Karens Biscotti Recipes

PISTACHIO BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high 30 seconds. Add sugar and baking powder; beat until combined, scraping bowl. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add cornmeal and as much flour as you can with mixer. Stir in remaining flour, 1 cup nuts, and orange peel.
• Shape dough in three 8x1-1/2-inch loaves. Place 4 inches apart on large ungreased cookie sheet; flatten slightly. Bake 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on sheet 1 hour.
• Reduce oven to 325 degrees F. On cutting board cut each loaf in 1/2-inch slices; return slices to cookie sheet. Bake 8 minutes. Turn cookies; bake 8 to 10 minutes more or until browned. Cool on racks.
• In saucepan melt white chocolate and shortening. Dip cookies in melted chocolate, sprinkle with remaining nuts. Let set on parchment or waxed paper. Makes 42 cookies.

ANISE BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or foil.
• In large mixing bowl, beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine brandy, anise extract and vanilla in a small bowl or measuring cup. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Alternately add dry ingredients and brandy mixture to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Stir in the almonds and aniseed.
• Drop dough by spoonfuls onto prepared sheet, forming two 2 x 13-inch long strips on each sheet. Smooth dough into logs with moistened fingertips.
• Bake about30 to 35 minutes or until golden and firm to the touch. Place cookie sheets on racks and cool completely. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
• Cut cooled logs on the diagonal into 3/4-inch thick slices using a serrated knife. Place slices on cookie sheets.
• Bake for about 20 minutes, turning after 10 minutes, until dry and slightly brown. Remove to a rack and cool.

KAREN'S BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
• Beat the eggs with the cooled melted butter and vanilla.
• Add the nuts.
• The dough will be sticky. Don't add any more flour. Divide the dough in half.
• On a floured surface, roll one half into a 13x1 1/2-inch log. Repeat with other half.
• Bake on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet 25 minutes.
• Remove to cutting board, carefully, and cool 10 minutes.
• Cut logs into 1/2-inch slices with serrated knife.
• With cut side down on sheet, bake 6-8 minutes more per side.

CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI RECIPE WITH HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Position rack in the center.
• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Spread hazelnuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 12-15 minutes, or until skins begin to crack. Wrap nuts in a kitchen towel for a few minutes. Rub hazelnuts together to remove the skin. Let cool and coarsely chop.
• Increase the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C).
• In a medium bowl, sift or whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt). Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl or bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
• Add vanilla extract.
• Add flour mixture to egg mixture; stir with a wooden spoon until just incorporated (do not over mix).
• Fold in chopped hazelnuts and chopped chocolate.
• Divide dough into quarters. Place each quarter on the cookie sheet, shaping each into a 15-inch log. Flatten each biscotti log until 1½ inches wide.
• Bake for approximately 23- 30 minutes or until firm to the touch. Transfer to a rack and let cool slightly.
• Transfer to a cutting board.
• Using a serrated knife, slice cookies at an angle about ½-inch thick.
• Place the sliced cookies back on the baking sheets, and return them to the oven for about another 20-30 minutes (the longer they stay in the oven, the crisper they get). Turn them over at around the 10-minute mark.
• Remove from oven and enjoy.

ITALIAN TORCETTI COOKIES/BISCOTTI

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl whisk together the flour, powdered sugar, baking powder and salt.
• Make a well in the middle and add the vanilla, cream and yolk, mix together with flat beaters or even a fork or spatula, until a soft compact dough forms. Move to a flat surface and knead gently a few times to bring the dough together.
• Remove pieces, roll into ropes, approximately 8 inches (20cm) long, cross the rope in the middle 1-2 times. Place the formed cookies on the prepared cookie sheet, sprinkle with cane or granulated sugar, chill while the oven is pre-heating, approximately 15-20 minutes.
• Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C).
• Remove from the fridge and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then move to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!