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
J
These were fantastic! The dough was super runny, but I added in about 1 more cup of flour, and they turned out fantastic. Thanks for the recipe! Nonna will be so proud.
Maria
Amazing J!
Bob Lohse
This is my new favorite Almond Biscotti recipe! I love that it uses Olive Oil instead of butter and the brown sugar and lemon zest gives it a subtle flavor nuance.
Maria
Fantastic Bob! Thanks for sharing!
Jenny
Oh. My. Goodness. Literally the best thing I’ve ever baked (I’m normally a terrible chef), and widespread agreement my chocolate dipped version of these was better than any bakery biscotti. Like, WOW!
Maria
Amazing Jenny! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Nancy Aaraj
Tried your recipe yesterday. Substituted anise extract for the almond extract and 2 tbs lemon juice for the lemon zest. The results were delicious! My husband commented that they taste better than professional! Thank you for sharing your recipe. I will definitely make them again, only next time a double batch.
Maria
Fantastic Nancy!
Elham Naga
It is the first time I try to make almond biscotti, and it was a success . Love it , it is so easy and delicious.
Some of the almond wasn’t that crunchy in the biscotti, so what did I do wrong ?
Thanks
Maria
Thanks Elham! It’s hard for me to say why some almonds were not crunchy… perhaps you can try roasting the almonds a little longer in the oven during the roasting phase.
Maggie
Fabulous recipe certainly will make again
Maria
Thanks Maggie!
Hilda
First time making biscotti. Followed your recipe exactly and had perfect, delicious results! I think I need to try all the other variations on your site. Thank you so much for an amazing recipe! It’ll be a return favourite.
Maria
Fantastic Hilda. Thanks for sharing.
Victoria
I really loved this recipe. I drizzled chocolate on half and it was awesome. Don’t skip the lemon zest. I think it was instrumental in the final outcome. I will definitely try the other flavors as well. Thank you!
Maria
My pleasure Victoria! Thanks for sharing!
Cindy Loves Biscotti
Im still enjoying the rewards of making this recipe just as posted. Being home now its hard not to eat them 3 times a day! When my hubby saw I had made them, I offered him a bite, figuring he would not like it because he never has before. He was impressed how good the flavor was and especially loved the toasted almonds. I said, I thought you don’t like biscotti? He said, “not the ones you buy, but these have a lot of flavor”. End of story. The batch wont last 3 weeks in my house, as you said they can. I ate all the end pieces before the last baking and I’m trying to not eat more than 3 a day!
Maria
Enjoyed reading this… thanks for sharing Cindy!
Diana
I’m new at baking. I’ve tried 4 biscotti recipes, this is the best of them. They are delicious, I doubled the recipe to be able to gift them for Christmas. My friend and Neighborg’s loved them. Thank you so much. This recipe will passed down the family.
Maria
Thanks so much Diana!