Spicy Almond Biscotti Recipes

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.

CRUNCHY ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread almonds on a baking sheet.
• Toast almonds in the preheated oven until lightly browned and fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes. Allow almonds to cool.
• Reduce oven heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Lightly beat eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract in a bowl. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in another bowl. Gradually beat egg mixture into flour mixture with an electric mixer until dough comes together. Add toasted almonds and mix until just incorporated.
• Turn dough out on a lightly floured surface and shape dough into a 3x14-inch log. Transfer log to prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm to the touch, 30 to 40 minutes. Allow log to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Transfer log to a cutting board and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices, using a serrated knife. Return biscotti slices to baking sheet, cut-side up.
• Return biscotti to the oven and bake until biscotti are firm to the touch, about 20 minutes. Flip each cookie and continue baking until toasted, about 20 minutes more. Cool biscotti completely before storing in an airtight container.

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.

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!