Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Italian Almond biscotti

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On a good day if you ask me what would I like with my coffee - it would probably be a healthy little cookie like an oatmeal and whole wheat kind, or one with arrowroot, maybe a macaron, or a biscotti. But of course there are days when I sit eating up an entire package of a peanut butter or chocolate chip cookie and not offer it to anyone..lol!
Of all these healthy variety, I have to say - macarons and biscotti are my favourite. Simply because you can play around so much with the flavours and colours and it just tastes great!
These cookies are from Italy and 'biscotti' just means cookie in Italian. These are baked twice giving them a long shelf life. Usually the Italians would dunk it in their dessert wine and eat, but of course, coffee and tea are also its wonderful companions! Here is how I made it.

2 cups all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated white sugar. I know some people add 1 cup, but I think 3/4 gives just the right sweetness for me.
1 cup almonds, toasted in the oven for about 8-10 minutes at 350 F
1 teaspoon vanilla extract ( I use vanilla sugar coz we don't get vanilla extract here easily!)
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract. This is what gives the biscotti their signature almond-y smell..love it!


Coarsely chop the toasted almonds. Snack on a couple maybe - they taste so good!
Combine the dry ingredients. In a seperate bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla and almond extracts. Add in this mixture to the dry ingredients slowly and stir. You could use your electric mixture for this. Add in the chopped almonds and the remaining egg mixture so that you get it to form a dough. Shape the dough into 2 logs about 10x2". Bake it on a 350 oven for about 40 minutes. Then take it out of the oven, let it cool so you can work with it- about 8-10 minutes, and cut them at a diagonal so that you get that classic biscotti shape. Lay these biscuits flat and bake for about 10 minutes again per side, or if you can make it to stand, then just once would be fine.
Allow it to cool a bit before you pop it into your mouth :)
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10 comments:

  1. Lovely recipe I adore almonds and this would go nice as an afternoon snack.

    I would be eating the toasted nuts too. :-)

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  2. I adore biscottis.love to have them with tea!Yours look crunchy!

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  3. i have never had biscotti... but the name sounds really exotic... your's look equally exotic.. the pics are really good. the one with the crumbs all over... nice touch

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  4. Wow thats my fav biscotti...looks yumm

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  5. Awesome biscotti and your click is perfect. Superb photography.. :)

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  6. Wow those biscottis look delicious, so crispy!

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  7. Nah m going back to Pune, actually i am from bombay but working from pune :)

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  8. Biscotti looks wonderful, lovely pictures too ! First time here you have a lovely space :-)

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  9. Your biscotti looks great. Thanks for sharing your recipe!

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  10. Your biscotti look fantastic! Mmmhhh, with a good espresso!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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