Cream Cheese Biscotti Recipes

ALMOND CREAM CHEESE BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350℉ (180℃). Beat cream cheese, margarine, sugar, vanilla and anise extract in large mixing bowl at medium speed with electric mixer until well blended. Gradually add combined dry ingredients, mix well; stir in almonds. On well-floured surface with floured hands, shape dough into three 12 x 1½ inch logs. Place logs, 2 inches apart, on greases and floured cookie sheet . Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown. (Dough will spread and flatten slightly during baking). Cool slightly. Diagonally cut each log into ¾ inch slices. Place on cookie sheet. Continue baking 5 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

SAVORY BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, herbes de Provence, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• In a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and goat cheese together until smooth. Beat in the sugar and eggs. In batches, add the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet. With damp hands, form the dough into a 13-inch-long, 3 1/2-inch-wide loaf. Bake until light golden, about 30 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes.
• Transfer the loaf to a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut the log on the diagonal into 1/2-inch thick slices. Arrange the biscotti, cut side down, on the baking sheet. Bake until pale golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer the biscotti to a wire rack and cool completely, about 30 minutes.

HOLIDAY BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Whisk the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar, butter, lemon zest, and salt in a large bowl to blend. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time. Add the flour mixture and beat just until blended. Stir in the pistachios and cranberries.
• Form the dough into a 13-inch-long, 3-inch-wide log on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until light golden, about 40 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes.
• Place the log on the cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the log on a diagonal into 1/2- to 3/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange the biscotti cut side down on the baking sheet. Bake the biscotti until they are pale golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer the biscotti to a rack and cool completely.
• Stir the chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until the chocolate melts. Dip half of the biscotti into the melted chocolate. Gently shake off the excess chocolate. Place the biscotti on the baking sheet for the chocolate to set. Sprinkle with the sugar crystals. Refrigerate until the chocolate is firm, about 35 minutes.
• The biscotti can be made ahead. Store them in an airtight container up to 4 days, or wrap them in foil and freeze in re-sealable plastic bags up to 3 weeks.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO BISCOTTI WITH BASIL-CREAM CHEESE TOPPING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, pour enough boiling water over dried tomatoes to cover. Let stand 5 minutes; drain, reserving 2 tablespoons liquid. Finely chop tomatoes.
• In medium bowl, mix eggs, oil and reserved tomato liquid until well blended. Stir in flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder and the red pepper. Stir in tomatoes. Divide dough in half. On ungreased cookie sheet, shape each half into 10x3-inch rectangle.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet 10 minutes. Cut each rectangle crosswise into 16 (about 1/2-inch) slices. Turn slices cut side down on cookie sheet.
• Bake 10 minutes. Turn biscotti. Bake about 10 minutes longer or until crisp and golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In small bowl, mix cream cheese, basil and dash of garlic powder. To serve, spread each biscotti with about 1/2 teaspoon cream cheese mixture; sprinkle with about 1/2 teaspoon chèvre cheese.

SAVORY CHEDDAR BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put the eggs and cheese in a food processor and process until yellow and thick, about a minute. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and cayenne and pulse three or four times, just to integrate the dry ingredients; you don't want to overwork the gluten in the flour.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead it until it holds together - it may be a bit crumbly at first. Shape the dough into an 8- to 10-inch log, transfer to the prepared baking sheet and gently flatten.
• Bake until the log begins to color and is firm to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool for about 10 minutes, then cut on the bias into half-inch slices. Lay the biscotti flat on the baking sheet and bake until crisp and toasted, 15 minutes; turn and toast the second side for another 10 to 15 minutes. Cool completely before serving.

CLASSIC 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. 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.

BISCOTTI, HERBED CREAM CHEESE AND SALAMI

Steps:

• Lay the biscotti flat on a cutting board. Add 1 heaping tablespoon of herbed cream cheese to each biscotti; it will be a thick smear. Roll each salami slice and place one on the top of each biscotti. Arrange on a platter and they are ready to serve!
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ginger, orange zest and salt in a large bowl.
• Whisk together the oil, eggs and bourbon in a small bowl and add to the dry ingredients, stirring just until combined. The dough will look crumbly at first, then sticky.
• Heavily dust your work surface with confectioners' sugar and turn out the dough. Knead until smooth, then shape into a 10-by-2 1/2-inch slightly flattened log and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden and firm, 25 to 30 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle, 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
• When the baked log is cool enough to handle, transfer to a work surface and slice with a serrated knife crosswise 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick. Lay the slices cut-side down on the same baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and firm, flipping the biscotti halfway through, about 30 minutes total. Let the biscotti cool on a wire rack before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to 10 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Add the softened cream cheese to a large bowl. Using a zester or box grater, finely grate the garlic over the cream cheese. Add the herbs, lemon zest and pepper. Stir gently to combine. Taste and add salt as needed. Use right away or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.