Biscotti

As soon as the snow shows up and people wrap themselves into their wooly scarves and hats, I start dreaming about Christmas. Listening to Tony Bennett’s duets, I spend my time thinking about all those ribbons and papers, presents and Christmas decorations. Of course, good food is also included.

One of the presents I am going to prepare for my family this year is Italian biscuits called biscotti. In Italian, this name means the way how they are prepared – baked twice. I love this idea helping you to make those cookies especially crunchy and golden. Because they are very dry, traditionally you should serve your biscotti with a glass of a very cold and sweet Vin Santo and then soak each of your bite in it. However, I also like them accompanied by espresso, cappuccino or black tea.

Serves: makes 20 – 24 pieces

Preparing time: ~ 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 250 grams flour
• 200 grams sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 150 grams dried cranberries
• 150 grams almonds
• Good splash Amaretto (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 180C.
2. Using a wooden spoon or electric mixer, beat sugar with eggs until fluffy.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together sifted flour and baking powder.
4. Add the egg mixture next and beat until combined.
5. Note that it may look like nothing sticks together and that your dough is too dry - add a good splash of Amaretto, fold in the almonds and dried cranberries.
6. Take your baking tray, cover with baking paper and transfer biscotti dough on it. Shape it into a 30 cm length and 9 cm width roll.
7. Bake for about 25 minutes or until your roll is beautifully golden.
8. Additionally, remove the roll from the oven, transfer on a cutting board and let cool for 10 minutes.
9. Reduce the oven temperature to 150C.
10. Cut the roll into 1 cm slices and return each of them into the baking tray cut side down.
11. Now bake for about 8 minutes or until golden, then turn slices over and bake for another 8 minutes.
12. Remove from the oven and wait until they cool down completely.

Bello bellissimo!