Thursday, November 02, 2006

Biscotti

Chocolate Cherry Biscotti

2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
3 beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon Kirsch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter
1 cup almonds, coarsely chopped
1 cup dried cherries or cranberries

Preheat oven to 350F. Melt chocolate chips and butter together in the microwave or in a double boiler over low heat. Line two baking sheets with parchement paper or a baking liner. In a bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and baking powder. Stir well. In another large bowl, combine sugar, eggs, vanilla, Kirsch, and salt; stir in chocolate and butter until well blended. With a wooden spoon, mix in almonds and cherries or cranberries. Fold in flour mixture and mix well. Dough will be stiff. Divide dough in half. Working directly on prepared cookie sheets, shape each half into a log shape measuring about 2 1/2" wide by 15" long. Place a log on each baking sheet. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Alternate position of baking sheets after half the time. Cool logs and baking sheets on wire racks, then transfer them to a cutting board. Cut each log into diagonal 1/3" to 1/2" thick slices with a serrated knife. Lay slices on baking sheets and bake 10 minutes. Turn slices over and bake 10 minutes more, until crisp and dry. Cool on baking sheets. About 4 dozen cookies.

Cinnamon and Hazelnut Biscotti

3 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup toasted hazelnuts
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking liner. Mix flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in medium bowl; set aside. Coarsely chop hazelnuts in a food processor. Combine sugar and butter and mix until fluffy. Add orange zest and vanilla and mix well. Add eggs 1 at a time, blending just until incorporated after each addition. Add flour mixture and mix until just blended. Mix in hazelnuts until just blended. Turn dough out onto a floured work surface. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a 9" x 2" log. Place the logs on the baking sheet. Flatten each log to 12" x 2 1/2". Bake 25 minutes or until very light golden and firm to touch. Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes. Transfer the logs to a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut logs diagonally into 3/4-inch-wide slices. Place slices, cut side down, on your baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes. Turn biscotti over, bake about 15 minutes more or until light golden and firm. Transfer biscotti to racks and cool.

Gingerbread Biscotti

1 cup almonds, blanched
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 lb butter
1/2 cup dark molasses
1/4 cup fresh ginger, minced
3 eggs
3 cups flours
1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon cinnamon, ground
1 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
1/2 teaspoon cloves, ground
1/2 teaspoon allspice, ground

Place almonds in a 8 to 9 inch square pan. Bake in a 350 F. oven until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool, coarsely chop, and set aside. In large bowl of an electric mixer, beat sugar, butter, molasses, and ginger until smooth. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. In a bowl, stir flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and almonds. Add to egg mixture; stir to blend. On two greased 12x15 inch baking sheets, use well-floured hands to pat dough into 4 flat loaves, spacing them evenly on sheets; each loaf should be about 1/2 inch thick, 2 inches wide and the length of the baking sheet. Bake in a 350 F. oven until browned at edges and springy to touch, about 25 minutes; switch positions of pans halfway through baking. Let loaves stand on baking sheets until cool to touch, then cut into long, 1/2-inch thick diagonal slices. On baking sheets, arrange slices close together with a cut side down. Return to oven and bake at 350 F. until cookies are brown, 15 to 18 minutes longer; switch positions of pans halfway through baking. Transfer biscotti to racks and let cool completely. Serve, or store airtight up to 1 month; freeze for longer storage.

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