This is one of those rare treats that my hubby truly enjoys and actually insists that I bake this more often. Biscotti require double baking and that is where it puts me off. But that’s double standards when I am so patient with my breads and their multiples rises but none for my hubby’s favourite biscotti! So I decided to make this biscotti for my hubby to see him devouring it. He did not forget to thank me too.
Last year I made biscotti (twice) around the same time when were all under home arrest; self-induced. The first time it was an almond biscotti which vanished off in a jiffy and the other was a chocolate biscotti which was an equally good contender. The Almond biscotti I did not mention in my older post because I have none left but I was quick enough to take some pictures of the chocolate biscotti. But that was last year.
This year, I searched and searched in my archives for the same almond biscotti recipe and I couldn’t trace it. I was feeling so disgruntled because I clearly remembered my hubby telling me he preferred the almond one over the chocolate. Hmmmpppfff..
Call it divine intervention and I do believe in this miraculous mumbo-jumbo; I was flipping through Dorie Greenspan’s book ” Baking from my home to yours” and there I found an Almond Biscotti recipe that I hadn’t ever laid my eyes on before. I have gone through this book more than a dozen times but never saw this recipe!!
But it solved my problem in a jiffy. I set on the task immediately and finished the job in mere 1.5 hours ( including the double baking and the cooling bit). I realized I have come a long way since last year where it took me so much time to put the ingredients together to start baking etc. Now I am much more at ease and so much more confident in the process.
These may not be the prettiest looking biscotti but the flavour was spot on. All the credit to the almond flakes and almond essence. This got rave reviews from my hubby, his colleagues at work, my friend, Gayathri and my daughter. So even if they weren’t that perfect looking, I was pretty happy.
Recipe for Almond Biscotti
Ingredients
All purpose flour – 1 1/2 cups
Baking powder – 1 1/2 tsp
salt – 1/4 tsp
Yellow cornmeal – 1/2 cup
unsalted butter at room temp – 8 tbsp
sugar – 1 cup ( I used 3/4)
eggs – 2 large
Pure almond extract – 1 1/2 tsp
almonds , sliced – 3/4th cup
Preparation
1. Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 F/ gas mark 4/180 C. Line a baking sheet with parchment
2. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together. Add the cornmeal and whisk again to blend.
3. Working with a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until very smooth for 3 minutes. (Mine did not become too smooth because it is cold here that even at room temperature the butter was quite solid. I thought at this point, that this project of mine was heading for a doom. But I soldiered on anyways.)
4. Add the eggs and continue to beat, scraping down the sides to incorporate everything. The mixture will turn light and creamy –( BUT mine did not. That didn’t deter me. I went ahead like Dorie had got it wrong.)
5. Beat in the almond extract.
6. Now incorporate the dry ingredients in 3 lots and slowly. Let it mix until everything is just combined. Add the almond slices and combine well. ( At this time, I got the sticky dough out and used a spoon to combine the almonds well)
7. Using your hands or a spatula, work the dough into 2 logs about 12 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide, each. ( I got smaller ones and I think it was because my butter +sugar+ egg mixture wasn’t the dream like creamy and fluffy)
8. The logs that you shape will be more rectangular than domed. It will bumpy, uneven and rough.
9. Place both of them with a lot of care into the parchment paper of the baking sheet
10. Bake for 15 minutes or until the logs are lightly golden but still soft and springy to touch.
11. Transfer the baking sheeting to the rack and cool the logs on the baking sheet for 30 mins.
12. If you turned off the oven, bring it back up to 350 F/ gas mark 4/ 180 C AGAIN.
13. Using a spatula transfer the logs to a cutting board after they have cooled for 30 minutes and then using a serrated knife, cut the logs into 3/4 inch thick slices. Return the slices to the baking sheet – this time standing them up and slide the baking sheet back to the oven.
14. Bake the biscotti for 15 minutes, or until they are golden and firm. Transfer them to the racks and cool to room temperature.
I think the cornmeal gave it that special crunch and the almonds lend the wonder depth of flavour. The sweetness was just right and I feel biscotti obsession coming through. I feel I need to try savoury ones and ones with pistachio and other nuts. Watch this space!
