 in. apart into a 12-in. x 2-in. rectangle. , Bake at 325° for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; cut diagonally with a serrated knife into 1/2-in. slices. , Place cut side down on baking sheets. Bake for 7 minutes; turn over and bake 7 minutes longer or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container.

ALMOND APRICOT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Blend in butter with a pastry blender or your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add whole egg, milk, and extracts, stirring with a fork until a soft dough forms, then knead in almonds.
• Divide dough between 2 sheets of wax paper, then form into 2 equal mounds and flatten each mound into a 5-inch disk. Put half of apricots in center of 1 disk and fold dough over apricots to enclose them (use wax paper as an aid if necessary), then transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Form into a 14- by 2 1/2-inch log lengthwise on 1 side of baking sheet, spreading dough with wet hands. Make another log with remaining dough and apricots, arranging it about 4 inches from first log.
• Brush logs with egg wash and bake in middle of oven until pale golden and firm, about 20 minutes. Cool on baking sheet on a rack 20 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 300°F while logs cool.
• Carefully transfer baked logs to a cutting board using 2 wide metal spatulas, then cut logs diagonally into 1/2-inch-wide slices with a large heavy knife.
• Line baking sheet with a clean sheet of parchment. Stand slices, curved sides up, 1/2 inch apart on baking sheet and bake in upper third of oven until biscotti are dry, about 30 minutes (they will become hard as they cool). Transfer biscotti to rack to cool.

APRICOT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Chop the apricots.
• Sift flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl.
• In a large bowl, beat 3 eggs, orange zest, and vanilla with an electric mixer until just combined. Stir in the flour mixture and beat until a stiff dough is formed.
• Fold in apricots.
• In a small bowl, beat the remaining egg with the water. Form the dough into 2 logs, about 12 inches long each. Place on a greased cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Brush with egg wash.
• Bake at 350 degress for 40-50 minutes, until golden. Allow the logs to cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes.
• With a serrated knife, cut the baked logs diagonally into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place the slices (cut side down) on the baking sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 10 or 15 minutes more, until golden Cool on a wire rack. After cool, keep fresh in an airtight container.