italian dessert recipes

Almond Biscotti Recipe

"The classic recipe"




almond biscotti recipe 01
This is the traditional almond biscotti recipe which is well published.

I wish I could say it was unique and I created it. *Sigh* - I guess I'll have to do something real unique like, invent another Google to make my mark on the world.





Traditional Almond Biscotti

There are only a few minor substitutions allowed in this recipe - because we want to produce a traditional almond biscotti. We are aiming for "traditional", and "authentic", and "classic" with this particular recipe. Which means - we aren't playing around much with it. (The substitutions and questions are listed below.)


If you want to be creative - have at it! I'm all about warping the rules a bit and going out on an adventure.

But in staying true to my heritage and to my great grandma (whom I am named after God rest her soul) - I am merely passing on the traditional Italian almond biscotti recipe.

Almond Biscotti Recipe

The traditional classic recipe!


YIELD - About 16 Almond Biscotti

Ingredients:

1 cup (400 grams) blanched whole almonds, toasted and chopped coarsely

2/3 cup (135 grams) granulated white sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 3/4 cups (225 grams) all-purpose flour

Procedure

 * Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

Toast almonds for 8-10 minutes or until golden.

Let cool and then chop coarsely. Set aside.

* Beat the sugar and eggs on until thick (about 5 minutes).

(When you slowly raise the beaters the batter should make little ribbons.)

* Beat in the almond extract.

* In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder and salt.

* Add to the egg batter and mix until combined.

* Fold in the chopped almonds.

* Form dough into a log, about 12 inches (30 cm) long and 3 1/2 inches (9 cm) wide. Really you can form however you want. It's your biscotti. Pick the size that makes you happy.

* Bake for 25 minutes, or until the log is firm.

* Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

* Transfer the log to a cutting board and cut into 3/4 inch (2 cm) diagonal slices.

* Place the biscotti, cut side down, on the baking sheet.

* Bake for about 10 minutes, turn slices over, and bake for another 10 minutes or until golden brown. (Many times depending on humidity it takes longer. I will take as long as the biscotti needs to get it dry.)

* Remove from oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container.






Do I need *blanched* almonds?



almond biscotti recipe
Yep. We're staying with the traditional almond biscotti recipe, remember? And really all "blanched" means is no skin. You can do this yourself, no need for an extra trip to the market. Here's how:

  • Boil water


  • Put almonds in boiling water for ONE minute NO LONGER


  • Drain almonds and rinse with cold water


  • Rinse again.


    • That's it! Pop them out of the skin. They become slippery little suckers. Next toast as recipe says.

    Be sure to use all the time needed when toasting the almonds! It gives this biscotti it's signature almond flavor. Your house will smell wonderful from the toasting (along with a pot of fresh brewed coffee!) WOW what a combo!


    Can I substitute vanilla flavoring for the almond?



    Sure. If you toast the almonds long enough to release the natural oils - you will not lose the integrity of this almond biscotti recipe.

    A little history of biscotti

    The history of biscotti is these cookies were baked twice to keep well for traveling. The second baking dries out all moisture.

    Not bad for today's age and time when we live life at a frenetic pace. These can be made in a spare moment (yeah, right) and then kept in an airtight container.



    Is there is a standard basic recipe for biscotti

    Yep - because these cookies were baked for traveling, the authentic recipes usually have no oil or butter and have this basic ratio of ingredients:

  • Two parts flour


  • One part sugar


  • Enough eggs to bind ingredients


  • Flavorings





    • You can always play with this ratio and come up with your own biscotti.


    Other biscotti recipes

    Scroll through these biscotti recipes on this site. Get creative and modify some of them. I too am gonna get a little crazy next year and *try* to make a jelly bean biscotti for Easter dinner!

    italian biscotti recipe Anise Biscotti Recipe





    Back to the Almond Biscotti Recipe.

    Recipes on this site are from family cookbooks, family traditions, or intentional adaptations from traditional recipes to add an Italian flair. If a recipe was adapted or used from another cook - it is mentioned on the recipe page and the recipe author is given credit.