I think they look perfect Anita! I always buy Biscotti and never made them at home. Talk about double standards:)
Do try them for sure. These are marvellous
I love biscotti, but I’ve gotta confess that ‘twice baking’ them has deterred me so far. No more. I shall venture down that path… err hopefully 😉
Please do. You’d enjoy it immensely
Biscotti is best with almonds I guess. At least for me it is.
Chocolate is more about a molten experience 🙂
Nutty biscottis are a world in itself 🙂
I share the same opinion about almonds and chocolates being the best in different things.
These look delicious! I just made biscotti myself last week, but I’ll wait awhile before posting them. Great post!
thanks.. YC
They were super and vanished the same evening..:)
Glad you enjoyed them Gayathri
Looks good. I have not eaten biscotti. Will try it sometime
thanks Bulbul
I had only come across cornmeal in American southern-style cooking. Didn’t know you could incorporate it into biscotti! Dorie Greenspan is another one of those people whose recipes you just have to try. These biscotti look great…gimme a rustic-looking homemade biscotti over those sanitized ones at Costa Coffee anyday!!
Yes Dorie Greenspan champions the cause of us home bakers. The instructions are easy, the measurements too silly to mess up and the outcome is really fantastic. Love her.
Biscotti are my most favorite type of cookies…the challenge is finding them without nuts because neither myself nor Maya eat nuts.
Please do let me know if you find a good recipe minus any nuts! And in the meantime, I envy that you can eat these because they look fabulous!
I will definitely look out for a recipe that doesn’t use any nuts Ameena. Thanks for your comment.
I love biscotti! The perfect biscuit to go with a nice strong coffee. I like the rustic look 🙂
thanks Cassandra
Biscotti with cornmeal? Say no more, I am making them this week. I love anything with cornmeal, the nutty crunch and flavor, yum. Almonds and almond extract? You’ve just made my perfect cookie.
I have seen your biscotti and it looked gorgeous. You are more than generous with your words Marie
These biscottis look good Anita..lovely flavours too.. I have never made biscottis at home but now want to give these a try. yum yum yummy.
thanks Raji
I too have never made biscotti till now. But then i don’t even have an incentive. I will make them when someone asks me to 🙂
😀 make it for yourself La
the pictures on this blog are so yummily awesome : Passion Speaks !!
thanks so much Varsha…
hmmmm, my fav kinda cookies & they look pretty spectacular to me. Last time i made biscotti took me almost half a day & left me with a very messy kitchen, but they are always quick to dissapear (cant tell u how glad i am to know im not the only slow cook in the world). I love dunking them in my morning cuppa coffee 🙂
Oh I was absolutely messy and but I still found the whole process relaxing inspite of all the cleaning up that I had to do afterwards.
Oh..yum..yum..like the crisp and crunchy Biscotti!
Biscoti is one of those things I’ve never made. Yours looks great!!
luckily u found that recipe again anita! =P
I hadnt had biscotti in ages and I miss them now. you v got me craving for your gorgeous almond biscottis!
This is a treat i truly enjoy ! I love it with my evening tea , crispy .. sweet 🙂
Made these today and I love, love, love them. Just wanted to let you know step 3 should say butter and sugar instead of eggs and sugar. Thanks for the great recipe!
Oh wow Marie. Thanks for trying and then letting me know. I re-read the step about mixing the eggs and sugar but that is how it was given in Dorie’s recipe. Next time I think I should try the traditional beat the butter and sugar way of prepping this biscotti. Thanks again!xx
Step 3 says to beat the eggs and sugar (& your notes talk about the cold butter) and then step 4 says to add the eggs. The butter is left out of the instructions. Maybe there was a typo in her book. So I am wondering when you added the butter. Was the butter supposed to be step 4?
Thanks Marie, I had got it wrong. Corrected step 3. It was butter and sugar indeed!. Thanks for pointing it out. xx
I love biscotti and those look amazing! Perfect with a steaming cup of coffee.
Cheers,
Rosa
thanks Rosa!
Your biscotto look lovely!!! I love Dorie’s recipes, they are always so reliable and delicious.
Never tried biscotti as it seemed a lot of work.But when it comes to women, the greatest pleasure we get is when watching our husband’s eat what we cook,specially if they request for it.Glad it turned out well…
delicious