Kittencals Almond Biscotti Recipes

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.

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!

ERIC MCCORMACK'S AMAZING CHOCOLATE ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F; line 2 heavy large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine cake mix, flour, melted butter, eggs, and almond extract in large bowl. Beat for 2 minutes, or until dough forms. Knead almonds into dough.
• Scrape dough onto 1 prepared baking sheet and form dough into 13-inch log that is 3 inches wide.
• Bake for 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of biscotti comes out clean. Cool for 35 minutes.
• Using serrated knife, cut log crosswise into 1/2-inch thick slices. Carefully transfer half of the biscotti to second prepared baking sheet.
• Arrange biscotti cut side down on baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 200°F and bake for 40 minutes, or until biscotti are dry. Cook completely (biscotti will harden as they cool).
• Variation: Melt dark or white chocolate, then dip bottoms of biscotti in chocolate to coat. Transfer biscotti to wax paper and set aside until chocolate becomes firm.

CRANBERRY AND ALMOND BISCOTTI WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a bowl whisk together flour with baking powder and salt.
• Using an electric mixer beat the butter, sugar and eggs with extract until well blended (about 4 minutes).
• Add in the flour mixture, then the cranberries and almonds; mix well to combine.
• Divide the dough in half.
• With floured hands shape the dough in about 9 x 2-inch logs.
• Transfer the logs to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly.
• In a small bowl whisk the egg white until foamy, the brush the egg white on top and sides of each log.
• Bake the logs until golden brown, about 35 minutes (the logs will spread when baked).
• Cool completely in the baking pan (leave the oven heat on to 350 degrees).
• Transfer the logs to a work surface.
• Shake out any crumbs from the parchment paper, then place back on the baking sheet with clean-side facing upwards.
• Using a serrated knife, sliced the logs on diagonal about 1/2 - 3/4-inches.
• Arrange the sliced biscotti cut side down on the same baking sheet.
• Bake for 10 minutes; turn the biscotti over and bake for another 5 minutes, just until beginning to lightly brown.
• Transfer biscotti to a rack to cool.
• For the glaze: stir the white chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water until smooth.
• Remove from over the water.
• Using a fork, drizzle chocolate over biscotti.
• Let stand until chocolate sets (about 30 minutes).