Tuscan Spice And Almond Biscotti Recipes

TUSCAN BISCOTTI (CANTUCCI)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together eggs and granulated sugar until pale and thick, about 5 minutes. Mix in orange zest and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture until combined. Mix in nuts and dried fruit.
• Divide dough evenly between two parchment-lined baking sheets, forming each half into a 9-by-5-inch rectangle. Brush tops with egg white and sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon sanding sugar.
• Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden all over and tops are firm to the touch, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cool 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
• Working with one rectangle at a time, transfer dough to a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut on a slight diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange, cut-side down, on fresh parchment-lined baking sheets.
• Bake, rotating sheets and flipping cookies halfway through, until lightly golden all over, about 40 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

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.

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.

CANTUCCI {ITALIAN ALMOND BISCOTTI}

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Lightly beat the eggs and add to dry ingredients. Add vanilla extract and/or lemon zest. Work with your hands or standing mixer until crumbly dough forms.
• TIP: take a small piece of dough and try to roll it into a ball. If the dough comes together nicely and you're able to form a sticky small ball than you're on the right track (see notes).
• Add almonds and continue to knead until almonds are well combined with the dough.It's normal for almonds to fall out at first, as you continue kneading you'll be able incorporate all of them (and maybe even more, if you prefer).
• Divide the dough into 3 parts.Dust work surface lightly with flour. Roll each part into a thin log - about 2 inch (5 cm) thick and 10 inch (25 cm) long.Arrange logs on a baking sheet well apart from each other. They will puff in the oven (see images).
• Brush with ½ beaten egg.
• Bake in a preheated to 350 F (180C) oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes until lightly brown.
• Once out of the oven let cool for 10 minutes. Cut with a sharp knife slightly on the diafgonal into about ½ inch (1.5 cm) thick slices.
• Place cantucci cut side up back on the baking sheet.
• Bake for the second time at 350 F (180C) for another 10-15 minutes. Biscotti should not brown but dry a little bit. They will still be soft straigh out of the oven but with harden as they cool.

FIVE-SPICE BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F & grease two baking sheets.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar & spices, then add melted butter & stir well.
• In another bowl, mix together 3 1/3 cups of flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt & almonds.
• Add half of this flour mixture to egg mixture, stirring well with a wooden spoon.
• Add 2nd half of flour mixture & stir until a smooth dough forms, adding a tablespoon or two of flour if the dough seems too tacky. With floured hands, you should be able to form a small piece of dough into a ball.
• Form half of the dough into a large log & place it on one of the greased baking sheets, then flatten the log until it is 5-6 inches wide & 10 inches long. Do the same with the 2nd half of the dough, using the second baking sheet.
• Bake the logs for 35 minutes, until logs are firm but give slightly when pressed with a finger.
• Remove baking sheets from the oven & reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• While logs are still warm, use a large spatula to carefully transfer them to a cutting board, & cut them crosswise on a slight diagonal, into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• Lay the cookies on their sides on the baking sheets & bake them 15 minutes more.
• Remove from the oven & let cookies cool on a wire rack.
• Store in an airtight container, up to 2 weeks.