She loves biscotti you say…more specifically Almond Biscotti.
My whole biscotti obsession started with this family recipe for Italian Almond Biscotti. Simple and great tasting -it will quickly become one of your favorites.
This recipe was originally published on September 28, 2014 and re-published on October 12, 2017 with updated content, photos and more recently with a video.
Born to Italian immigrants, growing up in Montreal, my definition of biscotti refers to a variety of cookies, which include the twice-baked cookie.
As a kid, I thought this cookie was too hard and looked boring. Whenever I opened the pantry door, there they were again, almond biscotti. I remember thinking why can't we be like the other kids and have store-bought cookies. It was only as an adult that I came to appreciate this simple cookie which was absolutely created to be dunked.
If you have never ventured into the world of biscotti…you should.
They are truly simple to make, do not require any special cooking equipment (that means manual labor i.e. mixing by hand) and you can easily control the amount of sugar and the flavors (for example, the anise flavor found in this Anise Biscotti can easily be replaced with vanilla flavoring).
Be sure to consult this guide on How to Make Biscotti. It will provide you with all the tips and tricks to make the best homemade biscotti, every single time. This post also includes a recipe for Lemon Biscotti. If you like lemon cookies, you are going to love these!
Once you have combined the ingredients, it's time to shape this mixture into logs. My method is definitely unconventional, but it works for me. I will use a large serving spoon to scoop out the dough and place it on the parchment-lined cookie sheet. I will then add another scoop adjacent to the batter on the cookie sheet and keep going until I have formed my two logs.
As far as the size of the log is concerned, you can make them as wide or as narrow as you want. I will usually make 3-3½ inch wide logs. Once I have placed the batter on the cookie sheets, I will gently "press" and shape the dough mixture into logs with my damp fingers. Like I mentioned, unconventional and amateurish…but hey, it works!
Once baked, allow them to cool off before attempting to slice them.
Biscotti, as you may know, is Italian for "twice-cooked" - so if you like a bit of a crunch, put those biscotti back in the oven again for the second round of baking. The longer these Italian biscotti stay in the oven, the crispier they will get. Although it is a well-known practice to bake these biscotti cookies twice, personnel preference should dictate for how long, if at all. These Almond Biscotti are fantastic even without the second baking.
Another well-known fact is that biscotti will last forever! Well, maybe not forever… but you get my point. Because they are baked twice, there is little moisture in the dough. Since biscotti are a low moisture cookie, this will allow you to store them at room temperature, where they will keep for a few weeks. It is best to keep them in an air-tight container.
Tips
- Start with ingredients that are at room temperature.
- Once the biscotti loaves are baked, allow them to cool down for at least ten minutes before slicing into them.
How do you cut biscotti without breaking them?
Allow the biscotti to cool down on a cookie rack before slicing into them. Carefully transfer the biscotti loaves to a cutting board. With a sharp serrated knife, slice the loaves at an angle into ½-inch thick slices.
Are biscotti supposed to be hard?
Yes, biscotti cookies are supposed to be hard. The best biscotti recipe will provide you with biscotti that are firm and crunchy. The word “biscotti” means twice baked; in doing so, the moisture is removed from these Italian cookies leaving you with a dry, dunk-able cookie.
How to store
Store your biscotti cookies in airtight containers, but they don’t need to be absolutely hermetically sealed. A slight flow of air will help them stay crispy!
You can store biscotti for up to 3 weeks in a variety of different containers, including glass or ceramics as well as cookie tins. A paper towel placed at the bottom of the container will help absorb excess moisture; making sure they stay crisp. Always store at room temperature -never the refrigerator.
Can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
More biscotti recipes
Biscotti is the perfect snack for any coffee or tea lover, with its crunchy additions of nuts and flavorful add-ins like dried fruit. Some favorites include these festive-looking pistachio biscotti, these earthy pumpkin biscotti as well as these decadent chocolate hazelnut biscotti.
They also make a great addition to any homemade Christmas cookie box.
Recipe origins for almond biscotti
As you can well imagine, every Italian family has “their” biscotti recipe and I have collected quite a few over the years. This is one of my personal favorites. In fact, my whole biscotti obsession started with this recipe. As you may have guessed, this was one of my mom’s recipes.
A simple and great tasting biscotti -I am sure they will quickly become one of your favorites!
I hope you enjoy these biscotti cookies with some Vin Santo, coffee, tea or even milk!
Don’t forget to dunk 🙂
THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.
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Ciao for now,
Maria
★★★★★ If you have made this recipe for Almond Biscotti, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!
Recipe
Almond Biscotti
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Ingredients
- 1 cup whole almonds raw
- 2¼ cups all purpose flour 320 grams
- 1½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon pure almond extract
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F/165° C. Position rack in the center.
