How to make biscotti

Learn how to make biscotti with my tried and tested recipe. Making homemade biscotti are not very hard to do, even for a beginner baker.

This almond biscotti recipe is incredibly good and completely addictive!!

So what are biscotti?

Biscotti generally refer to the twice baked, oblong Italian cookie (biscuit) that is dry and crunchy. The dough is shaped into logs, baked, cooled and sliced and baked again until dry and crispy.

The original biscotto is from Prato in Tuscany and didn’t contain any fat. Being free from moisture, the original biscotto keeps very well and became a favourite of sailors and other travellers embarking on long journeys.

These cookies are also known as cantucci, cantuccini or biscotti di Prato and are full of almonds and often flavoured with anise, amaretto or lemon. And hard biscotti are always dunked in vin santo (Italian sweet dessert wine) or a coffee to soften.

Why you’ll love this recipe

On my recent travel to Italy, I sample lots of biscotti in Tuscany and purchased a Tuscan cookbook with the original recipe. But when I tried making biscotti without butter or oil, according to the recipe, the result was such a hard cookie that it would cause dental problems! Has that happened to you?

Today in Italy, most biscotti contain a portion of butter except for for those not baked the second time.

So for this recipe, I tested and retested multiple times with different flours, quantities of butter or oil.  You’ll love that this recipe makes a cookie that is firm and crunchy but not too hard but won’t fall apart when you dunk!

For complete ingredient quantities and full instructions, please scroll to the printable recipe card bottom of the page.

Ingredient notes

This recipe is loosely based on the traditional recipe from the little cookbook I purchased in Siena.

• Flour: all purpose or plain flour
• Sugar: simple granulated white sugar
• Whole eggs: I like free range
• Almonds: unblanched (skin on) and toasted
• Butter: It does contain a little bit of butter which means these biscotti will not break teeth. The butter also carries and intensifies the flavour of the almonds and lemon.
• Baking powder: just a little for a slightly lighter crumb
• Flavourings: honey, lemon rind and vanilla

Instructions

1. Toast the almonds and set aside to cool.
2. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.
3. Add the wet ingredients and combine.
4. Bring the ingredients together by hand.
5. Gently form it into a smooth ball.
6. Divide into four pieces and roll into a log.
7. Place onto baking paper lined oven tray.
8. Bake for 25 minutes.
9. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly until you can handle the loaves.
10. Reduce heat to 150°C/300°F
11. Cut at a while still warm.
12. Bake again for 10-15 minutes.

Tips for success and FAQ’s

• Always toast nuts. This applies to any recipe where you use nuts. Toasted have much more flavour.
• Don’t overknead. Gently form into a dough.
• This dough is meant to be sticky. Don’t add more flour.
• Allow room for spreading otherwise the logs will stick together.
• Cut while warm.

The main key is in the second baking. Too little and your biscotto will be soft. Too much and your biscotto will be too hard. I have found good results at 10-12 minutes. When removed from the oven the cookies will be a little soft but will harden on cooling. In fact, storing for a day or two in an airtight container will improve the crunch even more.

Serving suggestions

According to the “Italian food rules”, these cookies are served with a small glass of vin santo. Vin santo is translated to “holy wine”.  Dip these cantucci into the wine to soften and sweeten the cookies. Serve these delicious crunchy cookies with espresso or cappuccino or even tea which is becoming more popular in Italy for its ‘health’ benefits.

These cookies are also perfect alongside a creamy dessert like these:

• Nutella Panna cotta
• Cinnamon Panna cotta
• Creme Brulee
• Caramelised Yoghurt cream
• Avocado Chocolate Mousse

Making biscotti at home is incredibly easy and rewarding. It doesn’t matter if you don’t make them perfectly the first time or even the next time because these cantucci will still taste delicous! Bake these today to bring a little of Italy into your home.

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Biscotti Recipe

Learn how to make biscotti with my tried and tested recipe. This Biscotti as based on the traditional hard cookies from Italy however my recipe results in a crunchy cookie that will not break your teeth.

4.88 from 48 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

optional refrigerating time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Servings:80 cantuccini

Author: Marcellina

Ingredients

• ▢ 1½ cups (250grams) almonds
• ▢ 2⅓ cup (Australian 2 cups/300grams) all purpose plain flour (all purpose)
• ▢ 1 cup (200grams) superfine (castor) sugar
• ▢ 1 tablespoon lemon zest from 1 large lemon
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon fine salt
• ▢ 2 eggs
• ▢ 3 teaspoons honey
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ ⅓ cup (85grams) unsalted butter melted and cooled

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Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C.
• Spread almonds onto baking tray and toast in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool.
• Leave the oven on. Line a large baking tray or two smaller baking trays with non-stick baking paper.
• Place flour, sugar, lemon zest, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. Whisk to combine.
• Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients.
• Break the eggs into the well and add honey, vanilla and melted, cooled butter
• Whisk together the wet ingredients slowly incorporating part of the dry ingredients.
• Before the dry ingredients are completely mixed in, switch to a wooden spoon or clean hands to finish incorporating the dry ingredients.
• As the mixture starts to come together add the almonds.
• Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly.
• The mixture will be sticky and can be refrigerated for 30 minutes to make the dough easier to handle. Otherwise you can go right onto the next step.
• Divide the dough into four equal portions.
• Roll each portion into a 12in/ 30cm log. There are a lot of almonds: if the nuts pop out just poke them back in a smooth the dough over.
• Place logs onto lined baking tray and, this is optional, with a wet hand smooth the surface of the dough.
• Bake 25 minutes until browned.
• Removed from the oven and cool on baking trays for 10 minutes.
• Reduce oven to 300°F/150°C.
• While still warm, cut each log into 20 slices. Check my tips below on how to cut biscotti easily.
• Arrange cut side up, onto lined baking trays and return to the oven for 10-15 minutes.
• Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container.

Notes

Almond v dough ratio

This recipe has a high almond v dough ratio. When rolling the dough, it may seem as though there is not enough dough – there is! Poke the almonds back into the dough and smooth over. If you don’t like lots of almonds, just cut back the quantity.

Size of biscotti

The size of these biscotti are the traditional small cantuccini that you will find in Italy. By dividing the dough into four and proceeding as per the recipe, you will get 80 biscotti. If you prefer larger biscotti that is up to you how you roll and cut them. 

Tips for success

• Always toast nuts. This applies to any recipe where you use nuts. Toasted have much more flavour.
• Don’t overknead. Gently form and press together into a dough.
• This dough is meant to be sticky. Don’t add more flour!
• Allow room for spreading otherwise the logs will stick together.
• Cut while warm.

The main key is in the second baking. Too little and your biscotto will be soft. Too much and your biscotto will be too hard. I have found good results at 10-12 minutes. When removed from the oven the cookies will be a little soft but will harden on cooling. In fact, storing for a day or two in an airtight container will improve the crunch even more.

How to cut biscotti easily

• Cut while still warm.
• Use a sharp serrated knife.
• Make a little cut using a sawing motion
• Then press the knife down firmly and sharply in one motion.

Nutrition

Calories: 52kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 32IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe? I’d love to see!Mention @marcellina.in.cucina or tag #marcellinaincucina