Chocolate Espresso Or Cinnamon Biscotti With Walnuts Recipes

CHOCOLATE WALNUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper (waxed paper will not work, it will smoke.).
• In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, combine the chocolate and sugar and grind until the chocolate is very fine. Set aside.
• In a bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• In a mixing bowl combine the eggs and the vanilla. Beat at medium speed to blend.
• Reduce the speed to low, add the chocolate and flour mixtures and mix until a stiff dough forms, adding the walnuts when about half mixed.
• Transfer the dough to a floured surface and gather it together. Divide in half. Form each half into a log 12 inches long. (Give the logs plenty of space on both sides as the width of the logs doubles during baking.).
• Carefully transfer the logs to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly.
• Pat to even up the shapes. Bake until almost firm to the touch, about 50 minutes. (I have found that 40 minutes was sufficient).
• Let cool for 10 minutes. (Do not let it cool for longer as the logs will become brittle and more difficult to slice without breaking.).
• Leave the oven set at 300°F.
• Using a spatula, transfer the logs to a work surface. Using a serrated knife, cut on the diagonal into slices 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Return the slices cut side down to the baking sheet.
• Bake for 25 minutes. (I baked mine 15 minutes and the biscotti were very crispy).
• Turn the slices over and bake until crispy and dry, about 25 minutes longer. (Again, I found 15 minutes to be good).
• Transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.

CINNAMON HAZELNUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F(175 degrees C). Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Sift together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt; mix into the egg mixture. Stir in the hazelnuts. Shape dough into two equal logs approximately 12 inches long. Place logs on baking sheet, and flatten out to about 1/2 inch thickness.
• Bake for about 30 minutes in preheated oven, or until edges are golden and the center is firm. Remove from oven to cool on the pans. When loaves are cool enough to handle, use a serrated knife to slice the loaves diagonally into 1/2 inch thick slices. Return the slices to the baking sheet.
• Bake for an additional 10 minutes, turning over once. Cool completely, and store in an airtight container at room temperature.

ESPRESSO & DARK CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4, and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Set aside. Put the flour, sugars, baking powder and a good pinch of salt into a large bowl, then stir to combine.
• Whisk the oil, egg, vanilla extract and coffee together in a separate small bowl. Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry, mixing until you have a dry dough. Fold in 100g of the chocolate chips. Knead the dough until smooth - it will be quite dry, but if it's too difficult to knead, add another 1 tbsp water. Divide the dough in half, shaping each piece into a 25 x 8cm log, and transfer both to the prepared tray. Bake for 25-30 mins, then leave to cool on the tray for 15 mins.
• Reduce the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Slice the biscotti logs into 1-2cm-thick slices crosswise using a sharp knife, you should have about 16. Return to the tray and bake for 15-20 mins more, turning the tray around halfway through. Leave to cool slightly on the tray, then transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely. Melt the remaining chocolate chips in the microwave in 20-second bursts until smooth, or in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, then dip one end of the cooled biscotti into the melted chocolate. Transfer to a sheet of baking parchment and leave to set. Will keep in an airtight container for up to five days.

CINNAMON ESPRESSO BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Cream butter until soft. Add 1 Celsius flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in 1 Celsius flour, cinnamon, and mix well. Add espresso and remaining 1/2 Celsius flour. Add more flour if dough is too wet.
• Divide dough in half and shape each portion into a 9" x 2" log. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.
• Cool on cookie sheet for 1 hour.
• Cut each log diagonally into 10 slices. Lay slices on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes at 325 degrees. Turn over and bake for an additional 8 minutes until crisp. Cool on wire rack.
• Freeze espresso beans. Place them in a ziplock bag and crush with a rolling pin. Put them in a microwave safe dish and add 1 teaspoons vanilla. Microwave on high at 30 second intervals until melted. Slowly add milk and stir until smooth. Brush glaze over each biscotti and freeze until set.

CHOCOLATE WALNUT BISCOTTI WITH CHOCOLATE CUSTARD SWIRLS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan whisk together flour, espresso powder, yolks, water, and a pinch salt until smooth. Bring mixture to boil over moderate heat, whisking, and simmer, whisking, 30 seconds. Remove pan from heat and whisk chocolate into mixture until melted. Transfer custard to a small bowl to cool. Chill custard, covered, t least 3 hours and up to 3 days. Bring custard to room temperature before using.
• In a very small heavy saucepan over moderate heat bring water with granulated sugar to a boil. Add zest and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Drain zest in a fine sieve and in a small bowl toss to coat with superfine sugar.
• Transfer custard to a pastry bag fitted with 1/2-inch basket-weave tip and pipe 1 tablespoon onto each biscotto.
• Top biscotti with candied orange peel.