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
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
Steve
These were fantastic and easy. I had no almonds so i substituted hazelnuts. Also no nut flavored extract so i used 3TBS of Frangelico liquer and a bit of additional flour to offset the moisture and sugar in it. Delicious. The recipe is so forgiving. I am grateful that you posted it
Maria
Amazing Steve! Thanks for sharing!
Michelle
I love this recipe
Easy and delicious! Perfect crisp and crunch
I added a small ant of anise extract and seeds because I love the flavor. The lemon is perfect!
Maria
Fantastic Michelle! Glad to hear it!
Jackie
Hi – I am baking these now. The dough seems a bit runny and does not seem to shape into a log.
Maria
Hi Jackie, they do spread out a little… keep an eye on them in case you need to reduce the baking time. Let me know how they turn out.
Maria del Carmen Pinckney
I just had the same problem, very runny…they spread out to only about 1/2″ thick and ran together. Slicing was an issue as well, even with cooling. The flavor is great, but the dough was just too soft and runny. A little less olive oil? a little more flour? what should we do?
Thank you
Maria
Hi Maria, sorry to hear you had a problem with the dough. My guess is that there was not enough flour. The recipe calls for 2 1/4 cups. As you probably know, everyone measures flour a little differently… some fluff, some scoop, etc…
Do you have a scale? If you do, you can try a little experiment. Measure out the amount of flour and then weigh it. You should have about 320 grams of flour
(1 cup = 142 grams). I hope that helps.
Maria del Carmen Pinckney
Thank you, Maria. I will give it a try, once we’ve finished this batch!
Maria
My pleasure Maria.
Donna
These were amazing!!!! Thank you for sharing!
Maria
So thrilled to read this! Thanks, Donna!
Samantha Muraco
Molto bene, bravissima!! Definitely a 5 star recipe! I loved this recipe soooo much, I added a tablespoon of lemon paste which was the best idea I’ve ever had lol! I also cooked it for 25 minutes on the second round, I think I could even go for 30, as they still had a hint of softness. All around, this was an excellent and authentic tasting biscotti.
Maria
Grazie Samantha! I am so happy to read this. Lemon and almond are such a wonderful combination. Such a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
Kimberly
Wonderful aroma. Can’t stop eating them.
Maria
Thanks so much Kimberly! I have the same problem 😉
carol barnes
Absolutely the best Almond Biscotti recipe out there.
Maria
Thanks so much Carol!
Ann G
Made this recipe for the first time yesterday and it was such a success !
I only used brown sugar as I wanted it less sweet and it was delicious – thank you for sharing !!
Maria
My pleasure Ann! Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!
robin angel
love these. easy and delicious.
Maria
Thanks Robin.
Mary Louise
If I had to choose to have only one type of cookie in the house, it would be biscotti. I love them! This is the best biscotti recipe. Ever! I love you use olive oil instead of butter, the aroma is heavenly. I follow your recipe as written but make a single loaf instead. My bake time is the same as yours both on the first and second bake. In addition to the almond and vanilla extract, I also add a 1/4 t. of anisette oil. So delicious!
Maria
Thanks so much, Mary Louise! I feel the same way about biscotti. I love the addition of anisette! Thanks so much for sharing!