While I love most cookies, biscotti has to be one of my favourites! I refuse to buy it at the local coffee shop though, I’d rather enjoy them when they are freshly baked, not sitting in a cookie jar for who knows how long. Yes, once again I’m admitting how picky I am! Because I love these cookies so much, I tend to try not to make them too often.
I never really knew just how easy it was to make biscotti until a friend challenged me to make my own after complaining about one I could barely bite into. While they take a bit longer than other cookies I usually make, they are well worth it. One thing I love about a basic biscotti recipe is that you can change it up in so many ways.Add chocolate chips, cocoa, dip in chocolate, make them healthy and add some protein powder, add cranberries or cinnamon or….the list goes on and on. I have 3 main ones I love to make – vanilla almond, chocolate chip and chocolate. In the recipe I share below – switch out the almonds for chocolate chips, add in more vanilla, don’t add almonds and keep them as vanilla and then dip them in chocolate…you get what I’m getting at, right?
What about you? Have you tried to make biscotti before? Are you as addicted as I am? Do you a favorite biscotti recipe to share? Remember – each recipe you share – whether here or on my Facebook page or share via pinterest etc…gets you an entry into our week 1 sweet basket! The winner will be announced next week!
Oh … and while you post me your recipes today and this weekend – I’ll have limited access online as we’ll be enjoying some holiday celebrations at Disneyland 🙂
Vanilla Almond Biscotti
Makes 24 biscotti
Ingredients
1 box (18 to 18.25 ounces) yellow butter cake mix
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter – melted
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sliced almonds
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets or cover with parchment paper.
Combine cake mix and flour in a large bowl and blend well.
Add eggs, butter, extracts and almonds and blend until a stiff dough forms.
Divide dough in half and shape each half into a 12-inch roll.
Place rolls 2 inches apart on one of the prepared baking sheets and flatten slightly to a 2-inch width.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven and let stand for 1 hour. After standing time cut with a serrated knife into 12 equally thick slices.
Lay, cut sides down, on both sheets and bake for 5 minutes longer. Turn cookies over and bake for another 5 minutes.
Remove from oven and cool on wire racks before storing in an airtight container. These can be frozen for up to 3 months.