Almond Biscotti Quaresimale Recipes

ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F/165° C. Position rack in the center.
• Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Spread almonds on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 12-15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt and sugars).
• In a large bowl, whisk eggs. Add olive oil, extracts, and zest. Whisk lightly together.
• When almonds are toasted, remove them from the oven and coarsely chop.
• Add flour mixture to egg mixture; stir with a wooden spoon until just incorporated.
• Fold in chopped almonds (make sure they have cooled off before incorporating in the batter).
• Use a large serving spoon to scoop out the dough and place it on the parchment-lined cookie sheet. Add another scoop adjacent to the batter on the cookie sheet and keep going until two logs are formed.With damp fingers, shape into a log shape.
• Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown in color and firm. Allow to cool slightly for about 10 minutes.
• Remove from baking sheet and transfer to a cutting board.
• Using a serrated knife, slice cookies at an angle about ½ - ¾ inch thick.
• Place slices back on the baking sheets and return them to the oven for about another 15-20 minutes (the longer they stay in the oven, the crispier they get). Turn them over at the halfway mark.
• Place on a wire rack to cool.

ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extract. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in almonds. , Line a baking sheet with foil and grease the foil. Divide dough in half; on the foil, shape each portion into a 12x3-in. rectangle. Brush with milk; sprinkle with remaining sugar. , Bake at 375° until golden brown and firm to the touch, 15-20 minutes. Lift foil with rectangles onto a wire rack; cool for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 300°., Transfer rectangles to a cutting board; cut diagonally with a serrated knife into 1/2-in. slices. Place cut side down on ungreased baking sheets. , Bake for 10 minutes. Turn and bake until firm, 10 minutes longer. Remove to wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container.

CHEF JOHN'S ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a mixing bowl.
• Place butter, 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, olive oil in a separate mixing bowl. Mix together thoroughly until mixture has a creamy texture. Add 1 egg; mix into butter/sugar mixture. Whisk in 2nd egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract; whisk until smooth. Add flour mixture. Mix until flour is incorporated. Add whole almonds and chopped almonds; mix in evenly. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat.
• Divide dough in half. Place each half on a length of plastic wrap and shape into a log. Wrap with the plastic wrap and press into a shape about 3 or 4 inches wide and about 1/2 inch high. Transfer both pieces to prepared baking sheet leaving about 3 or 4 inches of space between them to allow for spreading.
• Bake in center of preheated oven until turning golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before slicing.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Cut each piece at a slight angle into 1/2- to 1 -inch thick slices with a serrated knife. Transfer pieces back to baking sheet in a single layer. Bake 12 minutes; remove from oven and flip pieces over. Return pan to oven and bake until biscotti are golden brown and crunchy, about 20 minutes.
• Transfer biscotti to a cooling rack; let cool to room temperature.

ALMOND BISCOTTI: QUARESIMALE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Put brown sugar, sugar, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, butter, and almonds in a large mixing bowl; with mixer on low speed, add beaten eggs and vanilla; mix until dough just holds together.
• Put dough on a floured surface, cut in half; roll each piece into a log; place on parchment-lined cookie sheet; flatten each log slightly with plam of hand, lightly brush the top of each log with egg wash.
• Bake for 25 minutes or until firm to touch, remove from oven; cut dough diagonally into biscotti, lay down on cookie sheet and toast in a 325 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until toasted.

ORANGE ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Mix the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt with an electric mixer in a medium bowl. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the extract, orange zest and almonds, mixing to make a somewhat sticky dough.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead just until it comes together. Halve the dough and shape into 2 logs, approximately 12 by 2 inches. Transfer the logs the prepared pan, spacing them about 3 inches apart. Brush the dough all over with the beaten egg and sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired. Bake until they are firm and golden in color, about 45 minutes. Transfer the logs with a metal spatula to a cutting board and cool for a few minutes.
• Cut the logs with a serrated knife on an angle into 1/2-inch slices. Lay them cut side down on the pan. Return to the oven and bake until golden brown on 1 side, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, flip biscotti and continue to bake until golden, about 10 minutes more. Transfer to a rack to cool.
• Store biscotti for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.
• Cook's Note: These biscotti are traditional and very crunchy. They are made for dunking.
• Tip: Serve with Kahlua Eggnog.

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the butter with 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second increments, stirring until smooth and melted. Set aside to cool.
• Place the eggs, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla and instant coffee in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat with the paddle attachment on medium speed until pale and thickened, about 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the flour and cocoa in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Stop the mixer and add the warm melted chocolate and butter. Mix on medium speed until smooth and combined. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until combined. With the mixer running on low speed, mix in the almonds and another 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips until combined.
• Dip your hands in cold water to make the dough easier to handle. Divide and shape the dough into two logs; then flatten each to 12 inches long, 2 inches wide and 1 inch tall. Place the logs on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake until the logs are firm to the touch and sound hollow when tapped, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven but keep the oven on. Let the logs cool on the baking sheet for 20 minutes, then remove to a cutting board and slice crosswise with a serrated knife 3/4 inch thick. You should have about 24 biscotti.
• Return the biscotti to the parchment-lined baking sheet, standing each up (with its longest skinny side down). Bake until the centers feel firm, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet, then lay the biscotti on their sides.
• Microwave the remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 15- to 20-second increments, stirring until smooth and melted. Transfer to a pastry bag (or heavy-duty sandwich bag and snip off a tiny tip); drizzle the chocolate over the cooled biscotti. Enjoy immediately or let set before serving or storing. You can store the biscotti in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

NONNA'S BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Stir together sugar, butter, brandy, and extracts in a large bowl, then stir in almonds and eggs. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined.
• Chill dough, covered, 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Using moistened hands, halve dough and form 2 (16-by 2-inch) loaves on an ungreased large baking sheet.
• Bake until pale golden, about 30 minutes. Carefully transfer loaves to a rack and cool 15 minutes.
• Cut loaves into 3/4-inch slices with a serrated knife.
• Arrange biscotti, with a cut side down, on a clean baking sheet and bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to rack to cool completely.