Heather says:
What’s your favorite cookie? Mine is the very simple chocolate biscotti. I prefer this recipe without the chocolate chips and with the walnuts, but since I was making it for the family, they got it their way.
Biscotti is actually an ancient technique for making food fit for travel. Consequently biscotti is suitable for mailing. Just remember that not everyone is a biscotti fan. I dig the crunch, the chocolate, and the way they aren’t overly sweet. The word biscotti comes from two Latin words, “bis” for twice and “coctum” for baked. Humans being the way they are, eventually slurred the words together. I’m sure y’all¹ understand.
¹Intentional.
Chocolate Biscotti Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder²
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 6 TBSP butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar (It is possible to reduce the sugar depending on your preference)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup walnuts -optional
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- about 1 TBSP confectioners or powdered sugar
²Hershey’s Special Dark Unsweetened Cocoa Powder is a thing of beauty. Just sayin’
Directions for easy chocolate biscotti
Set out the butter and eggs. (The butter to soften, the eggs to come to room temperature).
Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF. Butter and flour a baking sheet.
In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl cream the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy. While this is going on, crack the eggs, beat them lightly and stir in the vanilla. Add the vanilla egg mixture a little at a time to the butter and sugar and beat until well combined.
Slowly stir in the flour mixture and stir until just combined. The dough will be stiff, this is normal. Add the chocolate chips and walnuts if you want them. Flour your hands and divide the dough in half. On the floured baking sheet, shape the dough into two, slightly squashed logs. They should be about 12 inches long and two inches wide. Dust with confectioners sugar and bake for 35 minutes. The logs should be slightly firm to the touch.
Cool on the baking sheet for five minutes. On a cutting board cut the biscotti carefully with a serrated knife. The logs should be cut diagonally into 3/4 inch slices. Place the slices cut side down on the baking sheet and return to the oven for approximately 10 minutes.
Cool on a wire rack and enjoy.
Looks good! Where's the second footnote about the cocoa?
I'm picturing biscotti I've seen before and trying to reconcile them to your instructions about the log and the cutting. I'm probably being lame, but this sounds like a smaller cookie in comparison–is that true, or am I just missing it? How many cookies does this make?
If you made a single log, I wouldn't go more than four inches wide, and made it using all of the dough @ about one inch thick, you could probably get the fancy size you see at a bakery. You may need a little extra time in the oven the first go around, check every 2 – 3 minutes after 35.
I do it my way because I'm an impatient baker at best.
This size creates about 26 cookies 12 – 13 from each log.
Thanks…and the footnote?
it's right below the ingredient list
Thanks for the info. Maybe I'm just being lame, but I could have sworn that the footnote was not there before. Whatever. Anyway, now I see it. Sorry if it was just me not reading carefully. I'll try making these soon.
I edited it in at the same time I added the illustration of how it should be cut. I did that immediately after replying to your comment. Just some disjointed time stuff. You weren\’t lame. 🙂
OK. Hey, I like the illustration–I didn't notice that. One question…lots of biscotti are half dipped in chocolate. If I wanted to do that, would it work to just skip the chocolate chips in them, and instead melt them in the microwave, then dip them? This would be after they are cooled, right? Just wondering.
Aside from a slight reduction in sugar, I followed the recipe exactly as written and the biscotti turned out great! The chocolate aroma that filled the house was so wonderful. I’m now enjoying it with a cup of coffee. Thanks for the recipe!
Aside from a slight reduction in sugar, I followed the recipe exactly as written and the biscotti turned out great! The chocolate aroma that filled the house was so wonderful. I’m now enjoying it with a cup of coffee. Thanks for the recipe!
will this freeze well…..