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread almonds on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 12-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt and sugars).
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs. Add olive oil, extracts, and zest. Whisk lightly together.
- When almonds are toasted, remove them from the oven and coarsely chop.
- Add flour mixture to egg mixture; stir with a wooden spoon until just incorporated.
- Fold in chopped almonds (make sure they have cooled off before incorporating in the batter).
- Use a large serving spoon to scoop out the dough and place it on the parchment-lined cookie sheet. Add another scoop adjacent to the batter on the cookie sheet and keep going until two logs are formed.With damp fingers, shape into a log shape.
- Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown in color and firm. Allow to cool slightly for about 10 minutes.
- Remove from baking sheet and transfer to a cutting board.
- Using a serrated knife, slice cookies at an angle about ½ - ¾ inch thick.
- Place slices back on the baking sheets and return them to the oven for about another 15-20 minutes (the longer they stay in the oven, the crispier they get). Turn them over at the halfway mark.
- Place on a wire rack to cool.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Jessica Priest
Follow this recipe to deliciousness, no need to change anything. Chef’s kiss.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️++
Maria
This made my day! Thank you for the amazing feedback and the extra stars. I’m so glad you loved this biscotti recipe ♥
Dx Maxx
I made these today but also added chopped dried cherries. I will dip one side
In DK chocolate and drizzle with white choc. Do they keep on the counter or should I refrigerate?
Maria
Your biscotti will keep well in a tin container at room temperature for up to one week. No need to refrigerate unless it’s very warm. Enjoy!
Cora Bezuidenhout
Thank you so much Maria for all your lively recipes. In South Africa we have what we call “rusks”. They are also baked and the cut into strips and dried again. It was especially useful for the farmers to last for a long time. It is usually dipped into coffee. Take care. Regards, Cora.
Maria
Thank you so much for sharing about rusks! I love learning about traditional recipes from around the world. Your description of rusks sounds wonderful — baked, cut, dried, and perfect for dipping into coffee. It’s amazing how these kinds of recipes have such practical roots. Thanks for stopping by.
Anna
Will definitely try your recioe. Would you please confirm that the almonds are roasted at 325 and the biscottis also are baked at 325 degrees, and can I use convect bake or regular bake.
Thank you
Maria
Thanks for your interest Anna. Yes, 325 oven for both roasting and baking. I do not use convection for this recipe, regular bake mode. Enjoy!
Karen Mercurio
I have a gluten-free recipe for biscotti, and I thought it was great. I tried this one, and this is like Nana made. It is really good! When I made gluten- free, it didn’t spread like this, and I wasn’t sure what size log. Next time, I will make the logs more log-shaped and not so wide, because it does spread out. Keeper!!!
Maria
Thanks for sharing Karen ♥
Caroline
I have made this recipe so many times and often for my Italian relatives. It is always a massive hit. Thanks so much for sharing it :). I have doubled it as well and always turns out well. If Im organised I roast my almonds the night before which gives a bit better result for me.
Maria
Thanks so much for sharing Caroline ♥
P.A.
Hi, thanks for the lovely recipe. Just wondering if I can use Almond flour (the one from Costco) instead of All purpose flour?
Maria
My pleasure P.A. Unfortunately I haven’t tried this variation so I cannot say. I will put it on my list of recipes to test out. Stay tuned.
Ivana
Hi. I’ll be making these biscotti today as they look delicious! Only question is that in the recipe description it says to toast then chop the almonds. But in the video the almonds look whole. Would it matter if they are not chopped?
Maria
Hi! Great question Ivana – both ways will make delicious biscotti!
The whole almonds you saw in the video look beautiful and are totally traditional. They’ll just need a bit more careful slicing (use a sharp knife and gentle sawing motion), but the rustic look is so worth it!
Chopped almonds are a bit easier to work with and slice through, but honestly, either way tastes amazing. Go with whatever feels right to you – you really can’t go wrong!
Hope they turn out fantastic!
Ash
I am a newbie to baking and got fantastic results following this recipe. Love the results. Toasting the almonds makes them brittle making it easy to break them into chunks and keeps them crispy in the final biscotti. I used my serrated knife to either “chop” the roasted almonds, or “smash” them with the flat face of the knife down (like they show for garlic).
Maria
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and sharing your experience with this biscotti recipe Ash.
Luisa Fontana
I have made these biscotti quite a few times and we love them. I put almonds, hazelnuts and chocolate chips. I have even tried chopped dates.
I also add 1/4 of almond meal into the recipe. These are my favourite biscotti. The house smells amazing 😋
Maria
Such wonderful variations! Thanks for sharing Luisa!
Teresa
I’ve never made biscotti, until now! Your recipe is easy and delicious! Thank you !
Maria
My pleasure Teresa! Thanks for sharing!