Mark Bittmans Basic Biscotti Recipes

BASIC BISCOTTI RECIPE

Steps:

• Cream together oil and sugar; beat in eggs and then vanilla. Add sifted flour and remaining dry ingredients and mix well.
• Fold in fruits or nuts or other ingredients if you are adding any.
• Flour your hands so the dough doesn't stick to you and form 2 loaves or "flat logs" on a cookie sheet making them the width of cookie you want.
• Bake the loaves at 375 deg. F for 15 minutes then lower temperature to 300 deg. F and bake for 30 minutes. When the loaves are nicely browned on the outside, take them out of the oven.
• Using a bread knife, slice loaves into individual cookies about 1/2 to 3/4" thick. Place freshly cut biscotti on the cookiesheet on their side and put back into the oven for 5 minutes on each side to crisp up.
• Yummy treat.

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.

BASIC BISCOTTI

Steps:

• PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 degrees F.
• Spread almonds on a baking sheet and toast them in oven until lightly golden.
• Let cool.
• Coarsely chop half the nuts.
• Butter 2 large baking sheets.
• Mix flour, sugar, salt and baking soda.
• Beat in eggs, then whole and chopped nuts.
• Mix to obtain a firm dough.
• Knead briefly, then divide dough into 2 pieces.
• On a floured work surface, roll each piece under your hands into a cylinder 15 inches long and about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
• Place 2 rolls, well separated, on each baking sheet and bake 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned and firm to the touch.
• With a spatula, carefully transfer the rolls to a cutting board and slice each onediagonally into cookies about 1/2-inch thick.
• Set wire racks on the baking sheets and lay out the biscotti on them.
• Return them to the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until very firm and crisp.
• Cool on the racks, then transfer them to a tin for long keeping.